The 
Battle of Alma (
September 20, 
1854) was the first battle of the 
Crimean War. It was a Franco-English victory against the General 
Menchikov[?]'s 
Russian army, which lost around 6,000 troops. The 
French were under the command of 
General St. Arnaud, while the English were under 
Lord Raglan. The French 
Zouaves contributed to the victory by taking the Russian-held Redoubts. During the battle, the first batallion of Zouaves lost 222 men, the second batallion 74 men and the third batallion 63 men.
The victory opened the way up for the French and English to advance to Sevastopol.
 
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