ALMA, BATTLE

The first of three field battles after the Allied landing north of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. The British, French and Turkish forces defeated the Russians, but did not follow up the victory with an immediate pursuit or attack on the city.

The Russian commander, Prince A. S. Menshikov had about 35,000 troops entrenched on the ridges south of and above the Alma River, which crossed the Allied line of march from their landing sites at Evpatoria, 30 miles from Sevastopol on 14 Sept. The British army was 26,000 men under Lord Raglan. The French had 37,000 under Marshal St. Arnaud. The Turks numbered 7,000. Allied losses 2,000 British and 1,000 French Russians 6,000. We will now have the entire description written by George Kinglake shortly after the battle, chapter One, of vol III Kinglake and a section with many maps of the battle.
Battlefield Tour
Pavel Lyashuk, the curator of the Malakov Kurgan museum in Sevastopol is an expert on this battle. He guided us for several hours of driving and walking all over the battlefield pointing out the significant locations of the Russian and Allied units.
The British, French and Turkish units marched south from Evpatoria in parallel columns with the French and Turkish forces on the right, nearer to the sea coast. When they crossed the last ridge the British could first see the long ridge south of the Alma River. The Russians occupied the crest and forward slope from the Kourgane Hills on the British left front to the line of bluffs toward the right, but did not occupy the mile or so of the steepest part nearest the sea. The first set of photos, below, was taken from the general area in which the British deployed into line. Then we took photos at the approximate position occupied by Prince Napoleon, between the French and British formations. Marshal St. Armand was located 1-200 yards to the right. One can see the bluff in front of the French troops and also the semi-detached hill across the Alma River and within the Russian lines to which Lord Raglan rode on. One photo shows the Russian positions held by militia and the Taroutine Regiment, immediately to the right. There are sequential photos showing sections of the hills toward the southwest.
Meanwhile the Russians could observe the Allies deploying. We walked all over the Russian lines and took photos are from key locations in the Russian positions. On the Russian right the photos show the view the Suzdal Regiment had of the advancing Highland Brigade and also the view the Highlanders had as they approached. The photo looking west shows that from within this dip visibility of the redoubt in the Russian center is obscured. We also took photos from inside the redoubt and from the location of the Borodino Regiment which stood on the ridge just west of the north-south road before it climbed into the pass. Photos taken from the small hill on which Lord Raglan stood show its significance. From there he could see the entire Russian line to his left as far as the left flank British units, the Highland Brigade. Finally, we drove around to the seacoast and stood on the edge of the bluff overlooking the mouth of the Alma River. The photos show that this ridge is not as steep as some descriptions lead one to believe. A photo shows the draw up which the French and Turkish troops climbed. While there we found that this bluff is also the location of a Scythian city and necropolis. Several photos of the active archeological dig are presented in the section on Scythia.

These maps are reproduced from the multivolume work of George Kinglake or from Beskrovni's Atlas of Russian military history. This map shows the general positions of both sides at the opening of the battle as the British and French units begin to deploy. The Russian redoubt is shown with a star. I have indicated the locations from which most of the following photographs were taken.

Photo number

Description

View from junction of British and French troops toward Russian positions, river is right under the hill line.

View to the redoubt from directly across the Alma, it is right behind the bushes.

The view almost due west along the Alma river stream bed, toward the sea, which is just behind the bluff to the right of the large tree. The French crossed this section of the Alma.

View as British approached the great redoubt

View from St Armand location, SE, toward hill on which Lord Raglan stood

View from same location looking more due south

View from same looking more west

View from same looking still further west

View from initial British deployment on road to south as they crossed the final ridge and could see Kourgane Hill.

View from road junction looking south

View to right of #14

View across village looking to right of #15

View from left flank of British lines

Closeup of memorial oblisk in redoubt. British assault positions are on low ground behind this slope.

View south from road toward great redoubt and Kourgane Hill

View from obelisk inside redoubt, monument to Fusiliers is on right side at forward edge of redoubt.

Close up of memorial to Royal Welsh Fuisliers

Close up of memorial to Royal Welsh Fusiliers

View north east from location of Borodino Regt

View from right front corner inside redoubt toward river

View from the back side of the redoubt toward river and British line

View from St Armand location, like #1

View left of 31, toward redoubt

View from redoubt back to SE toward hill

View from in front of location of Suzdal Regt on Russian right

View from location in front of Russian right flank looking west to the Russian left flank on the ridge line in far distance.

View from in front of Right flank of Russian lines toward the British deployment across the river which is on edge of the modern village and trees.

Another view from in front of Russian lines toward the British deployment where the village is now located.

View toward the Russian right wing - the Highlanders crossed these gentle slopes at an angle from lower left corner toward upper right corner.

View more to east from #34

View toward Kourgine hill - right on #34

View toward British approaching highlanders from same location #34

View west from field where Suzdal Regt and Highlanders met toward redoubt over ridge

Now from the opposite end of the British line - View from Lord Raglan's position to NE

View from Lord Raglan's position east toward redoubt

View from Lord Raglan's position SE into pass

View from Lord Raglan's position NE back into village

View from Lord Raglan's position back into allied lines

View from Lord Raglan's position east to redoubt

View from location of Borodino Regt to north

View from Borodino Regt, NE, right of #86

View from Borodino Regiment, right of #87, NE

View from bluff at seacoast looking north

View along bluff toward east

View from bluff looking down to river

View toward west

View toward west from road in center

View from the center-left of British deployment toward the Russian great redoubt on Kourgane hill - of course the buildings in the photo were not there.

An expanded section of the map showing the Kourgane Hill and the Russian great redoubt in its front. Russian and British skirmish lines are close to the Alma river. The large star on the right is the location where Lord Ragland posted himself with a cannon. The photographs show how lengthy this battlefield was with the Russian battalion masses scattered long the ridges

View from center-right of the British deployment line facing Kourgane hill in distance - the Alma river is behind the trees and village.

View from far left of the Russian positions on ridge above the Alma river - close to the sea - the French easily ascended the ridge

Memorial to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who died at the Alma

Alma battlefield looking west toward sea from a central position between the Russian and British lines

This is the right side of the Kinglake map. The French attack south across the river and up the ridge. Lord Raglan moved to a hilltop within the Russian lines shown by the large star at left edge. The British attack on the left against the Great Redoubt and troops on Kourgane hill is not shown on this detail. We see the French (Bosquet) turned the Russian left. Canrobert's artillery could not make it up the ridge so was shifting to the right.

More detailed blowup of one of Kinglake's maps showing the British attack against the Russians defending the Kourgane hill and ridge line, and the French attacking the ridge above the Alma river on the right. Russian Commander Prince Menshikov is at small star near road at top - Lord Raglan is at larger star on hill in center - St. Armand is at small star just north of Alma river in center

A detail of the right flank of the French attack - Bousquet has surmounted the ridge and deployed. Canrobert also has deployed on the height and Forey is moving west to support Bosquet. Canrobert's artillery could not climb the ridge with him but rapidly moved west, then did surmount the ridge and came into action on his right flank just in time to repel the Russian counter-attack.

A detail of the right flank of the French attack - Bousquet has surmounted the ridge and deployed. Canrobert also has deployed on the height and Forey is moving west to support Bosquet. Canrobert's artillery could not climb the ridge with him but rapidly moved west, then did surmount the ridge and came into action on his right flank just in time to repel the Russian counter-attack.

Kinglake map - first storm of Great Redoubt at Alma battle

Alma battlefield - map showing the center and right of the field - on the right flank the French are climbing the lightly defended ridge and Canrobert's brigade has surmounted the ridge and will be counter attacked by Russian battalions in mass formations. St. Armond is at the river with Prince Napoleon's brigade on the French left. Lord Ragland has risked all to move into the Russian skirmish line on a hill adjacent to the road. The British are begining to attack the Russian right flank on Kourgane Hill and their great redoubt but the Highland Division has not yet reached the battalion mass of the Russian Souzdal Regiment

Kinglake map - 2nd fight for Kourgane hill - Guards and Highlanders at Alma - note the three Highland Regiments - 42nd, 93rd, and 79th - attacking in echelon over rolling terrain shown in photos - Their firepower from line formation was deadly to Russians formed in battalion masses.

Kinglake map - Highland division continues the attack at Alma battle

Kinglake map - Russian column of 8 bns start counterattack against French at Alma.

Kinglake map - Russian column of 8 bns under French arty fire at Alma

Beskrovni map Sept 20, 1854, overall view in Crimea, inset shows allied march from landing at Evpatoria. - note significant difference showing on Russian left flank. And he does not show location of Lord Raglan, who was standing on the hill just north-west of the Borodinski Regiment - The Russian great redoubt is the short artillery line just north of the Yegerski and Vladimirski regiments

Beskrovni map Sept 20, 1854, overall view in Crimea, inset shows allied march from landing at Evpatoria - The red lines show Menshikov's initial withdrawal of his field army from Sevastopol to Bakhchesarai - note his rear guard just passed the Mekenzi Farm as the Allied advance guard crossed behind it. Then other red lines show Menshikov's return to occupy the "north fort' and establish a position at Chorgun.

These photos were made during visits in 1992 and 1997. In some cases the photos have been digitally edited to remove modern factory or other buildings that detract from the scene as it was in 1854. To return to the Xenophon main page please click here.