Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-13
BATTLE OF SOLDERING.

BATTLE OF SOLDERING.
PmLADELPHIA. July T..
The New York Times publishes a letter from
the battle field of Selferino, giving most accu-
rate details. The battle commenced at q lit
tie before 8 o'clock in the morning, not far
from sunrise. just back of Castiglione rises
q high range Of hills, which project a mile or
thereabouts into the plain, and then breaks Of
towards the left into wide expanse Of smaller
hills, so into the rolling surface which makes
that portion Of the plain.
The Austrians had taken position upon
these hills, planting cannon upon the nearest
to Castiglione, which they could approach as
the French army was in full force and around
that little village, and had stationed their i'm
mense array all over the surrounding plain.
As nearly aa we can now learn, the Emperor
Francis Joseph had collected here not less
than two hundred and twenty-five thousand
troops, and commanded them in person. His
evident purpose was TO make IA stand here
and risk the fortunes Of the war upon the
hazards of the day.
Napoleon promptly accepted the challenge,
and commenced the attack as soon as it was
light in the morning, by placing cannon ON
the hills still nearer 20 CastigNcne than those
held by the Austrians, and opening fire upon
them on the heights beyond lie took his
u
sharp backed ridge, which commands Il mag
nifcent view Of the entire circuit of the
plain, and from that point directed the entire
movements of the army during the early pOr-
tion Of the day.
The French very soon drove the enemy out
of the posts they held nearest to the town.
and followed them into the small villages of
the plain below The first of these was
Solterino, where they had Il sharp and pro-
tracted engagement. The Austrians disputed
every inch of the ground and fought here as
they did throughout the day, with the utmost
desperation. They were three times driven
out Of the town before they would stay out.
The people of the village moreover took part
against the French, upon whom they fired
from their windows, and the French were
compelled in selt-defence to burn the town.
When they found it impossible to hold their
ground any longer they fell back slowly and
steadily until they reached the village of
Volta, directly southeast from Castigiione,
and is only about mile from the river Min
clio, from which, however, il is separated by
n range of hills. Upon these hills, in the
rear Of the town, and overlooking il COM
pletely on the south and southeast sides the
Austrians had planted very formidable bat
teries, and when | arrived upon the field
went at once to the height twhere the Emperor
had stood at the commencement Of the en-
gagoment but which he had left at noon to
follow his victorious troops
These batteries were blazing away upon
the French who were stationed in the plain
below. The general result was soon made
evident by the slackening Of the Austrian
fire, by the falling back Of their smoke, and
o corresponding advance Of that which rose
from the French artillery. The cannon
L Nl..N ,s.,A1 a q.
but in precisely what direction the Austrians
retreated IL was impossible from the position
occupied TO see.
Part Of the Austrian force probably cross
ed the Mincio river which flows southward
from the lower end of Lake Guardo and
empties into the Po, But the battle contin-
ued to rage all over the region northwest Of a
line connecting the towns of Castiglione
Solferino and Valta. At a point sharp
cannonading would arise and continue for
half or three-quarters Of an hour, and after
each successive engagement Of this kind the
result became apparent in the retreat Of the
Austrians and the advance of the French
forces,
During the early part Of the day the sky
had been clear and weather hot, but clouds
began to gather about noon, aud at O'clock
while the cannOnade was at its height tre-
mendous thunder storm rolled up from the
northwest. The storm lasted for about an
hour and the oannonading, US far as we
could distinguish, WAS suspended
Then the rain ceased, the clouds blew away
the sun shone out again, aud the air was cool
and perfectly delightful Though the cannon
had ceased for q time to take part in II, the
fight had meantime gone on, and when again
resumed my post Of observation from which
the storm had expelled me, the oaunonading
commenced quito on the extreme left Of the
entire field, on the very borders OF the Lake
Northeast Of Castiglione, ,and West of Pes.
chira. The PiedmOntese troops under the
King who commands them in person. had been
posted there and received the Austrians as
they came around from about seven o'clock
until after nightfall
An incessant and most terrible combat was
here kept up. The batteries Of the two ar
mics were apparently about half mile apart,
and at the outset they were both served with
nearly equal and effective yigor, but the Aus
trians gradually slackened their fire, aud sew
eral times took up new positions, while the
Sardinians poured a rapid and uninterrupted
shower Of balls upon them, suspondiDg only
for few minutes at time, and then renew |
ing it again with increased fury
The wind had now gone down, the air was
still and the sound Of musketry as well as Of
cannon was distinctly heard, sometimes a |
single flash would be seen then two or three |
at once, and sometimes half dozen in sue
cession. II was beginning TO be dark when
turned 10 descend, and all the way heard
the roar Of the cannon, and the olatter Of the
guns,
The Austrians have esustainedan oyerwhelmy
ing defeat, and II seems to me not unlikely |
that the Emperor may now be induced by the
neutral powers to accept the peace which Ma
poleon will be very likely TO tender him.
am afraid to venture upon any conjecture