The great battle of Solferino is yet but partially understood,
and its effects political and military are still undeveloped. We see it in its broad features ; its details are shrouded in the smoke of tootle. Neither side is very communicative. We only know that the Austrians unexpectedly recrossed the Mind° on the night of the 23d of June ; that on the 24th they attempted to envelop the Allied Army by threatening their centre and striving to assail their flanks ; that they made some progress on their right, but that their left attack was a total failure. Seeing the Sardinians holding fast, and observing the wide sweep of the Austrian left, the French Emperor fell upon the centre with his Guards and three corps d'armee. This grand attack was suc- cessful; the Austrians yielded step by step, striking out man- fully and destructively, and disappeared in the gloom of a tem- pest of rain. The wings had to follow the example of the centre, and when the storm ceased, the Austrians had gained the right bank of the llincio in unbroken order. It is plain they fought splendidly, and were beaten by their own commander, who had, no reserve at the critical moment. The Emperor Napoleon has again shown himself to be no contemptible successor of his great uncle.
The battle has solved one military problem—how the Allies would force a passage over the Mincio. They have crossed it un- opposed, and the Western face of Peachier& has been invested by the Sardinians. The Austrians have retired to Verona and Legnago, and Hess seems disposed to play a waiting game. The period of sieges seems to have arrived ; and no doubt the French Emperor will walk more warily than ever now he is in the quadrilatere.
