Conflict:
The Battle of Alma was the first major engagement of the Crimean War (1853-1856).
Date:
The fighting along the Alma River took place on September 20, 1854.
Armies & Commanders:
British, French, Ottomans
- Lord Raglan
- Marshal Jacques St. Arnaud
- 60,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, 132 guns
Russian Empire
- Prince Aleksandr Menshikov
- 33,000 infantry, 3,200 cavalry, 120 guns
Battle Summary:
Landing at Calamity Bay on September 13, 1854, the combined French and British forces of Marshal Jacques St. Arnaud and Lord Raglan began marching south towards the Russian port and naval base at Sevastopol. A trek of approximately 35 miles, the allied force was required to cross three rivers en route their objective. In an effort to block the advance, Russian General Prince Aleksandr Menshikov positioned his forces behind the second river, the Alma, and ordered artillery positions prepared across from the village of Bourliouk.
Menshikov's position appeared strong as the south bank of the Alma was a sheer cliff from the coast inland to Telegraph Hill. Immediately to the east of Telegraph Hill was Kourgane Hill, which featured a large prepared position known as the Greater Redoubt. The road to Sevastopol ran in the valley between the two hills. To break through the Russian line, St. Arnaud proposed sending French troops across the river near the coast. Supported by the guns of the fleet, they would scale the cliffs, drawing the Russians away from the two hills. This would permit the British to attack across the river.
The operation began according to plan with the French successfully scaling the cliffs. Unfortunately, the French commanders on south bank were unable to advance without reinforcements, which were slow to arrive. To the east, the British began to cross the river with Sir George Brown's Light Division and Sir George de Lacy Evans' 2nd Division in the lead. As the two divisions crossed the river and worked their way over and through numerous obstacles, they became intermixed. Unable to realign their troops under fire, British officers urged their men to attack up Kourgane Hill.
Surging forward, the British opened fire on the Russians, driving them back. The British soldiers successfully captured the Greater Redoubt, but were forced to withdraw back down the hill as casualties mounted and a large body of Russian infantry approached. As this attack was taking place, a curious episode occurred. Lord Raglan and his staff, leaving his commanders to make the assault, rode across the river and, after inadvertently evading both sides' picket lines, occupied a position on a spur of Telegraph Hill. As a result, he commanded the battle from behind the enemy's lines.
From his position, Raglan called for artillery to join him and soon two nine-pounder guns were supporting the renewed attacks on Kourgane Hill. In front of the hill, the Duke of Cambridge's 1st Division was launching another assault. Moving up the hill, firing as they advanced, his men were able to retake the Greater Redoubt after heavy fighting. To the west, other elements of the 1st Division secured Telegraph Hill. British infantry on both hills were quickly joined by artillery, which began firing into the retreating Russian troops.
Aftermath & Impact:
Casualties for the combined army at Alma were 1,340 killed and wounded for the French and 2,002 for the British. On the Russian side, killed and wounded numbered 5,709. Following the battle, Raglan urged St. Arnaud to quickly march on Sevastopol, but the marshal declined. As a result, the Russians were able to recover and force the allies to fight on for two more years. Though a victory, the Battle of Alma exposed a number of weaknesses in the British Army, ranging from command and control issues to problems with basic drill and maneuvers.
