The battle lasted about six hours from daybreak to 1 p.m. then the Russians began their retreat, having lost nearly twelve thousand men. Pennefather's "admirable behaviour" was mentioned in Lord Raglan's despatch. A fortnight afterwards he was given the colonelcy of the 46th regiment, and he succeeded to the command of the 2nd Division when Evans returned to England in the latter part of November. He was invalided from the Crimea in July 1855, and on 25 September he was appointed to command the troops in Malta, with the local rank of Lieutenant-General. He remained there nearly five years, and after a short term of service in the Northern District, he commanded Aldershot Division from 1860 to 1865.