Year: 1859

was nothing like anger or shame on their faces
they seemed generally wholly Indifferent to
their position, but looked about with good
deal of curiosity upon the crowd which sur
rounded them. They were generally silent,
though now and then they would talk and
laugh with each other as they passed along
The officers were, with scarcely an exception
handsome, manly and intelligent fellows. All
were without arms The uniform of the men
was very coarse brown stuff made of fax
very plain, and with scarcely any attempt at
ornament. Towards night, carts began to
come in laden with wounded Austrians, hun
dreds of whom passed along while l stood
there, and were taken directly to the hospitals,
where they received precisely the same treat
ment as the French. Most of them seemed to
be very badly hurt. Among the number, both
of the wounded and the prisoners, were many
Hungarians.


The town tonight, as might be expected, is
simply camp The streets which are narrow
are crammed with artillery and provision wag
ons trying, almost in vain, to make their way
through the town ;-bivouac fires light up the
orchards and fields all around the village -
two streams of troops pour out on the two
roads leading to the field of battle, extending
as far as the eye can reach ;-sutlers fruit
peddlers, and small dealers of every kind cir
culate among the soldiers who crowd the streets
An immense train of Pedmontese artillery
are brought to stand in the street, while try
ing to make their way through the town to
their place OF encampment and thousands
OF French infantry, despairing of reaching
their tents, have seated themselves upon the
narrow sidewalks, and with the house walls for
back and their haversacks for pillows, they
have addressed themselves in that position to
the labor of obtaining nights rest. 1t is q
striking scene most certainly,-and the most
wonderful part of it is tie perfect order and
good behaU1or Of The troops. have not seen
during the whole day single instance of dis
order, or even rudeness in word or deed from
any soldier Not one have / seen in the
slightest degree intoxicated not one have
seen shouting or singing not rough or rude
remark have | seen or heard addressed to any
one-nor have | failed, in a single instance,
whenever | have applied to soldier for in
formation or addressed him on any subject
whatever, to receive a courteous reply and the
most polite endeavor to aid my wishes. Nor
have | heard a single cheer over the victory,
or single syllable of exultation over the
prisoners as they come in. The most respect
ful silence has IN every case been preserved
Expressions of sympathy with the wounded
were constant, and prompt attention, so far as
possible, was always given to their wants
Private property in the town, SO far as can
see, has been treated with perfect respect. In
selecting fields for the camp, those which will
be injured by it the least seem uniformly to be
chosen. Bakers shops, and groceries with
cheese, bacon, sausages, &c, freely exposed,
are open,-and | have repeatedly seen soldiers
bargaining for supplies at their windows But
| have heard of no instance and seen no indi-
cation of the slightest interference with pr-
vate property. Yet there is no great rIgor of
discipline euforced-for the soldiers seem to
be quite at their ease, and wander about town
very much at their own discretion But they
look upon war as a business, AS something to
be done, like everything else, with as little fuss
and excitement as possible So they look up,
on battle, and the operations attending it
the care of the wounded the reception of
prisoners, AS merely part of the regular
routine,-just like cleaning their muskets, or
boiling their soup over their bvouac fires


But it is o'clock in the morning, and Won
will excuse me from general disquiSition upon
the character and habits of the French soldi.
cry. slept upon bench last night, and,
if the feas permit, have hope of a little bet
ter accommodation for the few hours that re-
main of tonight. | have written this letter,
however, in order that you may receive as ear
ly report as possible, of the great battle and
victory which will make the oath of June a
day long to be remembered in the history OF
the world.


! shall send this to Brcscia in the morning,
and hope it may reach Liverpool in time for
the steamer of the I'd Of July. Ii. j. r.