 La Marmora moved first through Mantua and Peschiera del Garda, but was defeated at the Battle of Custoza on 24 June and retreated in disorder back across the Mincio river.Cialdini, on the other hand, did not act offensively for the first part of the war, conducting only several shows of force and failed to besiege the Austrian fortress of Borgoforte, south of the Po.Following the defeat at Custoza, the Italians reorganized in preparation for a presumed Austrian counter-offensive.