Battle of the Alma

The Battle of the Alma was fought on 20 September 1854 after British, French and Ottoman forces landed in Crimea and advanced toward Sevastopol. Russian troops occupied strong positions on heights beyond the Alma River, forcing the Allies to attack uphill under artillery fire.

French forces turned the Russian flank while British divisions crossed the river and assaulted the heights in a confused but ultimately successful advance. The Russian army withdrew, opening the route toward Sevastopol and giving the Allies their first major battlefield victory of the Crimean campaign.