Why the Battle of Inkerman is known as the Soldier's Battle
On a foggy November morning in 1854, senior commanders lost control of the battlefield. Amidst the Crimean mist, small groups of infantrymen fought isolated, desperate engagements, making decisions entirely on their own initiative. It was a chaotic clash where individual grit, rather than grand strategy, determined the outcome.
The Battle of Inkermans, fought on 5 November 1854, was a pivotal engagement of the Crimean War. The Russian Army, led by figures such as Lt. General F. I. Soymonov, launched a massive assault against the allied forces of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire. The Russian force was formidable, with an attacking force of approximately 42,000 men and 134 field artillery guns. In contrast, the British Second Division, commanded by Major-General John Pennefather after De Lacy Evans was injured, held Home Hill with only about 2,700 men and 12 guns.
The heavy fog of the morning played a decisive role, obscuring Russian movements and preventing senior officers from coordinating their troops. This lack of visibility led to intense, small-scale combat that earned the engagement the name "The Soldier's Battle." While the Russians utilized smoothbore muskets, the British troops were equipped with Pattern 1851 Enfield rifles. The superior accuracy of these rifles, specifically the deadly Minié balls, helped the British repel Russian columns that were forced into bottlenecks by the valley's terrain.
The battle was a scene of extreme carnage and leadership turnover. Russian commanders, including Soymonov, were killed in the fray, with command passing through several hands including Colonel Pristovoitov and Colonel Uvazhuang-Aleksandrov. Although the arrival of French reinforcements, such as Pierre Bosquet's Zouaves, helped turn the tide and force a Russian retreat, the cost was immense. According to Alexander Kinglake's casualty returns, the allies suffered 2,573 British and 1,800 French casualties, while the Russian losses reached approximately 11,959, including prisoners.
Source: Battle of Inkerman
