The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-30 00:00:00

I

AWE RIAL PAR LIAA

their attention. He shouldn,aotin, therefore,
erebfoartet,le ffoelloßwatihakeihmoven:
again
' gentleman in fighting over
but he would refer to two questions which required an an-
- They had heard a great deal of what Lord Raglan's
HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY. ' ae
order. t
did not mean, but lee was most anxious to hear- end
THE CHARGE OF THE 'LIGHT BRIGADE AT a's yet he had not heard it clearly explained, either by Lord
Raglan or any one else—what that order really did mean.
B A.L AK LAVA.
(Hear.) The way in which the order was understood by
Mr. H. BERKELEY rose to move that an humble ad- Lord Lucan and the aide-de-camp was, that the cavalry
dress should be presented to her Majesty, praying that she wasie ,
thet o
gone.
advance
rapidlyheywere
etroe the front,
Would be graciously pleased to order that an inquiry by ble, told,
however,a
Englishpog 5 i.
- language in this case meant something else from what it
usually did mean, and that it must be interpreted in a
court-martial should be held on Lieutenant-General the
Earl of Lucan for ordering a charge of the light cavalry at non-natural sense ;he wished, therefore, that some expla-
the battle-of Balaklava. He undertook the discharge of- nation should be given as to what the real meaning of the
order was. It should be observed that Captain Nolan had
this duty in consequence of the illness of a gallant relative,
the misfortune shortly to fall—a fact which showed that
who if he were present would then stand in the position
ry were in a position where the slightest advance
which he (Mr. H. Berkeley) occupied; _, . brought them immediately under the fire of the enemy's
and, if any apology
were necessary, that was his excuse for trespassing upon guns. Another matter as to which he wished for some in-
the attention of the hones. At the same time, he must atruction or information was this. They had heard Lord
Lucan blamed for obeying the order, and being guided by
say that he had met with ne military difficulties in this
the interpretation of the aide-de-camp, and the noble lord
ease which would prevent any civilian from perfectly cora-
was now here in disgrace. He wished to know whether
a more favoufable
have been now i
prehending it, and it was his intention to clear away as Lord Lucan would much as possible the military technicalities surrounding i
it. position—whether he would be now n the Crimea, com-
There never was a time whoa their soldiers wore more
- mending the cavalry—whether he would be looked up to
Insaennel fvorthy of all honour and esteem, if he had dis-
dear to the nation than at the present moment. Their bril-
aoheyed that order ? (Hear, hear.) As to Lor.d Lucan
Rant gallantry, their patient endurance of suffering, the being afraid to take upon himself the responsnbility of
high moral tone which beamed forth in the extensive cor- pausing, which, as a lieutenant-general commanding atdie-
respondence that was printed, and which had been written vision, ho was entitled to do, he wished to point out to h
house that Lord Lucan was not a man who shirked or
by all grades of the army, entitled them to their respect,
Was afraid of responsibility. The noble lord had published
their gratitude, and he should ' hope to their protection.
Was it not their duty narrowly to watch over ' the wel-
t oe speech lately cielivered by him in the form of a pamphlet,
fare of that army ? Already had the people by an over- .and in a note to it he mentioned that he had mill teed in
whelming majority of Chair representatives in that house
nix speech to state that, on the day after the battle•of
demanded as inquiry into the destruction of thousands
Alma, ho sent a message to the general commanding, ex-
Of their gallant men by the withholding from them pressing his hope that Lord Raglan would allow him to act
of the absolute necessaries of life—fuel, food, raiment, '
on his own responsibility, as occasion might offer, because
otherwise opportunities of gaining success and injuring the
attendance. (Hear.) The late Ministry op-
en(l medical
. 1 inquiry, and they not only lost their places, but
poser that enemy wouldcertainly be lost. To that message Lord Lucan
they lost caste with the country. A committee had. been said ho received no reply, and he had been led to make thet
appointed, and the inquiry was witnessed with satisfaction offer'in consequence of having taken upon himself on he
3
by the nation, and liteq produced a' satisfactory effect,
P evious day to move his cavalry and artillery across the
(Hear, hear.) He (Hr. H. Berkeley) was there to ask for river in order to protect the infantry when ascending the
au inquiry into' the destruction of 300 gallant men—as fine opposite heights,om o
a»fd
abcfcraeeusengheentcooinisidtheraetd
occasion,
ei if
,h
me hoar cei
a body of men as ever drew sword or put foot in stirrup. fei t m himself
tCheere.) Those men had been, it was admitted, uselessly, prisoners would have been taken. Again, in a
action
at
converse-
wantonly sacrificed, in an attempt where there was no pots-
sibility of succees, and where defeat was certain. (Hear.) Balaklava, Lord Lucan expressed a hope' that orders less
He was not able' o ask for a committee to in quire into that peremptory and leaving hire some discrection would be sent
to him, because if orders were sent more fit for a subaltern
loss, butte aske I to have the proper tribunal constituted
which was appointed for inquiries in such matterti —a
than for a general to receive, then es a subaltern he would
court-martial. (Hear.) The late Ministry was disinclined to
execute them, because he would not expose himself to be
chareen with backwardness- or hesitation in executive
inquiry ; it appeared the authorities at the Horse Guards
them. He (Lord Echo) had received a letter from his lett
heti followed their example, and were equally disinclined to
brother after the battle of Alma sin which he said. that
inquiry, and it was to spur on their lazy virtue that hea
Lord Lucan at a certain period Of the action ordered up
brought' forward this motion. (Hear.) Why they should
Log
cavalry and artillery in support., which peoved so effect-
refuse inquiry, and why inquiry should not be most unto-,
ral iu such a case, ho was at a loss to understand. A neuerta-
..tire :ctrl or such sinnal service to the Hi blenders who had
i.!st, charge.l the heights, that Sir Colin Campbell, 'with
martial could be hpin on anybody. It could ha heldan best
tears in his eyes, 'amok him by the hand, and thanked
couple of boys who pulled each other out of bed!
.him for what he had done. (Hear, hear.) He did not
each other with a candlestick ; but when they asked her
intend tweispute or discuss the rerogative of the Crown
Majesty's Government for an inquiry into the death of 310
to recell-Lerit Ltcan ; that wee is right which undoubtedly
rir 1, they kn ~
Mee who were .thus wantonly
eeisted, and which it was necessary for the efficiency et
thing at all of the proceedings. {Hear, hear.) The.: nu-
ef life was peculiar to the
oEnglish people,'. and lee taro
tee army that the Clown should exercise without question.
passed for the punishment
.f thosewito caused .de'astl'il byr It,tuight indeed be questioned whether the exercise of the
or incompetence. (Hear, hear.) neat was just or necessary in this case, the only reason
ignorance, cerelessuese, _
.Were not. the lives of their gallant soleiein as dear to them alleged that ne had written a letter containing certain re-
ns the lines' of passengers upon a railway, or were they presentations to the general-ie.-chief, and that ho was on
prepared, to say that when men put on tho military uni- bid terms with Lord Raglan. It might have been sup-
form they forfeited all their care and protection ? Were posed from this that the letter alluded to was intemperate
'they *pared to say that the charge of Balaklavit was to or disrespectful, but when it came to be read, that was not
be a charge of fools, or that the Government -should nee , the impression ad/lct-1 it made on the peopja of this eoune
with respect to it the words of Falstaff— try. Again, as to the perional relation.; between the gene-
" I have led my raggeunuffius where they have been well
ra!sehe had been informed by Lord, lowan that shortly
peppered?"
before his leaving the Crimea, General Estcourt saw him
and. decl Ind that be . expressed the feelings of the corn-
(Laughter.) Ho (Mr. IL Berkeley) asked for inquiry into mandenin-chief when he said that Lord Reglan ra-
the conduct of Lieut.-General the Earl of Lucan, because he gretted his recall, and could not understand why it had
believed that, through inimonception of his orders, that taken place. If it were consideredeesentil that two such
disaster at Balaklava had occurred by which 300 gallant officers should not to
needlllowe to remain on service in
men wore slain—by which, though, a minor consideration, the same army, he wa to knew why they ahowe Ito
the country lost 360 horses, wlich cbst the Government not Img a period to elapse betweca the date of the receipt ca
less than .15',',/. each—and by which the bingade of lieht Lied Raelan's letter and the date of the recall of Lord
cavalry was all but annihilated. Ho (Hr. H. Berkeley) Loran. 'Lord Itaglauh letter was written on the Lith Dec.,
Wad no personal feeling whatever in this matter; he had no I Lord wannegen reply to tee reference made to him resp?ct-
enmity whatever to gratify; it was deeply painful to him ' ing that letter was dated 25th Jan., and the letter of recall
to discharge the duty ho halt undertaken. He had no was dated 2d Feb., so that three weeks elapsed between
charge to make against the honour or courage of Lord tee receipt of the,
letter of Lord Raglan and the date
Lucan ; but, on' the contrary, he e-as prepared to say that of the recall of Lord Lucan. He asked this becauso
-he believed them both to he undoubted. But he had a 1 there might possibly have been—and the idea was not his
duty to perform, end was to beseech the house to own—a question as to which should be recalled at that
throw the mantle of thateiotetion over the gallant men time; and there was, mon:ewer, a striking coincidence of
who were in arms fur their country. The nation had placed • d tea between the recall of Lord Lucan and the notice of
the army at the dieposal of the Crown, and it' the House of motion which had been pat on the' votes by tho hon. geu-
Commons should decide that a C 330 of wrung had boon tlemen opposite respecting the battle 'of Balakleva. He had
made out against any of the functionaries of 'the army, of doubt himself that a clear explanation would be given
whether high or low it was their duty to address her Ma- of these points by the Government; but as he had heard
jesty that she should her command for a court-martial them mooted in society,'he thought it deeirable to call the
to be held upon the otfemling party. hear.) He did attention of Ministers to. them. The letter of Lord Raglan
not stand there to ask for a court-martial (Hear,or Lord Liman, brought against, Lord' Lucan charges of the gravest charac-
but he stood there to ask for a court-martial on Lora tsr. The production of that letter on the part of the Go-
' Lucan. (Hear, hear ) It was necessary to mention a few eernmeet was, if he might be allowed to say su, a mistake,
of the particulars of time battle of Balaklava to explain the b.:caueo it entirely changed their position. As long as they
facts connected with the brilliant but disastrous charge kept, that letter within the drewers of the Minister of War,
of the light cavalry. Who Russians advanced with great they could take their stand on the prerogative of the
forces, which wore estimated at 20,000 or 30,000 men. Crown,-and the right of the Government to recall any
They drove in the Turks, who, as the house were aware, officer without assigning any reasons; bat when they pro-
ran away incontinently, and, satisfied with their easy vic- duced that letter they placed the matter on other grounds,
tory over there, they advanced a portibn of their eavalrf and must stand or fall by the reasons contained in it. Lord
against Sir Colin Campbell, who dispersed them with Lucan declared, in his letter appn lag for a court-martial,
great ease with his gallant Highlanders. Another. body teat the letter of Lord Raglan contained the , gravest pos-
of Russian cavalry advanced against their heavy brigade, able imputations on his profeisional character—that Of ah-
-by whom they were charged and cut down, and they re- solute disobedience pf orders, superadded to that of gross
treated in confusion. He begged the house to observe misconception suggested in the original despatch, and that
that it was at a period of the day when the Russians were these charges could be cleared up by a professional investiga-
in retreat, and as Lord Raglan imagined were carrying off ; lion alone. In the letter and the court-martial nogron the
the guns taken from the Turks, that his lordship issued the I for refusal were assigned, and he must therefore look to the
- following order—and nothing could be more clear and pre- 1 speeches made in another place by the noble lord the Mi-
chse than that order :—" Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to 'lister of War and the Commander-in-Chief. He gathered
advancer apidly to the front, follow the enemy, and try-t:a that there were in the main four grounds; first, that there
prevent then carryingaway theguns ; a troop of horse artil- was no precedent ; Second, that ,if a court-martial wore
lery may accompany. The French cavalry is to the left. Im- granted to Lord Lucan, it must be granted to every officer
mediate. (Signed)—AlßET." Lordßaglanissued that order arid private who thought his araigned ;tried;
to Lord Lucanaead Lord Lucan,on the strength of that order that there would be a difficulty in conductingfram the charges ;
charged with 610 light dragoons a Russian army of 20,000 and fourth, that Lord Lucan had done duty since the action
men in position, and composed of lioree,foot, and artillery. of Balaklava, and that by military law he could not be put
' This order, which could only be interpreted as au order to inu his trial. First, as to there being no precedent. Now.
charge and pursue a broken force, caused 670 dragoons to he thought that-ifjustice required that a particular course ,
charge an army of 20,000 men, horse, foot, and artillery. atiouhl be taken in a case which had not previously arisen,
The more you dissected and examined that order, the more the fact that there was no precedent was not a valid reason
clear did Lord Raglan's intention become. First, no order I why justice should not be done. Besides, there was a pre-
whatever was given to charge by Lord Raglan, but an or- cedent for the grant of a court-martial here. The case of
der to follow and prevent the engine. from carrying away Lord G. Sackville, the commander of the English cavalry
the guns, the mode of doing this being left entirely to at the battle of Minden in 1759, was, in its broad features,
Lord Lncan. The implied impression to send a troop of analogous to that of Lord Lucan ; the only difference being
horse artillery was conclusive in his mind as to Lord Rag- that Lord G. Sackville was tried and condemned for dis-
lan's intention ; for the idea that Lord Raglan could have obeying orders, while Lord Lucan was censured for obey-
contemplated sending a troop of light sixes to pound away beg them. In the general order issued by Prince Fordi-
at a large number of heavy guns in position was just as nand of Brunswick, the commander-in-chief of the allied
absurd as that of sending 670 horsemen against the whole army, after the battle of Minden, he declared his opinion 1
body of the Russiau troops. Lord Lucan was ordered to that if the Marquis of Granby had commanded the cavalry '
do one thing, the necessity of which had passed away, and of the right wing instead of Lord George Saukville, the re
he did another thing, - which was just the worst in the se
of the day would. have been more brilliant, and went
world be could have done. It was unintelligible what on to say that he was desirous to impress on all his gene-
could have led to the misconception of one of the cleverest rale that when orders were brought to them by his aides-
orders ever given. They had heard a great deal of what de-camp they should be obeyed without delay. When
Captain Nolan did and said, but if his evidence could be that general order was issued, Lord G. Sackville,
taken, it would avail nothing whatever against Lord Rag- feeling himself aggrieved, obtained leave to return to Eng-
lanai written order, and, therefore, it was of no avail to land, when he demanded, and immediately obtained a
talk of it. One of the greatest military authorities of the court-martial, by whom he was found guilty of disobedi-
day, the Duke of Richmond, fully agreed in the view once of orders. Re must in passing remark that the posi-
he took of the case, and it was not a small support tion of English general officers appeared to him somewhat
to a humble civilian like himself to have such testi- unfortunate, for Lord G. Sackville was condemned for dis-
mony en his side. Lord Lucan said that Capt. Nolan obeying orders, and for exercising his own discretion—the
obtruded his advice upon him in a way that ought not very thing which Lord Lucan was censured for not having
to have been permitted ; but it was to be regretted done. He found, in turning over the pamphlets at the
that the noble lord had not taken the Earl of Car- British Museum with reference to the case of Lord G.
digan'e advice relative to the propriety of the charge. Seckville that amongst the officers by whom he was tried
If he could have found anything is excuse or extenuation wcas one Arilliarn Eail of Penman. He hoped this might
of the conduct of Lord Lucan he would most freely avow, ba regarded as at% rophetic omen, and that we should soon
it, but he wished to show that the noble lord was fully have a warrant signed "Fox, Baron Panmure," ordering
aware of the strength of the Russians against whom he a court-naartial upon Lord Lucan. He also found amongst
was operating. When he received the order, he commanded these pamphlets one by the general who commanded the
Lord Cardigan to advance. Now, if there were any man French cavalry at the battle of Minden, in which he tried
in the British army to whom such an order could be more to console Lord GeSankville for hie disgrace by telling him
grateful than another, that man was Lord Cardigan—one that the English were like the Carthaginians, for whenever
so gallant and adventurous that he might well be termed a general was unsuccessful they immediately crucified h
a Hotspur, and one who, like Hotspur, would pluck bright Then there were also the cases of Sir J. Norris and Ad ml-
honour-
from the moon. Yet did that noble earl receive ral Sir IL Palliser, both of which were cited by MCArthur
the order eiven him with joy and alacrity ? Far from it ; in his work on military law, to show that officers who
he receive 4 it with great consternation, and he had the thought themselves aggrieved had aright todeznand ourt,
moral courage to demur to it before he knew that Lord inertial. He now came to the second point to which ho had
Lecan was aware of the desperate nature of the at on ad verted, and he should contend that there wad no.analogy
which be sent him. The aids-de-camp was ordered to state whatever between the case of Lard Lump. and those with
that the point was three-quarters of a mile distant, that which it was sought to confound it. Lard Lucan was con-
the flanks wore lined with Russian artillery, and the hills dammed because, being a lieutenant-general eorumanding a
in front and around covered with infantry, yet Lord Liman division, he did not exercise any discretion, but simply
still persisted in the order. Lord Cardigan himself re- ob wed the orders he received, as a private or any other
peatod the statement to Lord Lucan, and then proceeded °Ricer Would have done. What proved that this was so
at the head of his men ou a charge so desperate that it was . ass si, that although the Earl of Cardigan and the Earl of
not too much to say there was not one amongst them, from Liman both disapproved of the order for the cavalry charge
the general to the trumpeters, who did not believe they at Balaklava,
were about to charge on eternity. No language could be too both remonstrated against it, and both
obey eel it, the one received praise and honour, ' and the
strongly laudatory for the description of this gallant charge. other censure and professional disgrace. (Hear.) Naw,
It was a marvellous example of the powerof discipline, and he must contend that if they threw upon an officer like the
showed, in the clearest manner, the glorious spirit of pa- Earl of Lucan greater responsibility, and called for the
triotism which animated them, their loyalty to their exercise of more discretion from him, then they must con-
Queen and devotion to their country. Lord Cardigan's cede to him a greater measure of grace and favour than
name would be banded down to posterity as a belted earl, they did to a private or officer not in that positiea. With
entitled to be ranked with the Bedfords, the Bohuns the regard to the third argument against this court-martial, he
Chandoses, and the proudest of the olden time. A 'Bus- must say that he did not believe that the present Judge-
sian general who had sent his men on such a desperate Advocate would have found any greater difficulty in fram-
service, and led to sueh fearful sacrifice of life, would have ing a charge against the Earl of Lucan, With Lord Rag-
died under the knout, or would now have been digging in lann letters before him, than the Judge-Advocate:General
the mines of Siberia. What had happened in our army ? of 1759 did in drawing up the charges against Lord George
Nothing. Had any notice been taken of it ? None at all.
Lord Lucan himself demanded a court-martial
and
He and in a Sackville. With regard to the fourth argument, he was
most gallant spirit, he was ready to declare. (Rear.) quite willing to admit that if au officer or soldier was put
under arrest for an offence, and was afterwards released,
did not stand there to say anything of Lord Lucan which
that olence was condoned. Bat that was not the case here.
could give pain or umbrage to his best friends, nor would ' Beeides,he begged the house to recollect that this was a law
he refer to his military knowledge ; but he could not shut
his eyes to the fact of his haying been promoted over the intended for the benefit of the accused, and surely it ought
heads of many gallant and distinguished men who had seen .not to be wrested to his disadvantage, as was now being done
in the Earl of Lucan 's case. He must say that if Lord Rag-
service, he himself having seen none—such mon as IVynd-
or tne eentes lan believed the charges which he brought .
against
the Earl
ham, Thackwell, Cavendish, and others, low° d'
who were perfectly well qualified for such a post. He sub- of Lucan as no doubt he did, when ho wrote his letter, he
milted to the house that he had at least made out a case was much' to blame in allowing. a general whom he be-
for inquiry, and it was re ins llt tou our' service that suc a lieved to have shown himself incompetent for command to
transaction should 111:va iakeriu place without inquiry. He remain for two months longer at the head Of the cavalry,
demanded a court-mart i,l on E upon which the safety of the army mainly depended. A
Lucan in justice to our
army and in deference to the Wishes of the nation. He greatht deal has been said about this not being a fit subject,
should t herefure move an address to her Majest
house to relatezt to a matter of military discipline. But although
consent
to the motion, in the nalne of the martyrs who had
y, it was undoubtedly ono of the prerogatives of the Crown found a bloody grave on tee heights of Balaklava, in tho to command the arm that house had always been jealous
"lathe of the survivors, in the name of the mothers, widows, of that power, and had always exercised a strong control,
over the army by passing the Mutiny Bill only from year
still nehting for all taat was dear to them• and fathers of the unfortunate men who had died, or of
tn yeer, and by retaining in its hands the power of stop-
those who were .
seconding the motion for the address,
.
ping tine supplies. Nay more, he found numerous instances
Lord ELCHO, in
in which motions having relation to the discipline of the
•
al,eltoek' could assure the house that he did
. hissionnitoestconduct.
Y had been brought forward with the most beneficial
As results tisane were made for addressing the Crown for
Lord Lucan only courted inquiry
Court-mainlt7ia4ls;i ni n ?beat coafs ocsapotf.
N.Aodrmriisr,ailns Matthews tsharesyeaanrd;
the hon. gentleman had stated that he made this motion
in that of Sir Hugh Palliser, durine the late war ; in that
ner at the
ottivenaeaolif°l4hge°
from a sense of what was due to the gallant men
to which
1
of Col. Qui t' ''
distinguished themselves on
L 1 Lucan, as well merville n in, in 1814; mind in the case of Alexander So-
who
dßfor
Reform
B writingia nag i
tlaettiteonr, tsorr.a
Humenews-
th the memorable day
it related, so also he said it was .
as to these
ene
mloreitlietonewmitebmrbeespr
respect
tr Htoutdhleeersrfireeyld
ago the
tbe house in 1832. 'Why, only a
gallant men, that an inquiry itnotohihsios
own peel-
Eo.:unsihgfh.
zsint.
should be granted. One word with respect
sintioprpooritgi3i7t
tollaffaec43tpeineet
tion, which was both painful and peculiar. It was at all had ,brought forwalard
lin
ritohuasny'st. hhiec hd
ins coitphlii nn
ge
times painful to defend the conduct of a relation which
occa-for he said th t •
was impugned, but it was doubly painful when the
coulde army,
an injustice was done to'
Mier; because a
antihabde
sion was one on which he had the misfortune to lose a re- the private
be soofficers. En
1838
arethoof them were not pro-
the still nearer and dearer. He said this not to excite met el to
Woods and Forwsta, ia present Chief Com-
'esioner of
ging forward a
the sympathy of the house, but with the object of showing
DU
Con for a committee to inluire into the conduct of the
that, in supporting the motion of-the hon. gentleman, the
motion
ander-in-chief with respect to ai, appointment which
events of thatday, in whatever light they were to be viewed, 1 C. .
in
calculated to injure discipline, insisted strongly
were certainly not calculated to prejudice him in favour of he thoughttheeresponsibility 0 _ the
r Aliniosterieleoaftnithe Crown to
Lord Laconia. It was from a sense ofjustice, and from that . uponPariiament for the administration f t
trenched(Til tilt' reply
alone, that he supported the motion, force never was more
those who urged that his motion_l,w
.1, e prero-
firmly convinced of anything in his life than of this—that to
the Crown, he said : of
"In
eet
within the ar
,Lorducaq_was a grossly wronged and iejured man. Lord g
ofativFliat term ' prerogative' male use of w
soino, Whose walla
. Lucan courtiicl inquiry into his conduct, and it
.was his ;hear
I this haute,' we may feel convinced
thatabout to be made
ditty to endeefentr to induce the house to grant him that . of
tto be defeuded—son at tempt is
Not
, . which he thought he had a right to demand. He knew too ! aeon. e
shrink from responsibility."
relating
- , well the value of thditicee of the house to occupy it with , to escape inquiry—Co
often interfered in matters . 4
t_
any tueubratiOns of his own on military law, policy, or tae- I only -had Parliament
..
but in
many
case. wlt
tits, which, as those of a civilian, could have little claim on to the discipline of the army,

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