Crimean War

Question 1

When was the battle of Alma?

Answer 1

20th September 1854

Question 2

Was the British Army prepared for the Crimean war? (Poor conditions)

Answer 2

No - poor conditions: could not attract sufficient recruits, overcrowded, pay poor, floggings, infantry served for 21, calvalry for 24, young + inexperienced officers

Question 3

Was the British Army prepared for the Crimean war? (commanders)

Answer 3

• N0 - Commanders not prepared: Raglan had served Wellington but had not fought since 1815 + never commanded an army
• Only 1/5th infantry divisiotional commanders were under 60 (never seen action)
• Only 2 divisional commanders had led anything larger than a battalion
• drawn from money not skill

Question 4

Was the British Army prepared for the Crimean war? (Administrators)

Answer 4

• variety of ppl + departments responsible for military administration e.g. secretary of state for war + colonies, secretary at war, commander in chief, home secretary, the commisariat
• cumbersome structure produced delays

Question 5

How was Raglan responsible for failure at Crimea?

Answer 5

• recklessness at Alma - decided to track progress by riding up Telegraph hill: aides + escort shot + divisional comanders left to own devices
• Raglan unsuccessful at convincing the french to chase the russians which extended the war
• At Balaklava he ignored reports of spotted Russians going to attack the next day as the information was from a Turkish spy
• Gave a miscommunicated demand that led to the COTLB - wrongly assumed Cardigan + Longan would see the situation he saw
• prefered traditional methods rather than innovation (used same tactics as ones in the Napoleonic)

Question 6

How is Raglan not at fault for failures during Crimea?

Answer 6

• he was blamed for the incompetance of the commanders who mismanaged the delivery of supplies to Balaklava + Sevastapol siege lines

Question 7

How are the commanders/ higher ups at fault for the Crimean failures?

Answer 7

• mismanaged delivery to Balaklava + Sevastapol siege lines
• at Alma, Lucan + Cardigan disobeyed Raglan’s order to chase the Russians
• COTLB - General Airey wrote vague orders, Lucan blamed for not questioning + checking the order or using assistance from French colonial cavalry

Question 8

How were the conditions responsible for the failures of the Crimean War?

Answer 8

• Storms in November 1854 resulted in delays, lack of food, fuel, tents
• The medical situation (cholera, scurvy, typhus) - tents and medication scarce + overcrowded hospitals in Scutari + Balaklava did not help much
• January 1855 - British Army only 11,000 strong + 23,000 sick/wounded