|
===The Second Division in action; the Russians in the valley===
[[File:Battle of Inkerman map.jpg|thumb|left|A British map of the positions of the forces after the initial assault]]
The Russian infantry, advancing through the fog, were met by the advancing Second Division, who opened fire with their [[Pattern 1853 Enfield]] rifles, whereas the Russians were still armed with [[smoothbore]] [[musket]]s.{{sfnp|Myatt|1979|p=50}} The Russians were forced into a bottleneck owing to the shape of the valley, and came out on the Second Division's left flank. The rifled [[Minié ball]]s of the British rifles proved deadly accurate against the Russian attack.{{sfnp|Figes|2010|p=260}} Those Russian troops that survived were pushed back at bayonet point. Eventually, the Russian infantry were pushed all the way back to their own artillery positions. The Russians launched a second attack, also on the Second Division's left flank, but this time in much larger numbers and led by Soymonov himself. Captain Hugh Rowlands, in charge of the British pickets, reported that the Russians charged "with the most fiendish yells you can imagine."{{sfnp|Figes|2010|p=259}} At this point, after the second attack, the British position was incredibly weak. If Soymonov had known the condition of the British, he would have ordered a third attack before the British reinforcements arrived.{{sfnp|Figes|2010|p=260}} Such a third attack might well have succeeded, but Soymonov could not see in the fog and thus did not know of the desperate situation of the British. Instead, he awaited the arrival of his own reinforcements—General Pavlov's men who were making their way toward the Inkerman battlefield in four different prong attacks from the north.{{efn|See the map on page XXX of Orlando Figes, ''The Crimean War''.{{sfnp|Figes|2010|p=XXX}}}} However, the British reinforcements arrived in the form of the Light Division which came up and immediately launched a counterattack along the left flank of the Russian front, forcing the Russians back. During this fighting Soymonov was killed by a British rifleman.{{sfnp|Figes|2010|p=260}} Russian command was immediately taken up by Colonel Pristovoitov, who was himself shot a few minutes later. Colonel Uvazhnov-Aleksandrov assumed command of the Russian forces. Shortly after, Uvazhnov-Aleksandrov was also killed in the withering British fire. At this point, no officer seemed keen to take up command and Captain Andrianov was sent off on his horse to consult with various generals about the problem.{{sfnp|Figes|2010|p=260}}
The rest of the Russian column proceeded down to the valley where they were attacked by British artillery and pickets, eventually being driven off. The resistance of the British troops here had blunted all of the initial Russian attacks. General Paulov, leading the Russian second column of some 15,000, attacked the British positions on Sandbag Battery. As they approached, the 300 British defenders vaulted the wall and charged with the bayonet, driving off the leading Russian battalions. Five Russian battalions were assailed in the flanks by the British [[41st Regiment of Foot|41st Regiment]], who drove them back to the River Chernaya.
|
