Battle of Chernaya

The Battle of the river Chernaya or Battle of Chernaya (Russian: СражениеуЧернойречки, СражениеурекиЧерной) is a battle which took place not far from the Chernaya during the Crimean War the August 16th 1855 between the Russia and a coalition of French troops and Piémontaises.

The battle started with an offensive of the Russians who wanted to put an end to the head office of Sébastopol. Two Russian army corps under the orders of Prince Mikhaïl Gorchakov (58 000 soldiers) faced the troops free-Sardinians of the Général Pélissier (60 000 men). Although the witnesses of the battle were astonished by the incredible Russian courage of the soldiers and impetuosity by their attack, the attack of the Russian army was very badly organized. It is known that Gorchakov sent a note to its generals with these words " Commençons" , meaning that they were to start to deploy their forces, whereas the generals interpreted it as an order to pass to the attack and acted consequently, encountering a resistance on behalf of the French. The bravery of the French soldiers of the 50e, 82e, 95e, 97e regiments of line; 19th Hunters with foot; and of 2nd and 3rd regiments of Zouave S were particularly noticed. The battle ended in a allied victory. The losses were three times higher on the Russian side than on the side of allied which lost the Piedmontese general Montevecchio however, when the subjects of the Tsar lost three generals.

The bad management of the battle was made fun by its actors, like the Count Leon Tolstoï, in a satyric song, the only piece of poetry that one knows to him. ----

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