New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-21
RHETORICAL JUSTICE.

We h.ye now published every official account Of
the battle of Sole rho which has reached us, with
MARY letters from both camps including the excel
leut special correspondence of Tic London Times i;
and having laid these documents before our read
ers, it is perhaps not too soon to set forth clearly
the zeal causes by which the battle was lost by
Francis Joseph and won by Napoleon I'LL.
When the Austrian Emperor recrOssed the
Mincio for the attack, be bad nine army corps at
BIS disposal which might, after deducting the gar
Ti.ons of the foItresses appear on the field In an
average strer 9Th Of four brgades of infantry each,
or thirty six brissdes 10 othe brigade averaging
between ), Geo - 6,eo0 men. His force for the
attack thus amounted 10 about 100000 Infantry.
This strength, though fully large enough to warrant
the movement, was still inferior or scarcely equal
toiat Of the enemy for they, on their side couI ted
ten p,dnonrse and TIVE MY six French brig ides Of
infantry Now, the French had, since Msgenta,
received large re;nforcemeDts Of men on furlough,
ard drilled recruits, who had been distributed to
their regiments and their brigades were certainly
stronger than those of the Austr,ns whose re-
erforcemepts had consisted of two fresh army corps
(the 10th and llth). By which the number but not
the strength OF the brigades had been increased The
allied aruy may therefore be- fairly estimated Mt It's
full complement of infantry 10,O 600 French, 'oooO
Ssrdiniaps), less the losses since the beginning OF
the campaign, say 80 900, leaving about Gl3,UUO
infantry. The Ausirnns, relying upon qulcknsss
Of naneuyeiing ard surprise, upon the ardent
desiie of their troops TO revenge the defeat vi
Magenta, sid 10 prove that they were not Inferior
to their opponents, aud upon toe strength OF the
position. which quick advance TO the nights
behind Csstielionc could sgsn secure to them,
we're certainly justified in attacking, but only
on condition that they should keep their troops
as closely concentrated as possible, and Chat they
should advance rapidly and energetcally. Neither
of these conditions was fulfilled.
Instead of advancing with Their whole force be-
tween Prschiera and Volta, in order - secure the
whole rance of nights 80 far Lonita aud Castig-
lone and leaving the plain of Gniizzolo to the
cavalry and perhaps one corps of infantry, they
left one corps the u, in Man'ua TO guard against
4 possible surprise by Prince Napoeon's corps,
which was believed 10 b. hear. Now, if the gar
r son of Msn,ua Was not sufficient 70 hold the
strongest fortress in Europe against an irregular
attack without the assistance of sn extra corps,
il must have been very curious sort of gar
rison indeed Bat this does no. sppear 10 have
been the motive which filtered the second corps
to Manius The fac. is that two other corps, the
llth and 10Th had been detached 10 turn tho right
flank of the Allies by Asoli, a town on the Diese,
some Fix miles south.wes; Of CASTE Gcfredo and
SO far away from the battlefield that they must
have reached i. too late under any circumstances.
The secoEd corps il would almost seem, had been
destined 10 cover the hanks and rear Of this turning
column scainst the possible arrival of Prince Na-
poleon, and thus 10 prevent it from being turned
t.elf The whole of this design IS so thoroughly
of the old Austrian school complicated, so n
dicrous in the contemplation ofany man accustomed
10 study plans of battles, that the Austrian staff
must cersiuly BE- acquitted Of all the responsibility
If is invention Nobody bu, Francis Joseph and
hi sd-decsmp, Count Grinne, could have con-
criy,d such an anachronisn. Thus three corps
were successfully put out of harms way. The
r,msitins seven were disposed Of as follows:
One the .,h ben ,dek), between PozzoleDgo and
the Lake of Cards, TO hold position the hills,
the center and key of which was San MARITIME.
The 9Th (Stsdion) occupied >olterino; the 7th
(ZObei) san Cassiano the lst (Ci.m-G alias Cav
r.s.a, " ils south IL the plain, TIE u (ocAwar