Prelude to Battle
The shots were coming from beyond the River, where the British forward cavalry screen had made contact with a force of Russian horsemen some 2000 strong.
From his defensive position behind the Alma, Menshikov had sent forward a sizeable reconnaissance/battle group some 6000 strong under 16 Div Commander Lt Gen Kiriakov to drive the enemy back on the seaward side 'and so discover his intentions'. Arriving on the ridge between the two river valleys, the infantry and artillery components (two foot regiments and a battery) halted, leaving the cavalry element, comprising the Hussar brigade and nine Cossack squadrons, to move forward to the river. The ground descended from the ridge to the river in three distinct 'steps' - the first was the steepest, resulting in any presence on the ridge being totally masked from view from the lower 'steps' and the Bulganek river area to a distance of about a mile back on the North side.
The Allied advanced cavalry screen consisted of the 11th Hussars and the 13th Light Dragoons and was commanded by Lord Cardigan. Moving forward on Raglan's direct order they bumped the Russian cavalry shortly after crossing the first 'step' and there was a sporadic exchange of carbine fire at a range of around 200 metres to little effect for about 20 minutes. During this time Lord Lucan who had been riding with the left flank guard rode up and insisted on taking command, fussing about and making niggly little alterations to Cardigan's orders, much to the latter's irritation.
The relationship between the two men had worsened during the Varna period, not helped by Raglan who felt that the best solution was to keep the two apart. Unfortunately he saw the best way of achieving that as cutting out Lucan as the middle man, and dealing with Cardigan direct. Besides, he got on well with Cardigan. This of course inflamed Lucan even more. Raglan tried to leave him in Varna on the basis that he should wait to embark later with the Heavy Brigade, but Lucan insisted with unanswerable military logic that he should go into action with whatever cavalry were involved. Since the landings, he had lost no opportunity of making Cardigan's life a misery.
Now, Cardigan wanted to charge the Russians, but nothing had happened because Lucan was haggling over the detail. This turned out to be fortuitous. Raglan and his staff had moved back to get a view of the ridge and were horrified to discover the strength of the Russians massed there. Clearly his cavalry were about to be lured into a deathtrap. He sent Airey posthaste to 'suggest' that the cavalry should retire. A perfect gentleman, Raglan considered it unseemly to use imperatives to other gentlemen, who he expected to interpret his messages accordingly. Often his confidence was misplaced. Simultaneously he organised the weary Light and 2nd Divisions together with Artillery and Cavalry support to move forward to cover Cardigan's withdrawal.
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