Prussia and the Rise of the German Empire by George Malleson

Author:George Malleson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ozymandias Press

CHAPTER X

~

IN WRITING A HISTORY OF the re-founding of the German Empire the writer is constrained to bear in mind and to give prominent importance to the decisive events which chiefly tended to accomplish that main object of Prussian policy. Of these the battle of Königgrätz was not only one, but the most important one. It had been decided almost before the Main army had begun to move. One event had preceded it, the battle fought by the Austrians against the Italian allies of Prussia. But as this battle and the combats of the Main army at Kissingen and elsewhere constitute mere side issues, but little if at all affecting the main issue, I shall be pardoned if I devote to the consideration of these less space and less detail than I have given to the decisive battle of Königgrätz.

The first of the side issues to be noticed is the battle of Custoza. When Italy had, in the manner described, resolved to make common cause with Prussia against Austria, and had even refused the offer of Venetia, made to her too tardily by the Austrian Emperor, because she considered herself bound by honour to carry out her engagements with the northern German power, she formed two armies, one, the principal, under the maker of the treaty with Prussia, General La Marmora, to attack the line known as the Verona-Peschiera line; the other, led by General Cialdini, to cross the lower Po into the Venetian territory. To defend the Austrian Italian territories the cabinet of Vienna had placed the Archduke Albert, son of the illustrious Archduke Charles, with the 5th, 7th, and 9th army corps, an infantry reserve of four regiments, constituting a total of 73,000 men and 272 guns, between Pastrengo and San Bonifacio, in such a position that he could easily operate against an enemy on either bank of the Adige. The Archduke was forty-nine years old; had been brought up at the feet of Radetzky; had seen many combats, but had never commanded in chief in war.

King Victor Emanuel had, on the eve of the breaking out of hostilities, joined and taken command of the principal army, which counted 146,000 men and 228 guns. He had resolved to cross the Mincio as soon as he should hear that hostilities had broken out in Germany. This information reached him on the 23d of June. Accordingly, he at once ordered the passage of that river.

The news that the Italians had crossed the Mincio reached Archduke Albert at two o’clock on the afternoon of the same day. Divining that it was the intention of Victor Emanuel to march by way of Villafranca and Isola della Scala to cross the Adige, so as to give touch to the advancing troops of Cialdini, and finding his convictions confirmed by the reports of his officers sent to reconnoitre, the Archduke resolved to seize at once the high ground between Somma Campagna, Sona, and San Giustina on the one side, and Valeggio, Monzambano, and Peschiera on the other, thence to assail the left flank of the Italian army on its march to the Adige.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.