On May 21st 1859, the day after the battle in the Pavia area, a witness narrates what happened when the Austrians surrendered. The account was sent to Milan and its still preserved complete with its stamp, a 5 soldi from Lombardy-Venetia…
The Austrian retreat, experienced at first hand
“The cannon fire of yesterday, which I announced in the direction of Casteggio,led to the following manoeuvres: Stadion, a military commander and a resident of Casteggio, yesterday sent a brigade led by the Cavalry Commander Sciatscioschi to carry out reconnaissance operations in the area around Voghera”.
Thus begins the letter written from Corteolona (Pavia) on May 21st 1859. This was the day after the land battle of Montebello, which was the first and one of the most notable episodes of the Second Italian War of Independence. On one side were the generals de Sonnaz and Forey, leading Piedmontese cavalry and French infantry troops; on the other side, General Stadio leading Austrian forces sent on reconnaissance expeditions beyond the Po, to check what the enemy was intending to do. The latter, having occupied Montebello and passed close to Voghera,spread throughout the area but were soon overcome by the enemy. They were pushed back and forced to cross back over the river, despite the fact they vastly outnumbered their opponents. The outcome of the battle was 1300 soldiers dead or injured on the Austrian side, and 700 for the Piedmontese and French.
The letter summarises the fighting with a slight bias towards the Austrians: “Let it be told and confirmed”, the letter says, “that there was never any lack of valour and courage in the brigade under attack, but unfortunately it had to fully surrender”. The writer goes on to add what can now be read as a premonition, “What’s happened is nothing more than preliminary fighting and skirmishes”. Indeed, the much bloodier clashes at Magenta and Solferino were to take place just a few weeks later.
The letter was sent, as shown by the franking, a Lombardy-Venetia 5 soldi of the second type – on May 22nd from Casalpusterlengo to Milan.
The Austrian retreat, experienced at first hand
“The cannon fire of yesterday, which I announced in the direction of Casteggio,led to the following manoeuvres: Stadion, a military commander and a resident of Casteggio, yesterday sent a brigade led by the Cavalry Commander Sciatscioschi to carry out reconnaissance operations in the area around Voghera”.
Thus begins the letter written from Corteolona (Pavia) on May 21st 1859. This was the day after the land battle of Montebello, which was the first and one of the most notable episodes of the Second Italian War of Independence. On one side were the generals de Sonnaz and Forey, leading Piedmontese cavalry and French infantry troops; on the other side, General Stadio leading Austrian forces sent on reconnaissance expeditions beyond the Po, to check what the enemy was intending to do. The latter, having occupied Montebello and passed close to Voghera,spread throughout the area but were soon overcome by the enemy. They were pushed back and forced to cross back over the river, despite the fact they vastly outnumbered their opponents. The outcome of the battle was 1300 soldiers dead or injured on the Austrian side, and 700 for the Piedmontese and French.
The letter summarises the fighting with a slight bias towards the Austrians: “Let it be told and confirmed”, the letter says, “that there was never any lack of valour and courage in the brigade under attack, but unfortunately it had to fully surrender”. The writer goes on to add what can now be read as a premonition, “What’s happened is nothing more than preliminary fighting and skirmishes”. Indeed, the much bloodier clashes at Magenta and Solferino were to take place just a few weeks later.
The letter was sent, as shown by the franking, a Lombardy-Venetia 5 soldi of the second type – on May 22nd from Casalpusterlengo to Milan.