The Crimean War (1853-1856) was fought between several great European powers in the years just before our Civil War.  It is important for Civil War re-enactors and historians to know about this event because it happened so soon before our time period.  Many of the things learned by the Europeans during the Crimean War were observed by American military personnel, and applied to the Civil War.  This war was widely read about in the United States and was extremely popular.  Many of the things done during the American Civil War were copied from the British and French during the Crimean War.

Why Should Civil War Re-enactors/Historians Read about the Crimean War?
Causes of the War
Chronology
Part 1: Calamita Bay to The Battle of Alma River
Part 2: The Battle of Balaclava to the Battle of Inkerman
Part 3: Confusion, Siege and Peace
The War Outside the Crimean Peninsula
The Sea War
Regiments in the Crimean War
Victoria Crosses Earned During the Crimean War
The Crimean War Medal
Units
    The British Cavalry
    The British Infantry
    Notes on Artillery in the War
The Major Battles
    Alma
    Balaklava
    Inkerman
    Siege of Sebastopol
Biographies
    Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 7^th Earl of Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell
    3^rd Earl of Lucan, George Charles Bingham
    General Richard Guyon
    Lord Raglan, 1^st Baron Fitzroy James Henry Somerset
    2^nd Duke of Cambridge, George William Frederick Charles
    Sir Charles Napier
    Field Marshal Sir Henry E. Wood
    Florence Nightingale
Primary Source Documents
David Kelsey's Research Documents
Crimean War Research Society's Documents
    GENERAL ACCOUNTS
        A Guards Officer's Account of the Battle of the Alma, September 21, 1854
        Reports from The New York Times, November 17, 1854
        Prince Gortshakoff on the Evacuation of Sebastopol, August 30, 1855
        Reports from The New York Times, October 19, 1855
        The Kerry Recruit
    INKERMAN (NOVEMBER 1854)
        Sergeant Turner on the Battle of Inkerman, November 2, 1854
        The New York Times on the Battle of Inkerman, November 5, 1854
    BALACLAVA (1854-1855)
        Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade, 1854
        Captain Campbell on Life Before Balaclava, 1854-1855
        Lt.-Col. Sterling on Life Before Balaclava, 1855
        Lord Lucan's Defense of His Conduct at Balaclava, March 19, 1855
Relevant Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Bibliography