Crimean Battles - Depth Flashcards
When is war declared and what is the issue?
March 1854
Lack of prep = 6 month window where nothing happens
Where did the British land in Crimea?
September 1854 - Calamita Bay
When is the Battle of Alma?
20th September 1984
British Commander: Raglan
Anglo-French: 60,000 (Two pronged assault)
French Commander: St Aunaud
Lose 4000 - 1/3 British
Russian Commander: Prince Menshikov
35,000
Lose 600
5000 deaths
Britain win due to poorness of Russian Army
What happens at the Battle of Alma?
Allies lands 35 miles North of Sevastopol
Russians waiting at River Alma in a superior position with heavy artillery and 2 redoubts
Britain and France launch a two pronged assault with no cohesion
F go first and are bogged down, failing to spread R out
B charge but divisions bunched together due to Sir George Brown’s shortsightedness
British attack was meant to go through the middle unnoticed
Confusion of F + R
Impact of the change of 93rd Scottish Highlander regiment at Alma
Led by Sir Colin Campbell
Advanced on 10k uncommitted Russians
Fired simultaneously - skilful
Gives the illusion of many soldiers at once due to smoke
Russians turn and run
Raglan does not send Calvary = pressure at Balaclava
Impact of the Battle of Alma
Showed Britain highly unorganised as divisions made their own decisions
Some retreated and some confused F & F, ceasing fire
Gaps in offensive line
Raglan chooses Balacalva Bay due to the port
What were the weapons like in the Crimean War, particularly at Alma?
Russian rifles accurate to 300 places
British rifles accurate to 1200 due to minie ball
Highlanders believed to use minies (or pattern enfield - similiar)
Technology gave Britain a devastating advantage, allowing a win at Alma despite being in a vulnerable position
Allows exploitation of Russian inexperience causing Russian cowardice and inaction even though they had the best position and capability of obliterating the British at Alma - evened out the battlefield with the Russian superiority in numbers
What are the pros/cons of Balaclava Bay being chosen by Raglan?
Raglan channeling his Wellington ! - chooses safer cautious option
Pros:
- Port
- Can reach weaker side of Sevastopol
Cons:
- High cliffs either side with a bay in the middle (failure of reconnaissance/topography foresight)
- French go to Kamiesh - harbour, dock, road to Sevastopol
- Choses Balaclava over harbour villages further west
What problems arise from Balaclava Bay?
High cliffs
Wind funnels through and wrecks ships
No jetty to unload ships - mud bank to offload ships - difficult for soldiers, who would sink with heavy supplies
Food rotted before it reached
British on low ground
Allies spend considerable time deploying siege weapons, fortifications and heavy artillery that is useless - gives Russians time to attack
When is the Battle of Balaclava?
25th October 1854
What is the context to the Battle of Balaclava?
Raglan wants to take Sevastopol
French want to prepare for a siege = 1 month stall (Marshall Conrobert overrides Raglan = weakness)
Russia are able to recoup and gather supplies to alleviate pressure on the oncoming siege
Allies inactive = Menshikov seizes the Causeway Heights and the allies are forced to prepare for the attack, retreating from siege
Battle of Balaclava stats
A
Lord Raglan
Marshall Conrobert
Strength
20k B
7k F
1k Ottomans
41 guns
615 k/w
R
Prince Menshikov
25k strength
78 guns
630 k/w
What is the role of the Thin Red Line at Balaclava?
Ottomans setup redoubts - no Russian support = quick succumbing to the British army
Heavier, better placed artillery position of R pounds Ottomans and British defence, causing chaos
Ottomans retreat = Menshikov sends Russian calvalry charge
Met by the 93rd Highlanders under Collin Campbell who hid on the reverse slope of a hill
Campbell sees no time for squares = 2 rank lines
Opened fire on charging calvalry - devastating
Volleys of Fire at 600, 300 then 150 yards = change in warfare tactics
Superior muskets and bravery
Immortalised in Art and by Russel
Heavy brigade support them after due to their steadfastness
What is the role of the Charge of the Scarlett’s 300?
800 B heavy calvalry v. 3000 R light calvalry but they took advantage of the weak/vulnerable position
Devastating damages to R = retreat
Display of the superiority of the British calvalry - armour + training
Turning point = Russian retreat
Hacked 50, wounded 100
10 S300 die
What miscommunication occurred after the Charge of the Scarlet’s 300?
Lord Cardigan’s light Brigade were only 500ft away and should have charged, capitalising on Russian retreat
Blame game and confusion of contrasting orders
What is the context for the Charge of the Light brigade?
Lord Raglan’s rosy position = sees Turkish guns being stolen from previous redoubt
What are the events of the Charge of the Light Brigade?
Frontal assault on a dug-in Russian position with incredible sight and heavy artillery (30-40 guns) to retrieve Russian guns instead of Turkish guns
Raglan
Initial order to capture guns given through Nolan
Lucan denied without infantry support
Sends note through Nolan - vague (with immediacy)
Pressure on Raglan to do a light calvalry charge
Lucan
Calvalry commander
Did not question Nolan further to not talk to him - aristocratic pride
Low point - cannot see the stolen guns (Raglan’s utter stupidity with topography)
Cardigan
Lucan’s deputy leading Light Brigade
Lucan’s Brother in Law who hated him = no communication or showing eachother doubt
Reportedly had a bath, dined, drank and slept after the Charge
Captain Nolan
Raglan’s Staff Officer - given hasty order
Horseman
Misconstrues the order to Lucan and urges the charge
Scapegoated in parliament by Lucan
“There is your enemy, there are your guns!”
Light Brigade cannot deny another Calvalry attack (3rd or 4th time) and they continue the march out of duty
Heavy fire from 3 sides
Charge of the Light brigade stats
Over half killed or incapacitated by the time they reached the guns
670 total
110 killed, 101 wounded
195 still with horses
Issue of principle
Decimated British morale = outrage
Tennyson’s poem
Still destroyed some guns
Infamous ill-fated charge
Symbolises everything wrong with the British Army - no planning, communication, conflicting orders, vague distant general
Lucan replaced
Raglan heavy blame
How does the battle of Balaclava end?
Russians cannot penetrate British position in Balaclava and retreat though undefeated
What issue arrises out of the end of the Battle of Balaclava?
Russians occupy Causeway Heights
Main supply route cut off into Balaclava to the plateau via Woronzow road
British forced to use another route - the Col
Eventually inaccessible due to weather
Most supplies rotted and never made it
When is the Battle of Inkerman?
5th Novembre 1854
Stats for the Battle of Inkerman
Allies
Raglan
Conrobert
15,700 men
4,400 casualties
Russians
Menshikoc
40,500 men
12k casualties (x3 B)
Battle of Inkerman events
River Tcherneya, Inkerman Bridge
Russians noticed they dont have enough troops to appropriately defend the siege lines
Use foggy atmosphere to creep up on the right flank of B army
Strike and weaken the army but cannot see enough to advance or see the damage they had caused
Opportunity lost due to Russian weakness and organisation and weaponry (waited for own reinforcements)
British sharpshooters (Enfield Rifle) killed 3 Russian generals in 15 minutes
Chaos in the Russian army
Allies win but siege is delayed as they recooperate
British resilience despite being outnumbered
Menshikov better general/topographer
B charged rather than retreating to draw R to artillery
What is the impact of Inkerman?
British army hold the position until the French arrive at the end, defending well
The siege is now delayed and the wintertime and storm is about to set in, making the siege much more intensely difficult in a manner the British had not anticipated
