The Battle of Inkerman Part 4 - Allied Fireworks
Although Dannenberg's set piece attack had been seen off, and the Russians had sustained heavy casualties, they had retired in good order and would be back again. Their batteries on Shell Hill, supplemented by the guns of the fleet, maintained their superior firepower and more guns were coming up from the road column all the time. The British infantry had fought superbly but at the expense of heavy casualties and there were no fresh units available for Raglan to call on. He had sent Colonel Steele for Bosquet, but it would be some time before the French could get to the battlefield. Perhaps thoughts of Blücher at Waterloo crossed his mind - for the first time in the war, Raglan thought he had lost. He turned to Canrobert, speaking in French: "We are - we are - there's a slang word in French which expresses exactly what I want to say"
"Nous sommes foutus? (We are all washed up?)", prompted Canrobert, adding cautiously "I hope not My Lord."
But indeed back came the Russians, still 11th Infantry Division, this time against the French 6th Ligne which had been positioned on the Tusk on the right edge of the Quarry Ravine since it had helped the Guards and 4th Div units extricate themselves. The 7th Leger hurried to its aid, but even with Boussinière's battery positioned on the top of Mount Head in support, they were hard pressed and taking heavy casualties. The 7th had suffered more than 300 killed and wounded, the 6th not a lot less, and there was a colossal scrap with the Okhotsky for their Regimental Colour when the bearer was killed and it fell to the ground. Lieut Col Goze on horseback took it on, but immediately took a musket ball in the arm which made him drop it again - finally it was secured. Shortly afterwards the regiment lost their Colonel, de Camas, mortally shot in the chest.
Further along, at the Barrier, Col Haines and a wing of the 21st, together with the 63rd joined by a company of the 77th and a mixture of detached sub-units, were falling back under relentless pressure from superior numbers. General Goldie had taken over command of 4th Div after the death of Cathcart - but while moving up to give Haines his support, he was mortally wounded. Everywhere ammunition was running low and there wasn't much hope of getting any quickly.
Latest Articles