Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-07
The First Battle on the Plains of Italy.

The steamship City of Washington, III
Cane Race, has sent ;S the news Of the irst
battle between the French and Austrlans in
Italy. This fight puts an end to the llng"r-
ing hopes entertained by not a few persons
that the rupture between France and Aus
tria would vet be- III some way peacefully ar
RANGED. We have the French. Austrian.
and Sandman reports of the conflict, ;" that
| there can be no doubt Of its occurrence
| The accounts do not give u full statement rs
to the number engaged on each sidr-the
| French representing the Austrians ~ being
| fifteen thousand strong, while on their side
ONLY six or seven thousand men, with II reg
iment Of Sandman cavalry, were engaged.
From the Austrian side it Is merely stated
that General Stallion pushed forward a strong
force for Il reconnaissance, and, after Il hot
| fight, retreated in good order behind the 20.
| They do not give their loss, hut the French
represent the Anstrians rs having lost from
| fifteen hundred to two thousand men, and
their own loss nj siA or seven hundred, many
Of whom were officers. Two hundred Aus
trian prisoners are reported, who were sent
to A~lessandria, and some of them had alrea-
DIV arrived at Marseilles.
Another affair of smaller moment had Ia
ken place on the far left Of the Allied forces.
where General Chialdini had forced the pas
sage Of the Sasia; and Garibaldi, who was
opersting with him, had entered Grayellona,
with the intention of carrying out revolt
rionary movements IN Lrmbardy
In this first fight we have some guaga OF
the stamina of the respective cOmhattants.
On each side they were led by experienced
| officers of high standing. General Stallion
is - ~well-known Austrian officer Of merit, as
| is Indicted also by his having been placed
| in command Of the advanced guard of the
army. General Forey, vino commanded the
French, obtained a high reputation in the
| Crimes. The Austrians made the first Al
tack and were driven back only after 4 hot
| fight of four hours, ana were not pursued.
! Considering the number of troops engaged,
the loss or both sides is large and indicates
the t%enacitv of both parties in the struggle.
There is another incident in III" reports
that il worthy of notice, a. it indicates the
effect of the presence Of the Emperor on the
French troops. The number OF officers Killed
is reported to be large. Although Louis Ma
poleon was not on the battlefield, he was al
! Alesssndris, IN the immediate vicinity, and
besides being inspired by a feeling OF fmnla
ton of the old NapolOonir glorie+, each one
felt that he was fighting under the immedi'
ate eye of the Emperor. With them It was
! glory or the grave. The fountain OF all hon
or was At hand 10 witnesa their her"Ism, 81
to lave and soothe their wounds. when
Francis Joseph reaches his eamp-for which
at the latest accounts he vas preparing to
leave Vienna-a similar inHpir;ting effect
Will no doubt be felt in the Austrian army,
and Europe will witness one Of the ffrcss'
struggles for one of the faIsest portions OF
! the Garth, that history has ever recorded
The opening conflict was ~sangu'nary, nu'
! U,ho can foresee what rivers Of blood will le'
how ir,,n the fountain now opened al Won
| tebelln.-.N. J.. hera!d.
NOTICE.-It l. important that Ihe hai!ness o
~ the late firm Of JENKINS & MBD
should Sc settled as early a. possible. All person
indebted 10 thsla ere requested 70 make immediate