The War in Italy

A clash of empires in Italy

Variously called, ‘The Second Italian War of Independence,’ ‘The Franco-Austrian War.’ ‘The Austro-Sardinian War’ and ‘The Austro-Piedmontese War’ this notable European conflict of the middle years of the nineteenth century played a pivotal role in the shaping of modern Europe. The declining Austro-Hungarian empire of the Hapsburgs struggled to maintain its hold on the Italian states as they fought to create a unified nation. An alliance of Sardinia and France fought the Austrian Empire in northern Italy where, for the final time, both protagonists were commanded in the field by their respective emperors. The conflict was short, lasting only from May to July in 1859, but it included the notable battles of Magenta and Solferino which were both allied victories. The outcome of the war was a negotiated peace prompted by France’s desire not to draw Prussia into the war. This book is drawn from reports made by the Times reporter on the spot and enhanced by forty illustrations by Carlo Bossoli who was a well known scenic artist of the period.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

All depended upon that great agent in strategical combinations, time: the flank movements had to produce their effect before the attack in front could take place, and in this respect the movement at Melegnano was a complete failure. The distance from San Pietro l’Olmo to Melegnano, about 15 or 16 miles, had to be traversed by the 1st corps. It started at five in the morning, but found the road so encumbered by the baggage of the 2nd and 4th corps, which had preceded it, that it could advance but slowly. It passed through Milan in the forenoon, and, like all the other troops, became the object of great ovations on the part of the people, who strewed their road to the battlefield with flowers, till there was not a soldier who had not a nosegay in the nozzle of his musket, not an officer but had at least one laurel-wreath, and flowers enough to form a respectable opera-bouquet. As for the superior officers, they had each the produce of a small garden before them on the saddle. The reception was such, that it made them almost forget that as yet they had not breakfasted; for such was the hurry, that they did not even wait for their coffee. The road was as much encumbered beyond as in the rear of Milan, so that it was half-past three o’clock before the 1st corps could draw up in line, and send off the two divisions to the flanks. While this movement was being executed, the 2nd division (Bazaine), which was to attack in front, halted and cooked its coffee. MacMahon’s corps, on the contrary, had already begun its flank movement to the rear of Melegnano, and having found no enemy at San Giuliano, waded through the Lambro at Carpianello, and continued its way to Mediglia. <br>
There were still more than four hours of daylight, and thus plenty of time to wait for the arrival of the flanking columns. But this was not done. Both the right and the left turning columns had found obstacles in their way. The first found not only the bridges over the canals damaged, but likewise the enemy posted at Pedriano, behind a high stone wall surrounding a large farm-house. As for the left column, it found the bridges over the Lambro broken, and the water, owing to the rain, so high, that it had to seek some time for a ford. In the meantime, the 2nd division, having taken its coffee, hastily advanced towards Melegnano, in front of which it found itself, a little after five p.m., at a distance of 1,000 yards. The Austrians had cut the road and thrown up a barricade upon it, at about 500 yards from the town, and had erected a battery at the entrance of the village itself. Just at the moment the column approached, a thunderstorm, which had been collecting, burst, and retarded the attack for about half an hour.<br>
The Austrian guns opened out, but so little was an attack expected from the front, that the first shot was directed on the flanking columns, which were just then approaching the town, and trying to take up the position assigned to them. The 2nd division formed a line of battle; one battalion of the 1st Zouaves was sent forward, and to the plains, in skirmishing order, the 2nd battalion was ordered to put down its knapsacks and charge the enemy’s battery in front of the village. The 3rd battalion, and the 33rd of the line, were to support the charge.<br>
The Zouaves, full of desire to emulate their comrades who had taken so brilliant a part at Palestro and Magenta, and who had been long complaining of their inactivity, rushed on with even more than their usual élan. The enemy had occupied the approaches to the village, as well as the houses, leaving the road guarded by the skirmishers, who now received the Zouaves with a brisk fire; but they could not stop them, for on they went in one rush to the cemetery, at the entrance to the village. This is a large plot of ground, surrounded by a wall from 15 to 18 feet high, and covered outside with tombstones of black marble embedded in it. The only entrance to it is through a large massive iron gate. This cemetery the enemy occupied in force, as well as the ground planted with vines which slopes down behind it towards the Lambro. Benches surround a little chapel, which is enclosed by the wall, and ladders were placed against the enclosure, to serve as a banquette for the defenders. Yet in spite of these precautions, the resistance was not great, for the rest of the column had already penetrated into the town, and taken a large farmhouse, which forms its left entrance. From this moment till the complete evacuation of the town an hour afterwards, the combat was nothing more nor less than a street fight, entirely borne by the Zouaves and the 33rd. Every house was strongly occupied and obstinately defended. Concealed behind the windows, the enemy, sufficiently protected, directed a murderous fire on the assailants below. But on the Zouaves went, from house to house, with greater and greater fury. Their officers do not wear the Zouave costume, and had become targets for the enemy, who picked them off one after another; this maddened the soldiers to an incredible degree.<br>
Just on the opposite outskirts of the town is a large building, once a chateau, and lately used by the Austrians as a house of correction; it occupies one side of an open square and is surrounded by a large dry ditch. There is a double gateway to it from the square; the outer, a square tower, having evidently once been connected by a drawbridge with the inner one; a causeway now leads over it, and through this the Austrians had to make their way. They were caught by the Zouaves and a number bayoneted. Those who could get through in time ran to the garden, which leads from the courtyard into the fields. A massive iron gate separates the two, which the Austrians found means to shut. The building on all other sides is surrounded by a ditch, flanked with masonry about 15 feet high; so the Austrians could escape to the fields.