The Life of General Garibaldi: Translated from his private papers; with the history of his splendid exploits in Rome, Lombardy, Sicily and Naples, to the present time.Garibaldi, Giuseppe
History
The Life of General Garibaldi: Translated from his private papers; with the history of his splendid exploits in Rome, Lombardy, Sicily and Naples, to the present time.
Garibaldi, Giuseppe
Garibaldi, Giuseppe, 1807-1882
that you can keep in view the whole passage through the valley. On the
right bank of the river extends a fine meadow, through which the road
leads. It was now the camping-ground of the Cavalry of the Guard, and
was, during the passage, a chaos of troops, horses, carts, and mules,
which were huddled together there, waiting for a passage across one of
the four bridges which span the narrow but rapid little stream. It was
like the emigration of one of those nomadic tribes of which history
tells us. It seemed for a moment as if it were impossible to disentangle
that mass, and yet it kept moving, and passed over the river without
accident or delay. As all the bridges which had been broken down on the
river behind had been repaired, the pontoon train of the whole army
became available for the Mincio passage, and there must have been, at
the very least, from 12 to 15 bridges on this short line.
THE BATTLE OF SOLFERINO.
The Austrian army, after occupying the right bank of the Mincio, had
retired across the stream, in order to lead the French and Sardinians to
believe that they were retreating. When the latter had extended their
lines, the Austrians suddenly returned and reoccupied their old
formidable positions on the heights of Solferino, San Cassiano, and
Cavriana, and onward to Volta, all crowned with cannon. Their lines
extended five leagues. This movement was made in the night of June 23d,
and at three o'clock in the morning they were discovered, in large
bodies, marching across the plain to attack the allies.
On the 24th, the emperor, who had arrived just before, ordered the
Sardinian army (which formed the left wing) to occupy Pozzolengo, and
the French to occupy Solferino and Cavriana. The king also sent a
detachment toward Peschiera. The Austrians resisted them powerfully. At
ten o'clock the battle became general, and was continued during a severe
storm. After twelve hours fighting, the Austrians brought up their
reserve of 80,000 men, and the allies theirs of 50,000. After three more
hours of severe fighting, the heights were taken by the allies, and the
Austrians retreated.
In 1796, Solferino was the point most strenuously contested and won by
Augereau. On this occasion that position was taken three times by the
French, and the last time at the point of the bayonet. The Emperor of
Austria commanded in person, and greatly animated his troops, who fought
well. After they had been driven from Solferino, they made a powerful
concentrated attack on the right wing of the allies, but were repulsed
by a dash of cavalry.
Although the allies were victorious, they were unable to pursue the
enemy, who retreated in good order.
THE AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF SOLFERINO.
The official journal at Vienna, of June 26, published the following
official dispatch from the seat of war:
"VERONA, _Saturday, June 25_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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