Nelson is wounded today in 1797

On the 5th November 1854 a  smaller British and (yes) French army beat off an assault by the Russians at Inkerman in the Crimea. It was known as “The  Soldier’s Battle” as men fought small engagements due to poor visibility in dense fog.
The Russians had massed 32000 men on the Allied flank and headed for the 2700 man 2nd Division, commanded today by the aggressive Pennefather. Instead of falling back in the face of superior numbers, he advanced. The British had their rifles to thank this day as they took a terrible toll on the musket armed Russian Infantry, who were hemmed in by the valley’s bottle neck shape. The British 2nd Division pushed the Russians back onto their reinforcements and should have been routed by the Russians’ numbers, but the fog and the British Light Division saved them. Three successive Russian commanders were killed in this engagement.
The Russians other 15000 men approached and assailed the Sandbag Battery, but they were routed by 300 British defenders vaulting the wall, blunting the lead Battalions, who were then attacked in the flank. More Russian attacks ensured the Battery exchanged hands several times.
The British 4th Division was not as lucky. Arriving on the field, its flanking move was itself flanked and its commander, Cathcart, killed. This enabled the Russians to advance, but not for long. They were soon driven off by French units arriving from their camps and made no more headway.
The battle was lost and they had to withdraw.
This was the last time the Russians tried to defeat the Allied troops in the field. Despite this reverse, however, the Russian attack had seriously stalled the Allies from capturing Sevastopol. They had to instead, spend one harsh winter on the heights overlooking the city, before it fell in September of 1855.
The British suffered 2573 casualties, the French 1800 and the Russians 11959.

Amazing story.

@Cromwell_Dude:

What would you have done had you been Hood or another general in the West?

If I was Hood I would have shadowed Sherman deep into Georgia and attempted to counter attack him near Savannah while his supply lines were at his longest.

Thank you Toblerone.
I do not mind people going off at a tangent incidentally. It is all fun.
As you said, Flashman made a very good point.

Morning Cromwell. Thank you for your time on this thread.
I have enjoyed reading all you have posted.

He gave Barron an advantage, knowing his eyesight was not good: he did not take the usual number of steps, so making himself a bigger target.
Probably cost him his life and the US a great Naval Officer.
Who knows: could he have been as good as Nelson?
He seemed to fight like him.

Thanks for finding time to comment Cromwell.
The 30th Jan, and this event,is not an anniversary I forget: it is Al’s father’s birthday. He has always enjoyed its place as he  is  anti-monarchist and anti privilege, despite his (state funded) public and Oxford education. It is funny as his wife’s parents worked in the colonies after the war, so politically they do not see eye to eye!

You are right Marc. He certainly was a “baddy”, but not as vile a portrayal as could have been(was the 60s though). Joaquin definitely did him more justice.
I must say, I first watched that because Sofia Loren was in it.