Towards eleven o’clock D’Aspre arrived, and lost no time in beginning the attack.  He sent post-haste to Radetsky, Appel and Thurn to bring all the reinforcements in their power as fast as possible.  D’Aspre’s daring was rewarded by his carrying La Biccocca at about mid-day, but the Duke of Genoa retook the position with the aid of the valorous ‘Piemonte’ brigade, and by two p.m.  D’Aspre’s brave soldiers were so thoroughly beaten, that nothing could have saved his division from destruction, as he afterwards admitted, had Chrzanowski joined in the pursuit instead of staying behind with more than half the army, in accordance with a preconceived plan of remaining on the defensive.

At two o’clock on the 23rd of March, the news started on the wings of the wind, and, as great news will do, swiftly reached every part of the waiting country, that the Sardinians were getting the best of it, that the cause was saved.  Men who are not very old remember this as the first strong sensation of their lives—­this, and its sequel.

Appel and Thurn, and Wratislaw and the old Field-Marshal were on the march, and by four o’clock they were pouring their fresh troops upon the Piedmontese, who had not known how to profit by their success.  Heroism such as few battlefields have seen, disorder such as has rarely disgraced a beaten army, were displayed side by side in Charles Albert’s ranks.  At eight in the evening, the whole Sardinian army retired into Novara; the Austrians bivouacked on La Biccocca.  The Sardinians had lost 4000 in dead and wounded; the losses of the victors were a thousand less.

All the day long the King courted death, pressing forward where the balls fell like hail and the confusion was at its height, with the answer of despair to the devoted officers who sought to hold him back:  ‘Let me die, this is my last day.’  But death shuns the seeker.  Men fell close beside him, but no charitable ball struck his breast.  In the evening he said to his generals:  ’We have still 40,000 men, cannot we fall back on Alessandria and still make an honourable stand?’ They told him that it could not be done.  Radetsky was asked on what terms he would grant an armistice; he replied:  ’The occupation of a large district in Piedmont, and the heir to the throne as a hostage.’  Then Charles Albert knew what he must do.  ’For eighteen years,’ he said, ’I have made every effort for the good of the people; I grieve to see that my hopes have failed, not so much for myself as for the country.  I have not found death on the field of battle as I ardently desired; perhaps my person is the only obstacle to obtaining juster terms.  I abdicate the crown in favour of my son, Victor Emmanuel.’  And turning to the Duke of Savoy he said:  ’There is your King.’