The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-07-20
Further Particulars of the Battle of
Solferino,


yet know them. give sketch of the
facts that | know, for time will not let me
describe them at length.
When at Brescia, on the goth and 2lst
we learned that :he enemy had abandon
ed Montechiaro and Castiglione. Conse
quentIy we advanced with the Emperor
to occupy their positions. On the oath,
we reached Castiglione at Il. M, and
found a column prepared for battle half
a league thence, with the Austrians com
manded by their Emperor in person, who
they say, had promised to take them the
same evening to dine at Milan and the
next day to drown us all in the Tlcino
1 need not say that their army was form
idable.
The attack, which was begun at Solfe
Yno, situated near Castiglone and Lake
Garda, one OF the Mamelon forts of the
chain of the Tyrol mountains, was not
made without sensible losses on our side;
for the Two regiments of the line, the
0lst and 9Sib, as well as the l7th bat.
talon Of chasseurs, Qst corps,) had to
contend against force ten times superi-
or In number and more aGvantageously
placed on this hill, and entrenched in a
strong town which crowned It's crest.
Our men began TO fall back, over.
whelmed 10y numbers, when the battalion
Of Chasseurs of the Guard and the two
first regiments of Votigeurs, forming to
gether the First Brigade of the second
Division, came to their support. In full
view of US they rushed upon the enemy,
who was beaten down and driven away
from his position. We followed at "A
charge, with the bayouet, to the foot of
a ravlne, where there was another village
The firing began from the windows
and roofs, and it was here that we lost
the most men. Nevertheless we drove
the Austrians from this village and from
six or eight fine positions, which they oc'
cupied, on the hills that stretch along
Lake Garda. Several villages were also
taken.
Finally from eors,out 6.iug, mo-hud- 1
used all our ammunition, and we had
nothing for defence but our bayonets and
the stones that fell in our way. We
made good use Of them; but the enemy
perceiving this, took advantage of it to
stop his retreat for a moment.
Then the Grena0ers and Xouaves came
,up to join Us, and sustained the fire with
their artillery, while We got fresh ammu.
milton. This was soon done, and we push.
ed on at a charge, aud they withdrew to
the strong village of Cavriana. There
they placed themselves in the houses and
the church, towers, whence they fired on
us with important effect. But as soon
as We got on the hill on which the village
is situated, We made "A horrible slaughter
among them, and drove them back to.
wards Pcschera.
While the infantry of the Guard were
performing such fine feats on the noun
tain, the whole cavalry force, which only
joined us within a few days, was equally
active on the plain at our right where
they fought with the Austrian cavalry
The Emperor was in the midst Of us, 90
ing from one point to another, without
fear OF the firing or the bullets of the cne'
my, which were all around him. lie en-
couragcd us s,e whole day, and we had
need Of it, for we were exhausted with
climbing and descending at running
pace, from 4 in the morning till in the
evening, and that in a tropical heat, with
out anything to eat or drink the whole
time.
TO day, as at Magenta, there is a sus.
pension Of hostilities, to bury the dead
and remove the wounded. We have Ia
ken a great quantity OF prisoners and ma.
ny cannon. Moreover, we have all the
best positions and we are on the Minco.
One or two more blows like this, and
think they will have had euonoh
The AUSTRIAN Accounts OF SoLssRI,
No.-The Austrian accounts admit aslUS8
Of 10000 killed, wounded and missiHg,ss
The right wing Of their army occupiedF
Bozzoengo, SoIferino and Cavrana. The
left wing marched on the Gath to Gurdiz
alo and Castel Goffrelo, and repused the
advancing enemy. AS the Imperial army
continued to advance towards the Chiese,
offensive, with their whole. force, pushed
forward such large bodies of troops that
there was a general engagement between
the two armies, at 10 o'clock, on the
morning Of the oath. The right wing
was formed of the second army, under
Count Schlick, who maintained tho posi-
ton first occupied until o'clock p. M,
and the left wing, composed Of the first
army. under Count Wmpssen, continua!
ly gained ground in the direction of the
Chiese. Towards o'clock. the enemy
made vehement attack on SoIferino,
and, after several hours hard fighting,
obtained possession Of the place which
had been heroicaIly defended by the 5tb
they then attacked Cav.
riana, which was couragsously defended
until evening, by the LIST and 7th corps,
but eventually left in the hands Of the
enemy. While the struggle for SoIferino
aud Cavriana was going on, the 9th corps
- which was on the outer flank of the |
right wing advanced and repulsed the
Sandman troops but the advantage did |
OF enable the Imperial Army to recove,
,e positions they had lost in the centre
he Sd and 9th corps, which, supported |