During August the Papal garrison of Ancona stood at approximately 2,400 men under the command of Count Quatrebarbes. After the arrival of the two columns, under de Courten and Kanzler, this rose to a total of 4,300 fighting men. Following General Lamoricière's entrance after the battle of Castelfidardo the total exceeded 7,000 men.

On the 22nd September, the Italian forces deploying around Ancona, formed a blockade from mouth of the river Eusino to Point Croce. A naval blockade was also established by the squadron of Admiral Persano who commenced firing against the positions on Mounts Marano, Pelago and Pulito where the main advanced fortifications of the city were located.

This squadron, composed of six steam ships, one sailing ship and four transports appeared in the waters near to Ancona on the 17th, and, after reconnoitring the coast, anchored at Senigallia. When the fleet returned to Ancona on the 18th, they remained three miles off the coast. From there they could fire on the defences of the fortress with their rifled guns.

Although this fire was maintained, and had some effect, it was not coordinated with that of the land forces until after the 23rd September. At this time General Fanti and Admiral Persano agreed upon a united course of action in which it was determined that the navy would concentrate its fire on the Citadel and Mount Gardetto, which both commanders recognised as principle objectives, while the troops would assault the positions on Mounts Pelago and Pulito prior to assaulting Mount Gardetto.

To ensure the success of this plan and to facilitate the immediate occupation of Lazzaretto and the lunette on Mount Scrima, Fanti determined to distract the attention of the enemy with a feint on the left of the position, while the guns of the squadron were focused on destroying the batteries on the wharves and concentrating a very heavy fire on the citadel itself.

The naval blockade was maintained rigorously between Point Croce and the sea, off Mount Eusino, under the cover of which, siege materials were disembarked on the beach of Umana from the "Tanaro", which was under the command of the Marchese Del Carretto. Throughout this operation the artillery fire was maintained on the city.

During this bombardment Ancona sustained some damage, even though Persano had ordered that non military structures should not be targeted. To avoid this the ships were forced to come closer to their target, which resulted in the "Carlo Alberto" being hit many times.

Fanti had, in the meantime, made his dispositions for the siege. The 5th Corps was to take the right of the siege line and the 4th Corps the left. This being done he ordered a general advance on the morning of the 24th. Elements of both Corps commenced firing during the afternoon. Before evening the 22nd Bersaglieri, which was detached from the 13th division at Torretta, attacked and occupied the Lunette Scrima forcing the defenders to retire. On the 25th they also occupied the Altavilla hill.

These actions enabled the 23rd and 25th Bersaglieri Battalions, together with the Bologna brigade and the 11th Bersaglieri Battalion, to occupy mounts Pelago and Pulito after a brilliant fight. This in turn made it possible for the entire 13th division (under the command of General Cadorna) to clear the main Pia gate, thus enabling the rest of the 4th Corps to close against the defences.

These Italian successes caused the Papal forces to retire inside the fortress itself, keeping only the Gardetto and Santo Stefano positions outside the main defences. On the day following the disembarking of the siege train at Umana, and heroic assault on the Lazzaretto by the 6th Bersaglieri the Italians were able to established their batteries at 500 to 600 metres from the fortress itself.

General Fanti on the morning of the 29th decided to mount a major assault with two columns, One with the 5th Corps, advancing from the gates of Calamo and Farina and the other with the 4th Corps from the Pia gate.

To prepare for these assaults the naval squadron tried twice to force the entrance to the harbour by sending fire boats in to burn the boom. In both cases they were discovered by the defenders and forced to retreat.

Then, on the 25th and 26th, Persano ordered the "Monzambano" to sail close to the reef near Mount Conero. From here it fired with effect on the Papal batteries. Encouraged by this success, he ordered, on the 27th, three ships (the "Vittorio Emanuele", "Costituzione" and the "Governolo") to form a firing line at the same position. The results were very satisfactory. Next, the Carlo Alberto was sent against the Lanterna battery.

After dismounting several Papal guns Captain Albini was able to get close enough to the enemy to use grapeshot and incendiary shells. The very first rounds hit the magazine, destroying the position and causing the loss of about 100 men.

At 5 pm on the same day General Lamoriciere raised the white flag. The fortress was shaken and the heterogenous garrison, who had been ostracised by the population, were demoralised. He sent Major Mauri to Admiral Persano to ask for a truce but he was redirected to General Fanti. As he had still not arrived by 8 pm, (despite the fact that both sides had ceased firing some time), General Fanti ordered the entire front to recommence firing at midnight, and, for the assault columns to commence their advance at 3.30 am the following day.

However, Major Mauri finally presented himself to Cialdini at 11 pm who ordered him to be escorted to General Fanti. Major Mauri requested a suspension of hostilities for 48 hours but General Fanti would only discuss surrender. Major Mauri returned to Ancona where the majority of the troops were assembled in the citadel for the final defence, with only a few troops defending the walls.

Towards 6 am on the following day the bombardment (which had been delayed) commenced and soon reached a violent pitch of intensity. While the columns were forming for the assault, two Papal officers appeared, asking for a suspension of hostilities. General Cadorna defiantly refused and, after seeing the squadron lined up at the entrance to the harbour disembarking troops at San Ciriaco, he ordered the Pia gate blown up, sending his division through the resulting opening. After passing the first barricade these troops were stopped by order of General Fanti who had just received from Major Mauri and Captain Lepri the official notification of the surrender of the fortress.

The discussions, which lasted until 2 pm, finally resulted in the terms of capitulation. Ancona with its entire arsenal, was immediately to be handed over immediately to the Italians and the garrison was to march out with full military honours and become prisoners.

The garrison was sent first to Jesi and then by train to different parts of Piedmont. The march was very orderly and the population looked on in dignified silence. General Lamoriciere, according to his wishes, boarded the flag ship with his headquarters staff on the following morning. After being released, he proceeded to Rome to tell the Pope of the surrender of the fortress. All other officers, including General De Courten, boarded the "Cavour" and sailed to Genova. There they were released on their word of honour not to take up arms.

Before nightfall the 50th infantry, welcomed by the people of Ancona, took possession of the fortress. They were followed by the Sardinia Grenadier Brigade and the 14th Bersaglieri who camped in the surrounding streets. The military command of the city was taken over by General Pinelli, commander of the Bologna Brigade. The losses in the siege included 27 dead and 188 wounded to the Italians and approximately 900 casualties to the Papal army.

On the same day, 29th September 1860, General Fanti addressed his troops with the following order of the day. "Soldiers ! in 18 days you have beaten the enemy in the field, taken the forts Pesaro, Perugia, Spoleto, San Leo and the fortress of Ancona with the assistance of our glorious squadron. The enemy army, despite its valour, was entirely beaten and captured except for a group of Gendarmes and other stragglers which Monsignori De Merode collected in Comarca di Velletri where he remained for a short time.

I do not know which I should admire more, the valour in the cemetery or the suffering in the marches or the caring and disciplined behaviour toward the population, who bless you for freeing them from martyrdom and humiliation. In the name of Vittorio Emanuele I thank you ! The nation will remember you with pride, and his majesty will compensate you generously as he should those who distinguished themselves above others. You have the gratitude of the one who had the honour of commanding you and with a heart full of joy repeat after me "viva il Re, viva l'Italia".

On the 2nd of October the naval squadron moved from Ancona to Ravenna to meet his Majesty the King and to act as his escort. After boarding the Maria Adelaide he arrived on the afternoon of the 3rd of October in the port of Ancona and entered the city amid the applause of the population. The next morning he assumed command of operations, nominated Fanti as his chief of staff and made the following proclamation.

"I am happy with you because you are worthy of Italy, with arms you beat the enemy, with your behaviour silenced the critics. The captives, which we set free, will speak of Italy and of us in many other lands. They will have learned that God rewards those who serve with justice and charity but not those who oppress the people and stifle the rights of nations. We must set the Italian monarchy on a solid foundation of liberty. The people will help us in this in brotherhood. The national army will increase its glory, - glory that for eight centuries has shone under the cross of Savoy. I now take (personal) command. It would cost me too much not to be the first where there could be the greatest danger".

In taking of command of the army, the King put the highest political and military importance to the votes from various commissions which he had received from Naples and Abruzzi requesting the immediate occupation of the southern provinces. This action would also show the European powers, that he personally, intended to forge a bond between Garibaldi, recently triumphant from Faro to the Volturno, and the Royal army, victorious at Castelfidardo.

The plan of action was altered a little with this change of command. A mobile column under the command of Pinelli was ordered to march up and down the Abruzzi to facilitate the advance of the main body and to prevent reprisals by the Bourbons. Generals Brignone and De Sonnaz received the command of two detachments (destined for Aquila and Naples) which were moved over land as far as Manfredonia and then by sea. Their instructions were to meet in the area between Benevento and Naples.

In the meantime the main army was to follow the Adriatic road up to Pescara and then proceed down the Volturno valley. It was hoped that this movement, which placed it at the rear of the Bourbon army would force them to fight between the Carigliano and Volturno. It would also keep them from the Pontifical border, thus isolating Gaeta, which was known to be the centre of the defence.

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