During the Battle of Alma in 1854, Egerton, now a Colonel, was ordered by General George Buller to advance with the 77th Regiment to provide support to a brigade further ahead. Egerton refused this order as he believed that there were Russian battalions just ahead of them with cavalry support, and ordered his regiment to form a hollow square. This led General Buller to take Egerton's word and follow suit with the other regiments. This action saved many of the British forces during the battle.