But they actually had nothing in mind other than a jolly good orgy of destruction, effective enough in its own way. First up, the Navy landed the land forces near the village of Ambelaki on Kamiesh Bay. They were unopposed and took up temporary positions on the heights, pushing patrols out towards Kersch in the early afternoon. When the commanders of the coastal batteries saw them coming they spiked their guns, blew up the magazines and withdrew to the west.
Whilst most of the fleet were occupied in some way with the disembarcation, mid-afternoon found a British gunboat Snake under Lieut McKillop stooging around the straits with nothing to do. McKillop suddenly caught sight of the Russian steamer Argonaut making off from Kersch into the sea of Azov, and perhaps emitting wild Scottish war whoops, decided to give chase, following the Russian along perilously narrow passages through the shallows. On rounding the bluff at the entrance to the Sea, the Russian, seeing help coming out from Yenikale in the shape of the war steamer Molodovetz, decided to turn round and have it out with Snake, but the British vessel made it so hot for the two of them that they broke away and retired into Yenikale. The coastal batteries opened up and a few more allied vessels arrived in support, joining in a general exchange of fire. This lasted until darkness fell, creating sufficient diversion to allow the two Russian vessels, plus two others, to slip away into the Sea of Azov. However, they had been forced to abandon the barges of government property they had been towing, including local and military archives and the treasury chests from Kersch and Yenikale. Several small Russian merchant vessels were also captured. The remaining lightly armed steamers which had made up the local Naval force under Rear Admiral Wulff, including three under repair at Kersch, were scuttled. In the circumstance this was the best option to avoid inevitable capture by the vastly superior allied fleet.
The day ended spectacularly when the commander of the small garrison at Yenikale blew up his magazine at 9pm, before pulling his men out. The enormous explosion of 30,000 kilograms of powder destroyed several buildings and rocked ships at anchor 30 miles away.
At 6 am the following morning the infantry formed up for a cautious advance on Kersch. The British brigade marched on the left on the higher ground, coordinating movement with the French brigades proceeding along the coast; the Turks followed the French. The columns reached Kersch at midday in stifling heat. Although many Russian and Greek families, having no other place to go to, had to remain in the town, they kept a low profile and only the mainly Tartar and Jewish element of the 12,000 population were in evidence; they offered a reserved yet friendly welcome. There was a problem finding sufficient drinking water for the desperately thirsty troops. The Russians had cut the aquaducts, but friendly locals indicated the water sources, and the Sappers got them up and running again; but not before many soldiers had taken a chance on brackish and stagnant water in waterbuts and barrels. A good proportion would soon pay for their rashness with stomach complaints. An unlucky few went down with cholera. After the midday halt the bulk of the force marched off for Yenikale.
