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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at into History.com. It's the afternoon of September 20th, 1854 on the banks of the River Alma on the Crimean

Peninsula. A bloody battle is underway. On horseback,

British Colonel Sir Colin Campbell waves his sword above his head urging his

Highland Brigade away from the river and forward up a hill.

His men are stretched out in a line more than a mile line.

Cloked in gun smoke, they march steadily toward the enemy position on the bluffs above them firing as they advance.

One year ago, war broke out in Eastern Europe between the Russian Empire and an alliance

made up of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire.

Last week, Britain and France attempted to take the war

into Russian territory by invading the Crimean Peninsula.

British and French troops are now

trying to clear the enemy from the hills overlooking the river Alma,

but the Russians have a strong position and hundreds of Allied troops have already fallen

as Sir Colin Campbell tries to lead his men forward.

Muscophire intensifies as the Highland troops near the summit.

Russian gunfire rips into them.

Soldiers fall screaming in pain, but Sir Colin bellows encouragement and the line never stops moving.

But then a bullet catches Sir Colin's horse.

The animal buckles beneath him, its legs writhing, throwing Sir Colin to the dirt.

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