20th Infantry Regiment "Brescia"

After the armistice the Austrians sent troops to occupy the duchies of Parma and Piacenza and Duchy of Modena and Reggio, while King Charles Albert began to expand his army with the intent to resume the war at the earliest opportunity. On 16 September 1848, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the 19th Infantry Regiment and 20th Infantry Regiment with the Lombard volunteers, who had retreated with the Royal Sardinian Army over the Ticino river after the signing of the armistice. The 19th Infantry Regiment was formed with the I, III, V, IX, X, XI provisional Lombard battalions, while the 20th Infantry Regiment was formed with the II, IV, VI provisional Lombard battalions, the 1st Brescian [[Jäger (infantry)|Jäger]] Regiment, the 2nd Lombard Legion, and the [[Cremona|Cremonese]] Volunteer Battalion. The two regiments formed the 1st Brigade of the Lombard Division, which was commanded by General [[Girolamo Ramorino]]. On 1 October 1848, the 19th Infantry Regiment ceded two battalions to help form the [[21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona"|21st Infantry Regiment]], which also received the XXII Provisional Lombard Battalion, while on the same date the 20th Infantry Regiment ceded three battalions to help form the [[22nd Infantry Regiment "Cremona"|22nd Infantry Regiment]]. The two new regiments formed the 2nd Brigade of the Lombard Division.<ref name="20° Fanteria"/>

After the armistice the Austrians sent troops to occupy the duchies of Parma and Piacenza and Duchy of Modena and Reggio, while King Charles Albert began to expand his army with the intent to resume the war at the earliest opportunity. On 16 September 1848, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the 19th Infantry Regiment and 20th Infantry Regiment with the Lombard volunteers, who had retreated with the Royal Sardinian Army over the Ticino river after the signing of the armistice. The 19th Infantry Regiment was formed with the I, III, V, IX, X, XI provisional Lombard battalions, while the 20th Infantry Regiment was formed with the II, IV, VI provisional Lombard battalions, the 1st Brescian [[Jäger (infantry)|Jäger]] Regiment, the 2nd Lombard Legion, and the [[Cremona|Cremonese]] Volunteer Battalion. The two regiments formed the 1st Brigade of the Lombard Division, which was commanded by General [[Girolamo Ramorino]]. On 1 October 1848, the 19th Infantry Regiment ceded two battalions to help form the [[21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona"|21st Infantry Regiment]], which also received the XXII Provisional Lombard Battalion, while on the same date the 20th Infantry Regiment ceded three battalions to help form the [[22nd Infantry Regiment "Cremona"|22nd Infantry Regiment]]. The two new regiments formed the 2nd Brigade of the Lombard Division.<ref name="20° Fanteria"/>

On 1 March 1849, the Sardinian [[Chamber of Deputies (Kingdom of Sardinia)|Chamber of Deputies]] voted for the resumption of the war, with 94 votes in favour and 24 against. King Charles Albert decided that hostilities would resume on 20 March and, as stipulated in the 1848 armistice, the Austrians were informed about the continuation of the war eight days before the hostilities resumed. Charles Albert massed his army near [[Novara]], while the Lombard Division under General Ramorino was sent to guard the Ticino river crossings at [[Pavia]]. On 20 March, the Lombard division was at [[Cava Manara|La Cava]], from where it was be possible to observe the Ticino river from Pavia to its confluence with the [[Po (river)|Po]] river. In the event the Lombard Division was attacked it was to retreat North through [[Sannazzaro de' Burgondi|Sannazzaro]] towards [[Mortara, Lombardy|Mortara]]. However, early on 20 March General Ramorino abandoned La Cava and moved his division South across the Po river, leaving only the [[21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona"|21st Infantry Regiment]] at La Cava with orders to retreat across the Po river if the regiment was attacked. At noon on the same day the whole Austrian Army crossed the Ticino river at Pavia and, even though the 21st Infantry Regiment led Major [[Luciano Manara]] resisted for six hours, the Austrians fixed the 21st Infantry Regiment in place with a screening forces, while the main body of the army marched North towards Mortara and [[Vigevano]].<ref name="20° Fanteria"/>

On 1 March 1849, the Sardinian [[Chamber of Deputies (Kingdom of Sardinia)|Chamber of Deputies]] voted for the resumption of the war, with 94 votes in favour and 24 against. King Charles Albert decided that hostilities would resume on 20 March and, as stipulated in the 1848 armistice, the Austrians were informed about the continuation of the war eight days before the hostilities resumed. Charles Albert massed his army near [[Novara]], while the Lombard Division under General Ramorino was sent to guard the Ticino river crossings at [[Pavia]]. On 20 March, the Lombard division was at [[Cava Manara|La Cava]], from where it was possible to observe the Ticino river from Pavia to its confluence with the [[Po (river)|Po]] river. In the event the Lombard Division was attacked it was to retreat North through [[Sannazzaro de' Burgondi|Sannazzaro]] towards [[Mortara, Lombardy|Mortara]]. However, early on 20 March General Ramorino abandoned La Cava and moved his division South across the Po river, leaving only the [[21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona"|21st Infantry Regiment]] at La Cava with orders to retreat across the Po river if the regiment was attacked. At noon on the same day the whole Austrian Army crossed the Ticino river at Pavia and, even though the 21st Infantry Regiment led Major [[Luciano Manara]] resisted for six hours, the Austrians fixed the 21st Infantry Regiment in place with a screening forces, while the main body of the army marched North towards Mortara and [[Vigevano]].<ref name="20° Fanteria"/>

Ultimately the 21st Infantry Regiment was forced to retreat across the Po river, where it joined with the rest of the Lombard Division, which played no role in the remaining events of the war. On 22-23 March 1849, Field Marshal Radetzky decisively defeated the Sardinians in the [[Battle of Novara (1849)|Battle of Novara]] and on the evening of the same day King Charles Albert abdicated in favour of his son [[Victor Emmanuel II|Victor Emmanuel]]. On 24 March, the new king met with Radetzky at [[Novara|Vignale]] and agreed to an armistice, which ended the short Second Campaign of the First Italian War of Independence. As a consequence of the Sardinian defeat the Lombard Division and its four regiments were disbanded in May 1849.<ref name="20° Fanteria"/>

Ultimately the 21st Infantry Regiment was forced to retreat across the Po river, where it joined with the rest of the Lombard Division, which played no role in the remaining events of the war. On 22-23 March 1849, Field Marshal Radetzky decisively defeated the Sardinians in the [[Battle of Novara (1849)|Battle of Novara]] and on the evening of the same day King Charles Albert abdicated in favour of his son [[Victor Emmanuel II|Victor Emmanuel]]. On 24 March, the new king met with Radetzky at [[Novara|Vignale]] and agreed to an armistice, which ended the short Second Campaign of the First Italian War of Independence. As a consequence of the Sardinian defeat the Lombard Division and its four regiments were disbanded in May 1849.<ref name="20° Fanteria"/>