Russian Invasion Column Heads for Coldstream

As the gallant defenders of Berwick held back the main Russian army against all the odds, the Tsarist Commander – Count Olovyanny Soldatik decided to send a column to the West. The aim was to cross the bridge across the River Tweed at Coldstream thereby allowing the invaders to encircle Berwick from the South and meet the main British relief force head on. As reported previously Sir William Hullough-Carsting – the commander in chief of the British 1st Army Corps – despatched a small brigade to fend off the Russian column for long enough to allow engineers to destroy the bridge and thwart the Tsarist plan.

The two small forces met each other just north of Coldstream bridge on May 29th 1895. The next update will report on the outcome of this first true fixed battle of the war.