Following the Battle of Montebello, Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II decided Ferenc Gyulay was tied down at the Po.

Cialdini's 4th Division led the advance guard, supported by Manfredo Fanti and Giovanni Durando.

[7] On 23 May, Garibaldi took the Austrian garrison at Sesto Calende[7] In the meantime, on the 25 May, 500 Austrian riflemen, 130 Uhlans, and two guns from Gallarate attacked a company led by Carlo De Cristoforis at Sesto Calende, but were rejected to Somma Lombardo.

Urban, evaluating correctly that the enemy forces were more numerous and well entrenched, ordered a retreated on Binago and San Salvatore [it].

The encounter that followed was a victory to Urban, who, after repulsing the Cacciatori delle Alpi, proceeded to reentry Como in good order.