Page:Decisive Battles Since Waterloo.djvu/240

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DECISIVE BATTLES SINCE WATERLOO.

the Division Bazaine for aid, while the Austrians stand waiting for their 2d corps, which never arrived.

Baraguey d'Hilliers perceives that progress from this side is impossible; accordingly he orders his men to attack the cemetery from the rear, and the hill is taken at last. While the 1st French corps is actively engaged, the 2d corps engages the 1st Austrian corps. The Austrians capture Cassiano and Carriano, threatening to cut off MacMahon's retreat. But success at Solferino gives the French some men to spare. The assault is again taken up and the Austrians are forced back. General Maneque holds his position on the high ground of Monte Sacre and General Noël advances on San Cassiano. Marshal MacMahon is enabled to protect his flanks and even to assume the offensive. About five o'clock a strong body of Austrian hussars try to turn MacMahon's left. They advance at a charge and force their way through some French cavalry patrols, through a battalion of Decaen's division, and crowd back some of the imperial cavalry, but do not succeed in breaking the French line.

When Marshal MacMahon learned that General Noël intended to advance on Carriano, he took the offensive, pushing forward the 1st division on Solferino to join the grenadiers protecting San Cassiano. General La Motte-Rouge turning from the right of San Cassiano proceeded to attack the Austrians who were strongly posted there. The Chasseurs d'Afrique headed the column but were driven back, and a second attempt had a similar result.

Even after losing his position at Solferino the Austrian emperor hoped for victory. He believed that on the plateau of Carriano the issue of the day might be changed, and therefore he moved there with his head-quarters. By a movement of General Wimpffen the 1st and 2d French corps were separated; the emperor then ordered Wimpffen to combine his forces on Castiglione and to press the French as vigorously as possible. The Aus-