Persano reached Lissa on the morning of the 18th of July, and began a tremendous bombardment of the forts, which, though answered with the highest spirit by the Austrians, did most deadly damage to their batteries.  In fact, by the evening, except one or two at a high elevation, they were practically silenced.  At six o’clock Captain Saint Bon took the Formidabile into the narrow harbour to silence the inner works:  a murderous fire rained on the corvette from Fort Wellington, which was too high for the Italian guns to get it into range.  Though Saint Bon’s attempt was not successful, the Italians had effected most of what they aimed at, and might have effected the rest had they continued the bombardment through the night, and so given the Austrians no time to repair their batteries, but at sunset Persano withdrew his fleet to a distance of eight miles.  The Austrians worked all night at mending the batteries that could still be used, and hoped in the coming of Tegethoff.

The telegraph cable connecting the neighbouring island of Lesina with the coast, and so with Pola, had been cut by Persano’s orders; but either (as the writer was told on the spot last year) there was another line that was not noticed, or before the cable was destroyed the official in charge got off a message to Tegethoff, informing him of the arrival of the Italian fleet.  An answer, to the effect that Tegethoff would come to the rescue as soon as possible, fell into the hands of the Italians, but Persano appears not to have believed in it.

The 19th was spent in attempts at landing, which the surf and the energetic play of the repaired batteries rendered fruitless.  The bombardment was renewed, but it was not well conducted.  Saint Bon, who made another plucky entry into the harbour, was unsupported, and, after an hour’s fighting, he was obliged to retire, his ship having suffered severely.

Next morning there was a blinding summer storm, but at about eight o’clock the Esploratore distinguished the forms of ironclads through the rain, and signalled to Persano:  ‘Suspicious vessels in sight.’  Persano answered:  ‘No doubt they are fishing-boats.’  When obliged to admit the truth he gave the order to unite, his ships being scattered in all directions with everything on board at sixes and sevens.  The troops which had again been attempting to land, were in boats, tossed about by the heavy sea.  The surprise was complete.

Persano fought the battle of Lissa with nine ironclads, most of which had received some injuries during the bombardment.  He ordered his wooden ships to keep out of the action altogether.  Tegethoff had seven ironclads and fourteen wooden vessels, all of which he turned to the best account.

Just before the battle Persano left his flagship, the Re d’Italia, and went on board the Affondatore.  By somebody’s mistake it was a long time before the Affondatore hoisted the admiral’s flag, and the fleet continued to look to the Re d’Italia for signals when he was no longer on board.