New-York daily tribune., 1859-06-08
THE BATTLE OF MONTEBELLO.

From The London Times Nay p
At length the two armies which occupy Pied
mont show signs Of being about to commit themselves
to decisive conflict, and the plan Of operations
grows more distinct aud continuous III its outline.
II was not unnatural that the Austrans should be
especially suspicious of the designs o the allied French
and Ssrdnian force upon the left flank Of their army.
Stretched as they now appear to be across the plain
OF Piedmont, snd throwing out flying parties upon all
points in their front, partly to levy contributions bat
principally, We believe, to divide the attention Of
the French and to their retreat, the Aus
trsn General must have had his thoughts much
pied by the condition Of Pavia and Piacenza. II was
upon those points that the advance Of the French and
Sardnians was most obviously to be dreaded. for
Payia and Pacenz8 TO the French what Alessan-
dria has been to the Anstrians. Gyuai thought il
rashness, even when the French weak, to march
upon Turin, leaving Aessaudria his left flank; and
Napoleon Ill would, in Ike manner, probably think
il fmprudent to follow the AusriaIs, if they should
retreat beyond the Tenio or to occupy Milan, even
If the road should be left open to hun, unless he
had first obtained possession of Piacenza. We can
thoroughly understand therefore, why General Sta
dion Friday last sent out a reconnoerng party OF
5000 to advance from Stradella on the road 10
VogheTa IA far as Casteggio and Montebello. IL
important to him to know whether Pacenzs was
threatened by any considerable force.
Gen. StadiOns curiosity upon these points was
promptly satisfied. His reconnaissance quickly placed
is three brigades n the preseuce Of large French
force ard the result was second Battle Of Montebelo.
in which the combaaLts and the fortune of the lay
were they had been in 1900 and in which the po-
stlOE vi the TWO fOrccs reversed. w men
frst battle Of Montebello fought, the Aust ans
held Genoa, and concentrated under the gum Ot
Aessandria just the French now are, while the
French held all that plain country which IS now in the
possession Of the Austrians Lsnnes n the year 1900
led the advanced guard Of Napoeons army the
Po at st. Ciprano, and his arrival at Montebello
found himself at the head Of g eco Frenchm men, and
with an amy Of - coo Ausrians before him. posted
in fortified position. Here, however the parallel
between the two circumstance ceases. The French
nan, with bis 9OJJ men, attacked the Austrian DO
sition, and continued the unequal battle until the
arrival Of his supports enabled him TO force
tie position and to convert an apparently hopeless
attack into decisive victory. The leader of
the three brigade dispatched by Gen. Stadon
lad $500 men under him; bur WITH less perseyer-
or with .ess hope Of support tLan Lannes sue.
ceeced only IL mailing good bis escape across tue Po.
The accounts that have reached from Paris, Turin
and vienna DO not materially differ il the statement Of
THE first great military event Of the war. Fhere
fierce combat which lasted four hours, during which
the towr OF Casteggo and the village OF Montebe..)
were ob-tinstely contested. We are told the
bers Of the division Of Gen. Forey which repulsed this
attack; but II may be remarked a coincidence that
the force OF the attacking AustriaDs in the battle OK
Montebeio Of 1873 was identical with that which de-
fenced the ground in 1850. The loss Of the French
4 killed and wounded il admit ii by themscives 70
amount to between 800 and 600 men ncnding Gen.
Beuret, Conman6ant Duchtt, and three cooneis.
be probsby about the same that of the French"
but the French account estimates the Austrian
loss at 2 go. That the victory remained with the
French there be doubt for they have 200 pms
and an Austrian colonel In their hands, and the
enemy has rereeted the Po at point below its
confluence with the Ticino. The advance Of the Aus
trials be!rg f0u Srsdena-which 10 not far from Pia-