The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-29
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING, NOVEMBER 20. 1854
AN ENGLISH ACCOUNT OF THE CHARGE
AT BALAKLAvA.


CAMP, BALAKLAvA, near I
Sebastopoi, Oct. 81.
You say you hear nothing of our regiment; well
will tell you something about it. In the first place
la coming FROM Varns, across the Black Sea, we
were overtaken by most awful storm and gale OF
wind, Our vessel, the Wilson Kennedy. went on
her beam ends, and the stabling gave wsy, all the
horses were thrown over to one side OF the chip,
and, in one horrid night, one hundred of them
kicked and worried each other to death; and there
we were for two nights and days fastened down
with one hundred dead and dying horses; we only
saved eleven out of our ship and on the third day
we threw one hundred and one overheard.
We were eigh. days, all but wreck beating
about the Black Sea, and had TO go back to Con.
s,antinople after all, at which place they put
US on board a steamer. and landed us In the Cri.
Ines: and now, indeed, our work has begun. We
are protecting the rear, while the besiegers are at
tacking the town. The whole of the cavalry are
encamped on an open plain, surrounded by bills
and mountains, and We have indeed plenty cut out
for US.
Over these hills there are thousands of Cossacks
and large Russian army who are trying to get up
to Sebaeopol, and is duty to keep them back;
they are constantly coming down upon us, and we
have had some severe struggles, but they have not
the "pluek" OF Engshrnen. for, though we are far
We are In the saddle night aud day can't tell
how long il 10 since was und ressed; only know
shat it has been so long that have forgotten it.
The worst aff.ir we had was the day before yes
terday At daybreak the enemy appeared and adj
ysnced, and in such numbers that they took from
the Turks two of their batteries, and turned the
guns upon us. We were obliged to retreat out of
the range of the guns and this so elated the enc
my that they actually had courage enough to go in
to the open tiald with Three regiments of their
cavalry tried to gain possession of the Higbauders
$3.50 position and charged them. but they had not
time to repent, for they went down like corn
What were left of them turned and fled, and we
pursued them over their own hills. Here they were
reinforced by three more regiments OF cavalry in
Guiding Nicholas crack Imperial Guards There
were the Grays and First Royals up at this time,
and we charged them-they had nothing else for it
10 they charged at the same time. Oh, God | can
not describe 1t; they were so superior in numbers
that they "outtsuked" us, and we were in the
middle of them | never certainly felt less fear in
my life than did at that time, and hope God will
forgive me, for felt more like devil than man.
We fought our way out of them only Enelismen
can fight; aui the ith, 5ih. and 9th were there up
with US. ! escaped without q scratch thank God,
though was covered with blood my horse was
not even wounded hut, oh the work OF slaughter
that then began-twas truly awful, but suppose
ii was necessary we cur them down like sheep,
and they did not seem to have power 10 resist
The plain is covered with deal Russians and of
course we left some of our poor comrades on the
field We only lost two, and about seven wound
ed Well, when we had finished this lot we thought
OF going home to breakfast; bur, no; they (the
enemy had some guns the hills that Lord
Raglan sent word wereto be charged and captured
at any cost. SO otf we went again. They received
US very quietly into their ground-LOrd Lucan
leading the Heavies, and Lord Cardigan the Ligh,
Brigade. The Light charged first This time, took
the guns, cut down the gunners, and then, when
they thought all was right, they were met by thou
sands of Coasacks, who had been in ambush.
The Royals the Grays, the4th 5;h and 9th now
charpet again. The butchering was repeating :;
when suddenly cross front and rear fire opened
upon US from the hils-canpOn riff 49, and file firing
| cannot attempt To describe TO you the scene that
eisued-balls shells, aud rockets whizztng about
The men on the right and left ofme were
b1rh killed on the spot. We hacked our way out
OF 1t as well could hut were obliged to lea We
the eups Colonel Yorke had his leg broken and
all the officers in the front rank were wounded
The heavy Brigade had not lost many men, but. sad
to tell. out OF about 800 Of the Light Brigade that
went into the field, only 400 came out but this ia
nothing to what the ei 6 uy suffered