The Battle of Balaclava 1854

• context of the Battle of Balaclava

  - occurred during the Crimean warthe sides of the Crimean war were:- Russia- Turkey, Britain, France- the war was a result of the Russian empire's attempt to take charge of the Black sea from the Ottoman empire- This Russian expansionism was regarded as a threat to Turkey, Britain and France- The Crimean war is often considered to be the first modern war due to the use of new technologies coming out of the industrial revolution
• when was the Battle of Balaclava

  25 October 1854
• Stage 1 of the battle


  - A Russian attack succeeded in taking control of the Turkish-held redoubts (small strongholds with large guns) and causeway heights before dawn- The Russians prepared to tow away the captured guns
• Stage 2 of the Battle (the thin red line)

  - 8:30 AM- 2300 Russian cavalry attacked 700 British infantry and Turkish forces- The British infantry and some of The Turkish forces, formed a line, 2 men deep and fired repeated rifle volleys towards the Russian cavalry- A British Artillery gun fired grapeshot ( a large number of small metal balls packed into a canvas bag that scatter when fired from a cannon)- Russian cavalry retreated
• Stage 3 of the Battle

  - 9:15 AM- 300 British heavy cavalry ( well armoured mounted troops, designed to engage in direct combat) charged uphill towards 2000 Russian cavalry- the cavalry were equipped with swords and pistols- Russian cavalry retreated
• Stage 4 of the Battle (charge of the Light Brigade)

  - 11:00 AM- The British Brigade of light cavalry ( lightly armoured mounted troops) charged with swords and pistols down the North Valley towards the Russian Don Valley to obtain the Russian artillery guns- The cavalry were fired on by the Don battery from the front, and from the hills on both sides of the valley- Those that reached the Russian cavalry had to return back up the valley- less than half of the 673 cavalry returned uninjured - 113 died
• final outcome of the Battle

  - The Battle was a Russian victory- Russian forces had captured the redoubts, the causeway heights and had taken 7 of the large guns back to Sevastopol as trophies- The Battle foreshadowed future trench warfare as the artillery bombardments from Russian forces had forced British troops to dig trenches for protection- The Battle suggested that artillery was starting to become more decisive in battle and superior to cavalry
• Reason for the Light Brigade Charge

  The fault of individuals:- Lord Raglan (commander of all the British troops in Crimea)- Lord Lucan (commander of the cavalry division)- Lord Cardigan (commander of the Light Brigade)- Captain Nolan ( a messenger sent to carry lord Raglan's instructions during battle)Miscommunicationincompetent leadershippersonal animosities between individuals
• significance of the Charge of the Light Brigade

  - showed how limited technology in communications could lead to tragic errors
• stages in the lead up to the Charge of the light brigade

  1) 10:15 AM Lord Raglan sends a message instructing the cavalry to charge and recover the height (being supported by infantry) to Lord Lucan in the South Valley. This message was sent with a clear view of the battlefield.2) Lord Lucan did not advance because he could not see any infantry (they had been delayed)3) Lord Raglan saw the Russians preparing to tow away the redoubt guns and sent Captain Nolan with another message for Lucan, asking for the cavalry to advance to prevent this.4) Captain Nolan was critical of Lucan's leadership and regarded him as too reluctant to attack. Lucan could not see the Don Battery or the redoubts as his vision was obscured by hills.5) Lucan rode to the South Valley and ordered Cardigan's Light Brigade to attack the Don-Battery. Lucan and Cardigan were both brothers-in-law and hated each other. Cardigan could see the Don-Battery but he couldn't see the Russians towing away the guns from the redoubts6) Cardigan ordered the light brigade to charge down the valley. As they set off, Captain Nolan appeared and rode across their path gesturing with his arm. He tried to shout something but was struck with shrapnel and fell dead. He may have been trying to warn the light brigade not to charge?