Year: 1859

TThe following letter, written by j. RAYMOND editor
Of the NstO York Times from the field of the late great
battle between the Allies and the Austrians few hours
after its occurrence will be found very Interestingly


CAsrIGLroNE, Italy, Friday night, June "a, 1852


came from Brescia early this morning and
arrived Just in time to witness the last half of
what have very little doubt will turn out to
have been the greatest battle the modern world
has seen You will get the official summary
of its results by telegraph before this letter
reaches you, and will be prepared, therefore,
for this statement of its magnitude. | cannot
describe it with any precision as yet-for it has
lasted all, day, and extended over circuit of
not less than fifteen miles the noise of the can
nonade, and even of the musketry, moreover,
is still in my ears, and none of those engaged
in it, except the wounded, have returned to give
US any distinct and connected report. But not
less than 450,000 men have been engaged in
it and of those not less than 80, ,000-dead or
disabled-le, on this bright starry night, upon
the bloody field.


The battle commenced at little before
o clock in the morning-not far from sunrise.
Just back of Castiglione rises high range of
hIllS-which projects mile or thereabouts in
to the plain and then breaks of towards the
left into wide expense of smaller hills and so
into the rolling surface which makes that por
tion OF the plain. The AuStrians had taken
position upon these hiIls,-planting cannon up
on those nearest to Castiglone which they
could approach, "a the French army was in full
force in and around that little village,-ahd
had stationed their immense array all over the
the surrounding plain. AS nearly as we can
now learn the Emperor Francis JOSEPH had
collected here rot less than 22500O troops,
and commanded them in person. His evident
purpose was to make stand here and risk the
fortunes OF the war upon the hazards of the
day. NAPOLEON promptly accepted the chal.
lenge, and commenced the attack as soon as it
was light this morning, by placing cannon up
on the hills still nearer to Castiglione than
those held by the AustrianS, and opening fire
upon them on the heights beyond He took
his own stand upon the highest of these-a
steep, sharp-backed ridge, commands magni-
icent view of the entire circuit of the plain, and
from that point directed the entire movements
of his army during the early portion 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 Solferino,
where they had sharp and protracted engage
ment. The Austrians disputed every inch of
the ground, and fought here, as they did
throughout the day, with the utmost despera-
ton. They were three times driven out of the
town, before they would stcy out. The peo-
pie of the village, moreover, took part against
the French, upon whom they fred from their
windows, and the French was compelled, in
selfdefence, 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, which, as
you will see by the map, lies directly southeast
from Castglione, and is only about a mile from
the river Mincio, from which, however, it is
separated by range Of hills. Upon these
hills in the rear of the town, and overlooking
It completely on the south and southeast sides,
tne Austrians had planted very formidable bat
'eFies and when arrived upon the field and