The Battle of the Alma, 1854 by Ian Fletcher

Author:Ian Fletcher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Modern / 19th Century
ISBN: 9781844683871
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2009-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

Tatorsky also recalled how a sutler, presumably French, gave him a drink: ‘A woman in red trousers, black skirt and a sailor’s hat, gave me some red wine and a cup of coffee.’

It was on the Russian right that the effects of the French ships began to be felt, with the Moskovsky and Minsky regiments suffering in particular. It was for this reason that Kir’yakov decided to pull them back and get them out of the line of the ships’ fire:

I began to take the Moskovsky and the Minsky regiments out of the fire from the enemy’s ships. The French did not pursue us, possibly because they did not want to compromise the operations of their ships or because they saw two divisions of our hussars under the command of Colonel Voinilovich. It is difficult to know. But our retreat was made in perfect order; the battalions retreated in good step, stopped and turned about to the left. The No. 4 and 5 light batteries that acted with these regiments removed their guns and ammunition boxes. The enemy spoke favourably of our retreat, and not without reason; it was absolutely cool-headed and it would be unforgivable for me not to bear witness to this fact and not to give honour to the regiments and batteries that kept their strength, presence of mind and cheerfulness.

Having taken the Moskovsky and the Minsky regiments out of range of the ships’ fire, I positioned them behind the left flank of the Alma position, almost on the very place where initially I put the Moskovsky regiment. Meanwhile the French again began to advance up the steep bank and opened artillery fire against our reserve battalions and the Tarutinsky regiment both from there and from behind the Alma.12

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