The Battle of Balaclava 1854

• What was the background to the Battle of Balaclava

  During the Crimean War, Lord Raglan decided to set up a base for his stores of ammunition at Balaclava
• How did Raglan Prepare for Battle

  Base prepared badly

  • 2000 infantry most poorly trained Turkish
  • 1500 cavalry based 3km away
  • 26 guns on the hills overlooking the port
• What was the first attack on the British Base

  Raglan received intelligence of a build up of russian troops but he didn't reinforce his defences.

  So British unprepared when on 25 October Base was attacked by

  • 25000 Russian Cavalry
  • 3500 Cavalry
  • 78 Guns
• How did the attack progress

  Russian cannon began firing on the defensive gun positions in the hills and though light horse artillery sent forward to help they were heavily outgunned and guns protecting the route into Bacalava was falling to russians

  Only protection left was the 550 infantry of the 93rd Highlanders
• How was Raglan Saved by the Thin Red Line 


  • As russian cavalry advanced towards the 93rd Highlanders their commander Campbell ordered to stand and face the charge
  • Armed with minie rifles they managed to cause casualties and stop the cavalry charge
  • Showing the power of defence being superior
• What happened before the charge of the Heavy Brigade

  Raglan was in a superb position to manoeuvre troops as he was high up in the hills so ordered 800 cavalry from the Heavy Brigade to reinforce the remaining gun positions

  But they unexpectedly came across 3000 russian cavalry
• What happened in the charge of the heavy brigade

  Scarlett commanding the heavy brigade drew troops into 3 groups and was an uphill charge

  Russian cavalry surprised, were attacked from the side and soon became scattered

  Allowed for Russian attack on Balaclava to be stopped but would have been better if Lord Cardigan chose not to launch a light brigade cavalry attack

  Raglan frustrated as he was too far away
• What happened before the charge of the light brigade

  Battle almost over but things went wrong

  • Raglan sent verbal message to Lucan to use cavalry to accupy land russians retreated from but with no infantry chose to not attack so russians took chance to capture allied guns
  • Raglan then sent written message delivered by nolan to tell lucan to advance rapidly and stop the taking of guns but message given vaguely
  • As lucan couldn't see russians he thought he was being told to attack
  • Lucan ordered Cardigan to attack russian guns but both knew it was stupid
• What happened in the charge of the light brigade

  Cardigan had 673 men in the light brigade

  • Led in 3 lines down the valley but bombarded by cannon
  • After reaching russian guns, russian cavalry attacked them and cardigan charged down the valley again leaving many of his men behind
  • Reinforcements of french cavalry came allowing escape from russian cavalry
  • On retreat they were blasted by russian guns
  • Of 673 men 113 killed 134 were wounded