Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-24
The Battle of Magenta.

Our Northern exchanges continue to bring further
accounts of the from the seat of in Italy We
extract the following, being somewhat more in detail,
though the main points have already appeared in the
Journal:
The combined troops OF Bonaparte and Melas at Ma
rengO amounted to hardly than half OF the Austrl
an army at Magenta. The number of French killed at
Marengo was 6000 and of Ausrians 5000. The great
field of Austerz, that miracle of battles as it has been
called fought and won by rival hosts numbering IN
all 100000 men, and the killed, wounded and prisoners,
numbered 900 French and 10000 allies The battle
of Magenta must have arrayed at least quarter OF
million of men in hostile arms 1t is only IN the Ma
poeonic campaigns in 1909 and 1912 that we can find
any armies comparable, in numerical Importance, with
those now contending to decide the fate OF Italy.
The most hOtly-fought fields of the Pennsular war
and of the Crimea seem small in the presence Of those
masses of desperate and determined valor lnkerman
was fought and by allied force hardly
merous than the French divisions which defended Mon
tebello the goth of May Mada that famous Brit
sh battle which did so much to cheer the dsprited
British troops and them in the prospect Of
meeting the Continental armies contested by forces
inferior to the armies engaged victory of Buena
Vista.
BATTLE MAGENTA.
The following is the first announcement of the battle
by telegraph, from Napoleon to the Empress
N0vara, June 4th, II. 80 p. MA great victory
has been won the bridge of Magenta Five thousand
prisoners have been taken. Fifteen thousand of the
envy are Killed or WOunuoQ. Inc details VIII DE QlS-
patched by telegraph.
The above was published in Paris on Sunday, the
5h and the evening of that day the at the
Hotel DIES lnvades announced the victory and the city
was brilliantly illuminated.
The allies claim that 20 600 or $4,000 Austrians were
killed or wounded and 1000 taken prisoners and allege
that the French loss was only 5000 men killed and
wounded, and one cannon captured. 1t is also stated
that the 9Th inst the allied army retiring for the
purpose of rcorganizlng itself
The latest dispatch from Napoleon is dated the 9th,
announcing that he has 1000 prisoners and that the
Austrians had evacuated Milan. AS stated yesterday
the French loss is according to rumor, from 5000 to
| 10000
The substance OF the Austrian dispatches claiming
partial victory was correctly stated yesterday. An
Austrian dispatch from Verona gives a similar view,
but adds that the authorities and weak garrison of Mi
Ian, with the exception of the castle garrison have with
drawn ct the command of Gen Gyulai. The town
quiet.
The movement which preceded the battle of Magenta
is not clearly stated, but it previously announced
that the allies were about to cross the Tcno to the
number of 100000 and it is presumed the rapid
movement of the allies prevented the Austrians from
completing the retreat which they had commenced and
compelled them to accept battle on the banks of the
river.
On the 4th great religious solemnty, with process
sons and public prayers took place at Vienna the OBJ
ect being to mpOre Heaven to bless the Austrian
with victory. All the members Of the imperial family
and the ministers were present Mass read by the
Popes Nunco.
1t appears that at the great battle of Magenta,
General Mcmahon, instead of Louis Napoleon comman-
ded the allies and for his valor received the Marshas
baton from the Emperor on the spot and was created
Duke of Magenta
The battle seems to have lasted about two days. for
the Austrian accounts state that series of engagements
occurred from the 4h to the night of the 9th of june
with varied successes and great losses both Sides
The longest battle fought by the first Napoleon was
that Of Castgiona in 1896, which lasted five days. from
the I'd to the 9th of July inclusive.
The CITY OF MhAN.-This city which is said to
have been evacuated by the Ausrians, and which the
King of Sardinia was to have entered the 7th inst
was strongly fortified and had usually garrison of 5000
men. 1t was the capital of republic in the eleventh
century, and passed successfully under the dominion OF
Spain and Austria, and the French who made it the
capital of the Kingdom of Italy in 1905. 1t was re-
stored to Austria in 1915 1t is inland and only two
hours and half by railroad from Venice It has been
besieged and captured forty times and four times de-
stroyed. Yet now it is magnificent city, with pop.
ulation of about 900 souls It is in the midst of
wide and fertile plain, many miles from the Po on the
Austrian side 1t lies between the Olona and Seveso
rivers and is the capital of the Austrian provinces in
Italy.
An important difference between the surf of the ocean
and the ser of the land u.s. that the former are Free the