Plan of the Battle of the Alma

Documenting the first important engagement of the Crimean War.

The Battle of the Alma, fought on September 20, 1854, was the first major field engagement of the Crimean War, where a combined British, French, and Ottoman force confronted a well-entrenched Russian army under Prince Menshikov. Despite a disorganized allied command and fierce artillery resistance, a decisive French flank attack and a gritty, uphill British infantry assault successfully forced the Russians into a chaotic retreat from the heights. This critical Allied victory cleared the direct path south to Sevastopol, setting the stage for the protracted and bloody siege of the primary Russian naval stronghold.

This steel-engraved plan of the battle was issued in the months following the Allies’ victory by the London Printing and Publishing Company. It identifies the position of the Allied troops as they approached the Russian defensive positions at the river, with delicate hachured topography giving a good impression of the physical landscape. Finely engraved labels identify specific units and ships of the fleet, giving an individualized measure of glory to those involved in the battle.