Inkerman was the most complicated of the battles; the chapters
which record it are correspondingly taxing to the reader. More
than once or twice they must be scanned, with close study of their
lucid maps, before the intricate sequences are fairly and
distinctively grasped; the sixth book of Thucydides, a standing
terror to young Greek students, is light and easy reading compared
with the bulky sixth volume of Kinglake. The hero of the day was
Pennefather; he maintained on Mount Inkerman a combat of pickets
reinforced from time to time, while around him through nine hours
successive attacks of thousands were met by hundreds. The
disparity of numbers was appalling. At daybreak 40,000 Russian
troops advanced against 3,000 English and were repulsed. Three
hours later 19,000 fresh troops came on, passed through a gap in
our lines, which Cathcart's disobedience, atoned for presently by
his death, had left unoccupied, and seized the heights behind us;
they too were dispossessed, but our numbers were dwindling and our
strength diminishing. The Home Ridge, key of our position, was
next invaded by 6,000 Russians; the 7th St. Leger, linked with a
few Zouaves and with 200 men of our 77th Regiment, French and
English for once joyously intermingled, hurled them back. It was
the crisis of the fight; Canrobert's interposition would have
determined it; but he sullenly refused to move. Finally, led by
two or three daring young officers, 300 of our wearied troops
charged the Russian battery which had tormented us all day; their
artillerymen, already flinching under the galling fire of two 18-
pounders, brought up by Lord Raglan's foresight early in the
morning, hastily withdrew their guns, and the battle was won. It
was a day of Homeric rushes; Burnaby, with only twenty men to
support him, rescuing the Grenadier Guards' colours; the onset of
the 20th with their "Minden Yell"; Colonel Daubeny with two dozen