Crimean War - main textbook

Question 1

How different were the Peninsular and Crimean strategies?

Answer 1

very similar
- Raglan looked up to Wellington
- British had not fought a major European battle since Waterloo 1815

Question 2

What equipment helped to give the allies an advantage and how?

Answer 2

new French Minie rifle
more accurate and 3x more range than Russian rifles

Question 3

How did the British army get their supplies?

Answer 3

Navy
Commissariat - heavily dependent on civilian contractors

Question 4

What was the attitude of the Crimean population like towards the allies?

Answer 4

unfriendly

Question 5

When did the British land in Crimea?

Answer 5

14 September 1854

Question 6

When was the Battle of the Alma?

Answer 6

20 September 1854

Question 7

What was the aim of the Battle of the Alma?

Answer 7

capture the Russian earthwork the ‘Great Redoubt’ which held artillery

Question 8

How did the Battle of the Alma go?

Answer 8

• Redoubt was taken by the Light Division
• lost to a Russian counterattack
• regained by the Guards Division

Question 9

How did the Battle of the Alma end?

Answer 9

• Final push forced Russians to withdraw
• Raglan was indecisive, ended up not pursuing

Question 10

What were the weaknesses of the Battle of the Alma?

Answer 10

• much confusion
• lack of communication between British and French
• British mistook French for enemy
• commanders still calling the French the enemy
• officers issued contradictory orders
• unsure of the local terrain eg. how deep the river Alma was

Question 11

What strength was shown by the victory of the Battle of the Alma?

Answer 11

good infantry discipline

Question 12

When was the Battle of Baklava?

Answer 12

25 October 1854

Question 13

What happened with the ‘thin red line’ in the Battle of Baklava?

Answer 13

Highlanders of the 93rd foot had been on the reverse slope of a hill

When Russian cavalry was approaching, Highlanders lined the hilltop in two ranks

Many more Russians charged against the 500 highlanders

Highlanders stood strong and their line was unbroken - gained phrase ‘thin red line’ from Russell’s report

Question 14

What was the order of events in the Battle of Baklava?

Answer 14

‘thin red line’
Charge of the Heavy Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade

Question 15

What happened to the Heavy Brigade in the Battle of the Alma?

Answer 15

Lord Lucan moved British Cavalry to support Highlanders

Heavy brigade (800 men) charged uphill at Russians

Broke through and Russians forced to retreat

Question 16

What happened to the Light Brigade in the Battle of the Alma?

Answer 16

Raglan ordered Captain Nolan to tell Lord Lucan to send in Lord Cardigan’s cavalry

None had a clear view of events and Raglan’s order was vague

Lucan disliked Nolan and Cardigan (his brother-in-law) and was only able to see Russians at the end of the Valley

Cavalry charged but took fire from sides and front

Reached the guns but 113 killed and 134 wounded out of 673 men

Question 17

What was the response to the Charge of the Light Brigade?

Answer 17

became an infamous mishap