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British Experience of Warfare c1790 - 1918 > Crimean War school textbook > Flashcards

Crimean War school textbook Flashcards

1
Q

Why did the Russians engage in this war against Turkey (2)?

A
  • Chance for territorial gains
  • Opportunity to access the Mediterranean to challenge France and Britain’s power
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2
Q

Why did France and Britain engage in this war?

A
  • FRA: Demonstrate France was a leading power
  • GBR: Feared collapse of Turkey would lead to Russia threatening their naval supremacy
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3
Q

In what year did Russia press the Ottoman sultan and what for?

A
  • 1853
  • Concessions regarding Empire’s Christian subjects
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4
Q

What was the sultan’s response and as a result what did the Russians do?

A
  • He refused
  • Russian soldiers invaded Ottoman provinces, Moldavia and Walllachia
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5
Q

How did France and Britain show support for Turkey?

A

French and British sent fleets to Besika Bay near Dardanelles

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6
Q

Who declared war on Ottoman Empire first and when?

A

Ottoman Empire

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7
Q

How was war declared on Russia by Britain and France?

A
  • 30 Nov –> Russian navy attacked Ottoman fleet at Black Sea port of Sinope
  • Jan 1854 –> Sailed into Black Sea to blockade Russian fleet
  • 27th March –> France declared war on Russia
  • 28th March –> GBR declared war
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8
Q

Features of army:

A
  • Bright red uniform
  • Infantry firing muskets with artillery support
  • Same firearms
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9
Q

State 5 problems of the British army:

A
  • Largely run by military high command w/out gov interference
  • Army budget had declined considerably eg 43 to 9.5 mil by 1840s
  • Military experience of officers was limited
  • Difficult to recruit due to poor conditions of service
  • Compulsory long service
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10
Q

State 2 problems w/ expeditionary force:

A
  • Commander had not ever commanded an army nor seen active service since 1815
  • Only one of Raglan’s 5 infantry divisional commanders were under 60
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11
Q

Compare British to French army: (3)

A
  • French force was much larger
  • Younger commanders
  • Good organisation and supply
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12
Q

Compare British to Russian army: (2)

A
  • Greater numbers
  • Worse conditions of service
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13
Q

Which weapon gave the British and French an edge and how?

A
  • French Minié rifle
  • More accurate
  • 3x range of smoothbore muskets (used by Russian soldiers)
  • Inflicted serious wounds
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14
Q

4 purposes of British navy in Crimea:

A
  • Blockade Russian fleet
  • Transport army
  • Safeguard supplies
  • Give gunfire support when needed
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15
Q

What ships were used in the Crimea?

A

Mixture of wooden steamers and sailing vessels

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16
Q

How had the support service changed since the French Wars?

A
  • Changed little
  • Commissariat was still largely dependent on civilian contractors, who were not always efficient and sometimes fraudulent
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17
Q

What shortcomings did the war reveal about British army’s leadership ?

A
  • Lack of professionalism
  • Lack of communication between units
  • Inadequacy of medical treatment
  • Shortage of decent food and shelter
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18
Q

When did the Russians agree to withdraw and why did this not prevent the war regardless?

A
  • August
  • France and Britain were already preparing to land troops in Crimea to attack Sebastopol
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19
Q

When was the Battle of Alma, who led it and how many forces were there?

A
  • 20 Sep 1854
  • 5 infantry divisions + 1 cavalry division
  • 26000 British troops
  • Lord Raglan
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20
Q

When did the British army expedition land, where and why?

A
  • Jun 1854
  • Varna
  • To raise siege of Silistria
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21
Q

Why had the British and French decided to attack Crimea?

A

With the bulk of Russian forces further in west in Balkans, they could take naval base of Sebastopol quickly

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22
Q

When did the allied armies land in Eupatoria, what did they do after this and when?

A
  • 14 Sep 1854
  • 19 Sep –> Established a base and pushed south towards Sebastopol
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23
Q

Who commanded the Russian and French army in the Battle of Alma and how many were there of each force?

A
  • Prince Aleksandr Menshikov –> 33,000
  • Saint Arnaud (and Raglan) –> 63,000
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24
Q

Where did the French and the British first meet the Russian army in Battle of Alma and why were they in this position?

A

Defending high ground south of River Alma because they were outnumbered

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25
Q

Earthwork:

A

Defensive position, often supported by wood and trenches

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26
Q

Give examples of allied shortcomings in leadership and organisation:

A
  • Could’ve driven home the advantage if Raglan hadn’t been indecisive and actually pursued cavalry
  • British sometimes mistook French for Russians
  • Officers issued contradictory orders
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27
Q

How did the French and British commanders differ on their choice to attack Sebastopol immediately and who got their way?

A
  • St Arnaud wanted immediate march
  • Raglan wanted to round up supplies from local countryside first
  • Raglan got his way
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28
Q

Whose choice did the Allied army go with after first meeting the Russian army and what was the initial disagreement?

A
  • St Arnaud –> French attack from next to sea to protect from fleet’s guns, GBR attack centre and left
  • Raglan –> Sceptical about whether they were underestimating Russian strength
  • Went with St Arnaud because Raglan is diplomatic
29
Q

Describe the events of Battle of Alma: (4)

A
  • Raglan ordered British to advance to support French
  • Light Division captured Great Redoubt (Russian earthwork), but lost it when exposed to enemy artillery fire
  • Regained by Grenadier Guards after general British advance
30
Q

Casualties in Battle of Alma:

A
  • Russia: 5700
  • GBR: 1500
  • French: <1000
31
Q

Where did Raglan and Lucan disagree during Battle of Alma?

A
  • Lucan –> Pursue retreating Russians
  • Raglan –> Camp temporarily due to danger of Russian cavalry on their left
32
Q

After the Battle of Alma, what did Raglan and St Arnaud disagree with and what decision was made?

A
  • Raglan: Intended to attack Sebastopol immediately
  • St Arnaud: Argued for prepared siege assault
  • Raglan conceded
33
Q

Where did they make their base, when and what had the Russians and British each done?

A
  • 26th Sep –> Balaklava
  • British: Deployed artillery to bombard Sebastopol, wasted time digging siege works and unloading heavy siege guns
  • Russian: Scuttled warships into Sebastopol harbour and toom the ships’ guns to defend the town (prepped formidable defences)
34
Q

Give stats to show comparing the defences built up by Russia and Allies:

A
  • Russians had doubled number of guns they had 3 weeks earlier to 341 guns
  • Whereas Allies only had 126 guns
35
Q

Why had the British chosen to waste time like this?

A

French were now led by Canrobert after Arnaud’s death, who wanted this, although Raglan disagreed

36
Q

How were the British under strain at Balaklava?

A
  • Too small of a port
  • Had to both defend the flank from Russians and lay siege to Sebastopol
37
Q

When was the Battle of Balaklava?

A

25 Oct 1854

38
Q

What had the Allies’ caution allowed Menshikov to do and what did the Allies do in response?

A
  • Move Russian army to occupy Causeway Heights, overlooking Balaklava
  • Allies recalled troops from siege
39
Q

What 3 actions did the Battle of Balaklava give rise to?

A
  • The stand of 93rd Foot
  • Charge of the Heavy Brigade
  • Charge of the Light Brigade
40
Q

Describe the events of the stand of 93rd foot:

A
  • After seeing some Turks retreating, Menshikov sent Russian cavalry forward
  • However, they were opposed by the Highlanders of 93rd Foot
  • Russians charged
  • 500 Highlanders held off against superior numbers
41
Q

The thin red line:

A

Line of Highlanders of 93rd Foot

42
Q

Why were the Russian cavalry opposed by the Highlanders?

A
  • General Sir Colin Campbell
  • After seeing Russian cavalry, he moved his men to the hilltop lining up in 2 ranks
43
Q

Why were the Russians encouraged top charge the Highlanders?

A

It was common for infantry facing cavalry to form squares however the Highlanders had not, which was a good opportunity for them

44
Q

How did the British win against superior numbers?

A

Minié rifles inflicted heavy casualties on ‘thin red line’

45
Q

Who commanded the British Cavalry Division?

A

General Lord Lucan

46
Q

Why did Lucan order the Heavy Brigade to charge?

A

After seeing that infantry had stood firm against Russian cavalry

47
Q

Who was the Heavy Brigade lead by and how many were there?

A
  • 800
  • General Scarlett
48
Q

Describe the events of the Charge of the Heavy Brigade: (3)

A
  • Heavy Brigade charged Russians uphill
  • Russians stood still
  • British horse artillery fired and Russians were in retreat
49
Q

Why did Raglan want Lucan to move his troops, which led to the Charge of the Light Brigade and who was ordered to give this order?

A
  • To stop Russian troops removing allied (Turkish) guns
  • Captain Nolan
50
Q

Who was in charge of the Light Brigade?

A

Lord Cardigan

51
Q

What wrong decision was made during the Charge of the Light Brigade?

A

The cavalry headed towards the wrong army of Russians (enemy artillery batteries at the end of the North Valley)

52
Q

Why was this mistake in the CHarge of the Light Brigade made?

A
  • Nolan vaguely gestured where the army was when passing the order to Lucan (possibly because they disliked each other)
  • Order was not clear
  • Lucan could not see the guns from where he was
53
Q

What was the death toll of the Charge of the Light Brigade?

A

113/673

54
Q

Did the British reach the French guns and how were the survivors who got there saved?

A
  • Yes
  • Saved by cover provided from a French cavalry charge
55
Q

What were the consequences of the Charge of the Light Brigade? (3)

A
  • Lucan was replaced
  • Raglan was blamed
  • These 2 blamed each other
56
Q

When did the Allies first lay siege to Sebastopol and what did the Russians do in response?

A
  • When they first landed in the Crimea
  • Russians fought hard to relieve Sebastopol
57
Q

When did the Russians attack the British at Inkerman?

A

Nov 1854

58
Q

Who won the Battle of Inkerman and what were the consequences? (2)

A
  • British
  • Losses were heavy
  • Assault was yet again postponed
59
Q

What was the winter of 1854 like and what was the impact of this on the war?

A
  • One of worst storms in living memory
  • Took weeks to ship in fresh stores, while allied soldiers suffered from cold, hunger and disease
60
Q

How had things improved by spring 1855?

A
  • Allies received fresh supplies
  • New railway built linking Balaklava to camps around Sebastopol
  • Russian morale suffered as they couldn’t send relief to Sebastopol
61
Q

What attack had the allied planned in spring and what were their 4 strong points?

A
  • Fresh attack aiming to capture higher southern hills first
  • Four strong points: Mamelon fort, the Redan, the Malakoff and the Little Redan
62
Q

When did the French take Mamelon fort and what happened here?

A
  • June 1855
  • Allies bombarded Russian defences using mortars (siege guns)
63
Q

How was the Battle of Sebastopol different?

A

Fought by engineers and artillery guns with no role for cavalry

64
Q

After which Battle and when did the Allies finally take Sebastopol?

A
  • Battle of Tchernaya in August 1855
  • Sep 1855
65
Q

Why did the Russians evacuate Sebastopol?

A
  • French took Malakoff, British took Little Redan
  • Redan was in Russian hands but then the French’s enfilade fire forced their withdrawal
66
Q

When was the Treaty of Paris?

A

March 1856

67
Q

What was the controversy about Raglan?

A

Raglan would not sanction an all-out assault despite the fact that he knew the retreat to Balaklava would allow Russians to resupply Sebastopol

68
Q
A

British Experience of Warfare c1790 - 1918 (5 decks)

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