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The Piedmontese Army

Introduction
The 1859 war fought by Piedmont and France against Austria affords some interesting peculiarities to wargamers. It represents, with the Austrian-Prussian war and the Austro-Italian war of 1866, the European junction between the Crimean War and the 1870 war.
Tactics were the same as in the Crimea. Armies still fought in line and there were many similarities with the ACW (rifled muskets and guns) too. One main advantage of this is Crimean or ACW rules are suitable for Italian Risorgimento wars with only some little modifications. Another advantage is fighting armies can be utilizable for Crimea (Piedmontese and French), for the 1866 war (Italians and Austrians) or for 1870 (French). The 1859 war was fought in a limited theatre, the Padane Plain (Kanura Padana in Italian) between the Po river and the Alps chain, so it is fit for a limited campaign. Uniform lovers will enjoy painting colourful French and Austrian soldiers.
With these characteristics, the 1859 war is a good alternative to the "overexposed" ACW or a colourful subsidiary period to Napoleonics.

Causes of the War

The 1859 War is called by Italians the Second Independence War; it was the second war little Piedmont fought to liberate Italian territories occupied directly by Austria after the Restoration (like Lombardy and Venetia) or ruled by Princes subordinate to the Habsburgs.
The first attempt - the 1848-1849 war - had worked out with the final defeat of Novara.
The Kingdom of Sardinia was too small a power to challenge by itself the great Austrian Empire with any hope of success. The new young king, Victor Emmanuel II, who had succeeded Charles Albert on the throne, and the new Piedmontese Fist Minister, Camillo Benso, count of Cavour, saw that to beat Austria it was indispensable to get a strong ally. Imperial and liberal France of Napoleon HI seemed suitable. The new Emperor could not wish for anything better than a favourable circumstance to revive the glorious times of this great uncle. To attract Paris and London to the Italian cause, Cavour sent an expeditionary force of 15,000 men to the Crimea. Alien he succeeded in convincing Napoleon to sign a treaty of defensive alliance (January, 1859). France undertook to come to the aid of Piedmont in the event of attack by Austria. Cavour acted with great ability. He managed affairs so that Austria fell into the trap and declared war on Piedmont in March 1859. This provoked the immediate intervention of France. French troops began to land at Genova or crossed the Alps.

The Piedmontese Army

During the ten years since the end of the First Independence War (1848-1849) the Piedmontese Army had been reformed, with more modern principles and conceptions. The outcome was a more brisk, efficient and warlike army, animated with a deep patriotic feeling.

Organisation

Infantry
Infantry was of two types: line and light (the Bersaglieri).
The Line infantry had 10 brigades, each led by a Major General. Each brigade was formed of two regiments; each regiment had four battalions, each of four companies. Each battalion had a paper strength of 676 officers and men, but the average real strength was from 550 to 600. Regiments, save two of Sardinian Grenadiers (in Italian: Granatieri di Sardegna) which came before others and had a separate numeration, were numbered from 1 to 18, in accordance with their seniority. Brigades were: Granatieri di Sardegna (Sardinian Grenadiers), Savoia, Piemonte, Aosta, Cuneo, Regina, Casale, Pinerolo, Savoia, Acqui. Bersaglieri included 10 independent battalions, each with four companies; each battalion should have had a strength of 680 officers and men, but, like the line infantry, the average real strength was from 550 to 600 men.
Bersaglieri consisted of carefully chosen men; with the grenadiers they were the best Piedmontese troops.

CavalryCavalry comprised four heavy horse regiments (Nizza, Piemonte Reale, Savoia, Genova) and five light horses called in Italian Cavalleggeri (Novara, Aosta, Saluzzo, Monferrato, Alessandria). Each regiment had four squadrons, each with 100 cavalrymen.

ArtilleryField artillery comprised one regiment with two horse batteries and eighteen foot batteries; each battery had eight pieces. Seven batteries had eight 16pdrs, ten batteries had six 8pdrs and two 15cm howitzers, one battery had eight 15cm howitzers. Each horse battery had six 8pdrs and two 15cm howitzers. Batteries went on campaign with only 6 pieces each. On June 24th, day of the battle of San Martino, only batteries with 16pdr guns and the howitzer battery had eight pieces. All guns were smoothbore. Effective range for the 8pdr was about 1000 metres, firing a roundshot of about 3 kilogrammes. Grapeshot consisted of 41 iron balls; it had a range under 400 metres. 'Me 16pdr had an effective range of about 1200 metres; it fired a ball of 6.25 kilogrammes. Grapeshot consisted of 41 iron balls with a diameter of 38mm and was effective to 600 metres. Point blank was at about 300 metres. The 15cm howitzer fired a grenade of 8 kilogrammes or a grapeshot of 70 iron balls. The effective range against a limited target was about 1400 metres; against bigger targets like villages it reached 2000 metres.

Grand tactical organisation

For the 1859 war the Piedmontese Army was set up in five infantry divisions and one cavalry division.
Each infantry division comprised two line infantry brigades, two Bersaglieri battalions (each brigade had one), one light horse regiment and three batteries (one 16pdr, and two 8pdr). Two 16pdr batteries and the howitzer battery formed the reserve.
The cavalry division comprised two heavy cavalry brigades, each with two regiments and one horse battery.
To these forces were added the Corps of Cacciatori of the Alpi (Alps Rifles) led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who for this occasion was raised to the rank of Major-General in the Piedmontese Army, and the Cacciatori of the Appennini.
The Cacciatori of the Alpi comprised volunteers coming chiefly from Lombardy, Venetia and Tuscany who had fled away to Piedmont to fight against Austria and who had not been enlisted in the Piedmontese regular army.
Cacciatori of the Alpi comprised 3 infantry regiments; at the beginning each regiment had two battalions of 500-600 men. Besides these there were one scout half-squadron of 60 cavalrymen and a half company of 48 Genoese Carabineers Then, with the prosecution of the campaign and with the continuous flowing of volunteers, each regiment had four battalions. Genoese Carabineers increased to three companies. Towards the end of the war, at the end of July, a battalion of Valtellina volunteers, a battalion of Teenagers with three companies, and a company of engineers were added.
Artillery of Cacciatori of the Alpi consisted of two sections (each of 2 pieces) of 15cm howitzers; captured Austrian guns were employed in the prosecution of the campaign Cacciatori of the Appennini comprised four infantry battalions, each of 4 companies. They were added to Cacciatori of the Alpi early in August.

Uniforms

In the following descriptions I have considered only uniforms as they were worn on campaign and as they ought to be painted by wargamers.
Line Infantry Shako, covered with a black rubberized cloth, with the regiment's number painted white (grenadiers regiments had no number). Tassels were blue with white centre and blue company number for the first regiment of each brigade; these colours were reversed for the second regiment. Tassels of Grenadiers of Sardinia brigade were red with blue centre and red company number for the first regiment, with white centre and red number for the second. The campaign dress consisted of a light grey~-bluish greatcoat (more grey than blue); it was worn directly over the shirt, and the front teils lifted up. Buttons were of white metal three pointed tabs in the brigade facing colour were worn on the collar. Grenadiers of Sardinia had white frogs. Ties were black, with the exception of Savoia Brigade which had red ones.
Trousers were of white cloth. They were tucked into dark brown leather leggings. Shoes were dark brown, almost black.

Distinctive colours were as follows:
Granatieri di Sardegna	1st rgt.	white frogs, piped red
	2nd rgt
Savoia	1st rgt,	black velvet, trimmed with
	2nd rgt.	scarlet
Piemonte	3rd rgt.	red
	4th rgt
Aosta	5th rgt.	scarlet
	6th rgt.
Cuneo	7th rgt.	crimson
	8th rgt.
Regina	9th rgt.	white
	10th rgt.
Casale	11th rgt.	yellow
	12th rgt.
Pinerolo	13th rgt.	black velvet, trimmed red
	14th rgt.
Savona	15th rgt.	white
	16th rgt.
Acqui	17th rgt.	deep yellow
	18th rgt.

Equipment and armament.
Black leather cartridge box on a white leather waistbelt; this had a yellow plate with a white metal Savoia cross. Knapsack was black leather; blanket was buff; blanket and knapsack's belts were black leather. A barrel-shaped, wooden canteen was carried on the right side; a white and blue striped cloth haversack was carried on the left side. Canteen and haversack's belts were dark natural leather. Armament consisted of a smoothbore percussion 1844 model musket, a bayonet and a straight short sword with brass hilt. Scabbards were black leather with brass fittings.

Drummershad same dress as infantrymen. A white leather apron was carried on the left leg. Drums had a yellow metal case; rims were painted with green, white, red oblique (from the right to the left) stripes. Ropes were white; drumsticks were of natural wood.

Officers Shako covered with black cloth; black leather low crown; on the front there was the number of the regiment, silver painted; cockade from the centre: green, white and red; silver loop and silver metal tassel. Distinctions of rank were carried on the shako. They were as follows: one silver stripe for second-lieutenant, two stripes for lieutenant, three stripes for captain, one big and one little stripe for major, one big and two little stripes for lieutenant colonel, one big and three little stripes for colonel.
Tunic was deep blue with collar and front edge in the distinctive colour of the brigade. Cuffs were deep blue, trimmed with the brigade colour. Savoia brigade had cuff flaps in black, trimmed red. Buttons were in white metal. Vertical back pockets were trimmed in the brigade colour, with three buttons. Officers of every rank had a sky-blue sash worn over the right shoulder; it was tied up on the left side with two sky-blue, fringed knots. Trousers were fight grey-bluish with a brigade's coloured narrow band. Savoia had a red band. Obey could be worn long or, more usually, slipped into dark brown or white leggings or black boots. The waistbelt was white leather with brass plate and silver Savoia cross. Sabre belts were white leather. Armament consisted of a sabre with white metal hilt and black sabre-knot; the scabbard was white metal. As well as the sabre officers had their own pistols.
Officers carried a canteen like that of the men, or their own ones; the light grey-bluish greatcoat - the bournous (an ancestor of the "Montgomery") - was worn rolled up on the left shoulder.

BersaglieriBlack felt hat with round brim. Green-white and red cockade on the front with two yellow' metal rifles St. Andrew crossed and surmounted with a comet. When on campaign the hat was often covered with a black, rubberized cloth. Black iridescent cock feathers plume on the right side.
The campaign dress consis4ed of a deep blue, single-breasted, short tunic, edged crimson, with deep blue collar with crimson tabs, deep blue pointed cuffs and shoulders, both trimmed with crimson. This uniform was the same for all battalions. Buttons were yellow metal; cords and tassels were green; ties were black. Trousers were white cloth and leggings white.

Equipment and Armament
Black leather cartridge box carried on the front; black leather waistbelt. All other equipment same as line infantry. Often (when they attacked the enemy) Bersaglieri put aside the knapsack; sometimes they rolled the buff blanket around their left shoulder.
Armament consisted of a muzzle-loading, rifled Minie carbine, model 1856, with a sight graded up to eight hundred metres, and a straight sword-bayonet with brass hilt. The carbine's strap was black leather; scabbard of the sword was black leather with brass fittings.
Bersaglieri had cornetists. Their uniform was the same as that of the other men. Cornets were yellow metal with green cords and tassels.

Officers Round hat, same as the men, but with bright green feathers. Deep blue, long, double-breasted tunic with crimson collar and pointed cuffs. Buttons were yellow metal; no green cords and tassels. Sky-blue sash, same as fine officers. Deep blue trousers with crimson band slipped into white or dark brown or black leggings or black boots. Waistbelt was black leather. Gloves were black skin.
Armament consisted of a sabre with yellow hilt. Scabbard was white metal.

Heavy cavalry White metal helmet with yellow metal crest and chinstraps; black skin ring. Yellow metal Savoia cross on the front. Deep blue, short, double-breasted tunic edged with the distinctive regiment colour and eight white metal buttons. Collar was in the distinctive colour. Deep blue cuffs and back vertical pockets trimmed in the regimental colour. These colours were as follows: Nizza, crimson; Genova, yellow; Savoia, black with scarlet trimming; ,Piemonte Reale (Royal Piedmont), red. White fringed epaulettes. Light grey-bluish trousers with a deep blue double band; trousers were worn over black half boots.

Equipment and Armament
White leather belts; black cartridge box. On campaign the grey-bluish overcoat was rolled on the right shoulder. Armament consisted of a dark brown lance with a deep sky blue, two pointed guidon and a big pistol (in Italian: pistolone) with a rifle stock suspended from the shoulder belt and a sabre with white metal hilt; scabbard was white metal.

Officers Uniform was the same as the men's, but with silver instead of white. Sky-blue sash. Light grey-bluish trousers, with a double band in the facing colour. Belts were silver with two deep blue stripes; on campaign they were covered with a black cloth. Officers carried a sabre and their own pistols.

Light CavalryShako was the same as the infantry's, but covered with the regiment's facings. Tassels were red for all regiments and squadrons. When in full dress, and some times on campaign too, a long black horse hair tail was worn. On campaign the shako was covered with yellowish rubberized cloth. Dress consisted of a deep blue, short, double-breasted tunic edged in the distinctive colour, with white metal buttons. Tunic had a deep blue collar with three pointed tabs in the distinctive colour, deep blue pointed cuffs and black pockets trimmed in the distinctive colour. Colours were as follows: Novara, white; Aosta, scarlet; Saluzzo, yellow; Monferrato, crimson; Alessandria, orange. White fringed epaulettes. Trousers were same as Heavy Cavalry.
Trumpeters had as distinctions a white trim on the frontal and lower edges of the collar.

Equipment and Armament
Equipment was the same as heavy cavalry. As for armament, Novara and Aosta had a lance and a big pistol, same as heavy cavalry and a sabre; the other three regiments had a rifled carabine, carried across the men's backs, and a pistol and sabre.

Horse equipment and furniture
For both heavy and light cavalry: deep blue pointed saddle cloth with royal cyphers on the tails and white braid on the edge. Officers had silver braid. Deep blue bag with white braid and black belts. Men had a deep brown or black fur on their saddle cloth. Light yellow ochre knapsacks on both sides of the saddlecloth. All horse furniture was black leather. When on campaign the saddlecloth's tails were turned over to protect embroidered cyphers. The saddlecloth's back was light brown.

Artillery
Shako was the same as line infantry. It was covered with a black cloth; badge was a yellow grenade with flame and two crossed gun barrels. Tassel was red with black centre. Horse artillery had the blackhorse hair, as light cavalry. Deep blue, double-breasted tunic, with eleven yellow metal buttons; black collar and pointed cuffs trimmed yellow. Yellow leather belts; black cartridge belt with yellow cypher, as on the shako. Light grey-bluish trousers with a deep blue band.
Artillerymen were armed with a model 1844 rifled musket and a straight, short sabre bayonet. Horse artillery had sabres.
Guns were painted light grey-bluish.

Train
Shako covered with black cloth, with white Savoia cross on the front. Red tassel with black centre. Double breasted, deep blue tunic, collar and cuffs trimmed red; buttons white metal; white fringed epaulettes. Light grey-bluish trousers with double deep blue band (red for officers). All belts black leather.

General Officers
Deep blue kepi with scarlet trimming and band, with silver "Greek" braid; black leather peak. Deep blue, double-breasted tunic, with scarlet collar, square cuffs and front edge. On collar and cuffs silver Greek braid. Buttons and shoulder-knots on the right side were silver. Waistbelt of white leather. Light grey-bluish trousers with silver band. Gold sabre knot. Scabbard of white metal. Saddle cloth was red with silver braid.

Flags
Each regiment had one flag. Infantry flags were 1.35m square, with three vertical bands, from the pole: bright green, white, and red. Red central Savoia shield with white cross, blue edge and golden crown. Double sky blue tie with two silver cords and tassels. Poles were sky blue with gilt point. Cavalry standards had the same design and colours; they were 60cm square. Flags were carried by a second lieutenant of the second battalion. Standards by the youngest second lieutenant of the regiment.

Cacciatori Delle Alpi (Alps Hunters)
Infantry Deep blue kepi with green band and trimmings; white bugle horn and crown. Black peak. Greatcoat was the same as line infantry, with deep green three pointed tabs on the collar. Deep blue trousers with narrow green band. Deep brown leggings. Black waistbelt and cartridge box. Other equipment and armament were the same as line infantry. Knapsacks were frequently put aside and blankets were rolled over the left shoulder. From June the greatcoat was replaced with a more comfortable short, light grey-bluish jacket. Blue trousers were retained or replaced with white or brown ones.

Officers Deep blue kepi with green band and trimmings and silver badge' Deep blue, double-breasted tunic with green collar, pointed cuffs and front edge. Silver chevrons on sleeves and silver epaulettes. Sky blue sash on the right shoulder.Deep blue or grey trousers with green band. Officers had a sabre and their own revolvers.

Carabinieri Genovesi (Genoese Carabineers)
Kepi as infantrymen, but without the green band. Short grey-bluish jacket with black tabs and pointed cuffs. Grey-bluish trousers with black band. Genoese Carabineers were very good marksmen. Armament was their own; it consisted of very good Swiss Federal rifled carbines.
Equipment was the same as other Cacciatori.

Scouts Squadron Grey-bluish kepi with black band and trimmings. Grey-bluish (later, in June, red) dolman with five black frogs and edge; grey-bluish collar (red), trimmed black; black pointed cuffs; long grey-bluish trousers with black band. Belts were white leather. Officers had gold chevrons on their sleeves and silver belts (covered with black cloth on campaign).
Armament consisted of a rifled carabine, two revolvers carried in black saddle holsters and a sabre with white metal hilt; scabbards were white metal. No saddle cloth was worn. Black horse furniture.

ArtilleryDeep blue kepi; short grey-bluish jacket with black collar and pointed cuffs; yellow belt. Grey-bluish trousers with black band.

Valtellina Volunteers battalion and Teenagers battalion
The first had deep blue kepis, short grey jackets, grey or tan or light brown trousers. The second had deep blue kepis, grey-bluish jackets with black tabs and pointed cuffs.
Equipment was the same as other units of the Cacciatori.

Cacciatori degli Appennini (Appennine Hunters)
Same uniforms as Alps Hunters, but with sky blue facings instead of green. They, had no cavalry or artillery.
The uniform of General Garibaldi was the same as that of Piedmontese generals, but Garibaldi usually sported a sky blue handkerchief around the collar.

Selected Bibliography
Cantelli, G., Le prime uniformi dell'Esercito Italiano, publ. by the Ufficio Storico of the Stato Maggiore Esercito (Italian general Staff). Available.
Chiappa, E., "Le Uniformi del Corpo di Spedizione Sardo in Crimea" (Uniforms of the Sardinian Expeditionary Corp in Crimea), publ. in Eserciti and Armi Magazine, n.2/1971.
Cenni, Q., Album delta Campagna del 1859 (Album of the 1859 Campaign). Published by Italian General Staff in 1909. It is not available, of course, but 1 can send coloured photos of it on request. L'Armata Sarda a San Martino. This is a set of twenty wonderful postcards taken from watercolours by Quinto Cenni. It is published by the Museo of San Martino and Solferino. Available
Gasparinetti, A., L'Uniforme Italiana nella Storia e nell'Arts. Out of print
Gibellini, V., Uniformi militari del Piemonte. It is in the book: Le Uniformi degli Eserciti Italiani. It is a great work with hundreds of coloured pictures
Puletti, R., Caricat (A history of the Italian Cavalry). Out of print but still available in some Italian bookshops. A very good book with a lot of information and many coloured pictures
Sterratino, F., "Le Armi dell'Esercito Piemontese" (Weapons of the Piedmontese Army) in Eserciti and Army Magazine, n.2/1971. Toneatto, E.,"La battaglia di Montebello" (with many notes on Piedmontese Uniforms); "I Cacciatori delle Alpi nella Campagna del 1859"; both are in Eserciti and Armi Magazine n. 14 and n. 17. Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore Esercito (Italian General Staff), La Guerra del 1859, vol.I

by Luigi Casali, Miniature Wargames No 45, April 1987