The life of Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde

4 June 1859

Battle of Magenta

VOL. II. 2 E

Early in April 1861, he was on his way to Paris, glad to escape from the claims which society imposes upon its favourites, and fortified with an excuse for declining various tokens of respect of a public nature, which his fame and popularity invited. General Vinoy happened to be in Paris, and in his society he spent a month before continuing his journey to Italy. From the entries in his journal, which he recommenced in 1861, he appears to have sufiered at times from a recurrence of his old attacks of fever and ague, one of which seized him before leaving Paris. Passing through Turin, he made his way to Magenta, the scene of the conflict in the campaign of 1859. ''Journal, 10th May. — Visited the field of battle. So enclosed and covered with vines and trees and cultivation, that I now comprehend the difficulty of the Austrians acting in a close line, and of the advantage to the French in the employment

Chapter of the newly established order of the Star

At the end of May, Lord Clyde was on his way to Paris, where he remained three weeks, spending his time most agreeably in the society of General and Madame Vinoy and their friends. The open-air life of the French metropolis was very congenial to him, and he notes in his journal the pleasure it gave him to meet "his old friend Marshal Canrobert," General MoUard, and other officers, whom he had known in the Crimea. Nor was he forgetful of those who had passed away. ^^ Journal^ June 2d. — Attended a religious ceremony observed at the church of La Trinity on the anniversary of the death of General Espinasse, killed at the battle of Magenta. The father and brother of Madame Espinasse called and left their cards on me afterwards, to mark their appreciation of the respect I desired to show to the memory of their relation."

24 June 1859

Battle of Solferino

VOL. II. 2 E

Passing through Milan, he stopped at Desenzano, for the purpose of examining the battle-field of Sol- ferino. ''Journal, \^th May. — Went to Solferino heights vid San Martino, Madonna Scoperlo, and Poz- zolengo. From the heights of Solferino the whole of this very extensive field of battle may be seen. The French army were evidently in hand ; and I conceive the Emperor Louis Napoleon to have been better informed of the movements and objects of the Aus- trians on that day, than the latter were of those of the French. From what I heard from Vinoy, the whole of the regiments, with the exception of a couple of companies of each as a reserve, were employed in attack. They formed a loose line in skirmishing order, each man acting for himself in this sense, and independently, when he thought fit, although in fact in line, but quite out of hand for any formation. The numbers thus employed were far more numerous than the Austrian line of skirmishers, and their numerical superiority enabled the French to break through the Austrian line of skirmishers, and to envelop the troops formed in rear in support. Thus the long range of the French artillery enabled it to punish and disorganise the reserve of all arms. La Marmora spoke most favourably of the Austrian soldier. He was brave and well instructed; but somehow or other his superior oflScers were at fault