The rest of the second division were in reserve.
The first and Highland divisions were to be formed in the third parallel.
The orders were that the British attack was not to commence until the French had gained possession of the Malakoff.

This they did with but slight loss.

The storming columns were immensely strong, as 30,000 men were gathered in their trenches for the attack upon the Malakoff.

This was effected almost instantaneously.
Upon the signal being given, they leaped in crowds from the advanced trench, climbed over the abattis, descended the ditch and swarmed up the rugged slope in hundreds.
The Russians, taken wholly by surprise, vainly fired their cannon, but ere the men could come out from their underground caves, the French were already leaping down upon them.

It was a slaughter rather than a fight, and in an incredibly short time the Malakoff was completely in the possession of the French.