The Crimean War – Part 3: Major Conflicts of the Crimean War — History is Now Magazine, Podcasts, Blog and Books

The Battle of the Alma by Eugene Lami.

Among the most significant engagements was the Battle of Alma, fought on the 20th of September, 1854. This clash marked the first major confrontation between the Allies and Russian forces, setting the tone for the bloody campaigns that followed. It was a battle of strategy, courage, and missed opportunities, a battle that could have altered the course of the war had its victors seized the moment.

Therefore in the third instalment of the Crimean War, the aim is to delve into the key battles of the Crimean War, from the storming of the Alma Heights to the grueling Siege of Sevastopol, the legendary Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, the chaotic hand-to-hand combat at Inkerman, and the crucial naval struggle in the Black Sea. Each of these engagements played a pivotal role in shaping the war’s outcome and left a lasting impact on military history.

 

The Battle of the Alma: The First Clash

The Battle of the Alma, fought on the 20th of September, 1854, was the first significant engagement of the Crimean War. Allied forces, comprising British, French, and Ottoman troops, confronted the Russian army along the Alma River, approximately 35 miles north of Sevastopol. The Russian forces, under Prince Alexander Menshikov, had established strong defensive positions on elevated terrain south of the river, anticipating a formidable challenge for the advancing Allies.

The Allied strategy involved a coordinated assault, with the French army, led by Marshal Jacques St. Arnaud, advancing along the coast, while the British, under Lord Raglan, took an inland route. The French initiated the attack, with General Bosquet’s division crossing the river and scaling the cliffs to outflank the Russian left. Concurrently, the British forces advanced under heavy artillery and musket fire. Despite facing intense resistance, the disciplined advance of the British infantry, including the notable actions of the Guards and Highland brigades, succeeded in breaking the Russian defensive lines.

The battle concluded with a decisive Allied victory, compelling the Russian forces to retreat toward Sevastopol. However, the Allies did not capitalize on their success; a lack of cavalry pursuit allowed the Russian army to withdraw in an orderly fashion, regroup, and fortify Sevastopol. This missed opportunity extended the conflict, leading to a protracted and grueling siege that would last for nearly a year.

 

The Battle of Alma not only demonstrated the effectiveness of Allied cooperation but also highlighted significant tactical lessons. The engagement underscored the importance of coordinated assaults and the need for effective pursuit of retreating forces to fully exploit battlefield victories. These insights would influence military strategies in subsequent conflicts, marking Alma as a pivotal moment in military history.

 

The Siege of Sevastopol: A war of attrition

The Siege of Sevastopol was the longest and most grueling engagement of the Crimean War, a drawn-out contest that tested the endurance of both the Allied and Russian forces. As the home of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol was a crucial strategic target, and after their victory at the Battle of Alma, the Allied forces comprising British, French, and Ottoman, in addition to, Sardinian troops moved swiftly to encircle the city. However, the Russians, led first by Admiral Vladimir Kornilov and later by the formidable engineer General Eduard Totleben, transformed the city into a fortress of resistance.

Over nearly a year of brutal combat, the siege became a grim precursor to modern warfare. Trenches stretched across the battlefield, artillery pounded both sides relentlessly, and waves of counter-assaults turned the land into a nightmarish no-man’s-land. The British launched repeated attacks against the Redan, while the French targeted the Malakoff, but each advance came at a staggering cost. Despite superior naval firepower and resources, the Allies found themselves locked in a war of attrition against the determined Russian defenders.

As the months dragged on, exhaustion and disease ravaged both sides. Yet, in September 1855, after relentless bombardment and a final decisive assault on the Malakoff, the Russian position became untenable. Realizing the city could no longer hold, the Russians evacuated Sevastopol, destroying their remaining defenses and scuttling their fleet to prevent it from falling into Allied hands. The fall of Sevastopol marked a turning point in the Crimean War, illustrating the devastating cost of prolonged siege warfare and foreshadowing the brutal conflicts of the 20th century.

 

The Battle of Balaclava: The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Battle of Balaclava fought on the 25th of October 1854 during the Crimean War, stands as a testament to both the horrors of miscommunication in battle and the unwavering courage of soldiers. Initially centered on a Russian offensive aimed at severing British supply lines, the battle took on legendary status due to the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade.

A misinterpretation of orders led approximately 600 British cavalrymen to charge straight into a heavily fortified Russian artillery position. Lacking proper support and facing withering fire from all sides, the Light Brigade suffered devastating losses. Their bravery, however, became the defining image of the battle, symbolizing the perils of unclear commands but also the fearless discipline of the British cavalry.

Beyond this tragic episode, Balaclava also highlighted the resilience of British forces in other engagements. The 93rd Highlanders, famously dubbed the “Thin Red Line,” held their ground against a Russian cavalry advance, demonstrating steadfast discipline under immense pressure. Meanwhile, the Heavy Brigade’s decisive charge successfully repelled a larger Russian force, showcasing the effectiveness of well-coordinated cavalry tactics.

Though the battle itself was inconclusive from a strategic standpoint, it left an enduring legacy. Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem The Charge of the Light Brigade immortalized the heroism and sacrifice of those who rode “into the valley of Death.” Balaclava remains one of the most evocative moments of the Crimean War, a story of valor, tragedy, and the importance of clear military leadership.

 

The Battle of Inkerman: The Soldiers’ Battle

On the foggy morning of the 5th of November, 1854, the Crimean War saw one of its most brutal and chaotic engagements, the Battle of Inkerman. Often called the “soldiers’ battle,” it was defined not by grand strategic maneuvers but by the courage and resilience of individual troops and small units. The Russian forces, seeking to break through Allied lines, launched a surprise assault against British positions. The thick fog obscured visibility, turning the engagement into a series of fierce, close-quarters skirmishes.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the British forces, later reinforced by their French allies, held their ground with remarkable tenacity. The rugged terrain and poor visibility meant that command-and-control structures struggled to function effectively, leaving much of the fighting to the initiative and discipline of individual soldiers.

Bayonet charges, hand-to-hand combat, and relentless volleys of fire defined the battle, as small groups of troops clashed in isolated struggles across the battlefield. Ultimately, the Allied forces repelled the Russian attack, inflicting significant losses. Inkerman proved that superior training, discipline, and tactical adaptability could overcome sheer numerical strength. The battle also highlighted the challenges of battlefield communication and coordination in unpredictable conditions. More than a test of strategy, the Battle of Inkerman became a testament to the determination and fighting spirit of the soldiers who fought it.

 

The Naval War in the Black Sea

The Crimean War was not only fought on land but also saw significant naval confrontations, particularly in the Black Sea, where control of supply lines and strategic ports played a decisive role. From the outset, the British and French fleets imposed a stringent blockade on Russian ports, crippling supply routes and restricting reinforcements. This maritime pressure was a key element in the broader Allied strategy to weaken Russian resistance.

One of the war’s most pivotal naval engagements occurred on the 30th of November, 1853 at the Battle of Sinop, where the Russian fleet delivered a crushing blow to the Ottoman navy. This early Russian victory, marked by the destruction of several Ottoman vessels, shocked Britain and France, prompting them to escalate their involvement in the conflict.

The Allies responded by deploying their technologically superior steam-powered warships, which soon established dominance in the Black Sea.

The naval campaign reached its climax with the bombardment of Sevastopol, the heavily fortified Russian stronghold. Although the naval artillery alone could not break the city’s defenses, it placed immense pressure on Russian forces, contributing to the eventual fall of the city.

The final blow to Russian naval power came with the destruction of their Black Sea fleet, ensuring that their maritime influence in the region would never fully recover. This loss significantly weakened Russia’s overall war effort, demonstrating the crucial role that naval supremacy played in shaping the outcome of the Crimean War.

The Crimean War’s major battles showcased the evolution of warfare, from traditional cavalry charges to the grueling realities of siege warfare and trench combat. The bravery of soldiers on both sides was met with the harsh realities of logistical failures, disease, and miscommunication. With Sevastopol under Allied control and Russian forces reeling, the war moved toward its final phases, setting the stage for the dramatic conclusion of this historic conflict.

Therefore, it is very easy to conclude that the Crimean War, was particularly savage with important battles such as the battles of Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and the prolonged siege of Sevastopol, setting the stage and providing a warning of what future conflict would look like, however, it was the breaking of the siege of Sevastopol that marked a turning point in the Crimean War.

These engagements revealed the brutal realities of modern conflict, where industrial advancements, evolving tactics, and logistical challenges shaped the course of battle. The war underscored the growing importance of coordination between infantry, cavalry, artillery, and naval forces, while also exposing severe deficiencies in communication, leadership, and medical care, issues that would demand urgent reform in the British and other European armies.

The war’s most enduring legacy, however, lies in its far-reaching consequences. Militarily, it demonstrated the vulnerabilities of large, conscripted armies reliant on outdated doctrines, prompting significant reforms in the Russian, British, and French armed forces. Politically, the war shattered the balance of power that had defined Europe since the Napoleonic era, diminishing Russian influence in the Black Sea region and setting the stage for conflicts in the future. Diplomatically, it highlighted the fragility of alliances, as tensions between Britain and France persisted beyond their temporary wartime cooperation.

Perhaps most notably, the Crimean War heralded a new era of warfare, where technological advancements, including steam-powered warships, rifled muskets, and the first war correspondents brought the brutality of battle closer to home than ever before. The public outcry over the appalling conditions faced by soldiers, particularly in British hospitals, led to transformative changes in military medicine and logistics, championed by figures such as Florence Nightingale. These lessons would resonate far beyond the 1850s, influencing military strategy and humanitarian efforts in conflicts to come.

While the Crimean War may not have reshaped borders as dramatically as later wars, it left an indelible mark on military history. The valor displayed by soldiers from all combatant forces, the strategic miscalculations, and the hard-fought battles all contributed to shaping the modern world. In many ways, the lessons learned in Crimea foreshadowed the brutal realities of warfare in the 20th century, making it a conflict not just of its time, but of times to come.

 

In the next instalment, we will explore the humanitarian crisis that emerged from the war and the critical role of medical advancements in battlefield care.

 

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Notes:

Victoria Crosses

The Crimean War (1853–1856) was the first conflict in which the Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded. The medal was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria to recognize acts of extreme valor in the face of the enemy.

A total of 111 Victoria Crosses were awarded for actions during the Crimean War. What made these VCs special was the Crimean War medals were awarded retrospectively for bravery displayed during the war, which took place before the inception and minting of the medal.

 

The poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’

It is worth quoting Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem about the Charge of the Light Brigade as it is intimately linked to that event.

I

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

“Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns!” he said.

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

 

II

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”

Was there a man dismayed?

Not though the soldier knew

Someone had blundered.

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die.

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

 

III

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volleyed and thundered;

Stormed at with shot and shell,

Boldly they rode and well,

Into the jaws of Death,

Into the mouth of hell

Rode the six hundred.

 

IV

Flashed all their sabres bare,

Flashed as they turned in air

Sabring the gunners there,

Charging an army, while

All the world wondered.

Plunged in the battery-smoke

Right through the line they broke;

Cossack and Russian

Reeled from the sabre stroke

Shattered and sundered.

Then they rode back, but not

Not the six hundred.

 

V

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon behind them

Volleyed and thundered;

Stormed at with shot and shell,

While horse and hero fell.

They that had fought so well

Came through the jaws of Death,

Back from the mouth of hell,

All that was left of them,

Left of six hundred.

 

VI

When can their glory fade?

O the wild charge they made!

All the world wondered.

Honour the charge they made!

Honour the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred!

 

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson FRS, (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892)