In July 1848 during the First Italian War of Independence (1848–1849), Stadion took over a patrol column as part of the division of Archduke Ernest of Austria and was commissioned, in association with the brigade of General von Hahne, to disperse the followers of Giuseppe Garibaldi. In January 1849 he was promoted to "generalmajor" (major general) and took over a brigade under "Feldmarschal" (Field Marshal) Joseph Radetzky von Radetz in northern Italy. He took part in the Battle of Novara on 23 March 1849, in which he was seriously wounded. He received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Leopold and the Order of the Iron Crown Second Class for his service in the war.