With the begin of the Baltic Campaign of 1854, he was transferred with his regiment to the Crimea and in June 1854 he was advanced to a major-general. Bentinck fought in the Battle of Alma in September of the latter year and having received command of the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot in the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October. A month later, he was shot in the arm in the Battle of Inkerman and then took part in the Siege of Sevastopol with the second division. Following the death of Sir George Cathcart, he was attached to the fourth division, however aftereffects of his wound delayed his accession until June 1855.