Britain and France declared war on Russia on 28 March 1854. The allied troops joined Turkish forces at Varna on the west coast of the Black Sea at the beginning of June, but the encampment there proved disastrous for the health of the allied soldiers. Inadequate sanitation and high temperatures encouraged outbreaks of cholera. Around 10,000 men died and many more were weakened by the disease. The encampments around the town of Varna and Lake Devna are visible in the middle distance and to the right in this print.