Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-03-05
DAILY IIRGINIAN.
Lord Cardigan Account Of the Charge \,
nlIat1avD

3dIaklaVa
At the Lord Mayors dinner recently gwen IN
London, the Lord Mayor proposed The Army
nssocitfSing with the toast the names of Major.
General the Ear of Cardigan, and of his aid de-
cnmp, Capt. NeNsee.
The tonst was drunk in the most enthusiast
manner, with three time three and with loud am
long continued cheering.
The Earl of Cardigan, in expressing his thanh7
for tho enthusiastic manner in which his heflf'
had been drunk, gaye rapid narrative OF n.
prominent incidents of the war, and concludea
with tho following alusion TO the magnihcenL
charge of his regiment nt Balnk klaya:
Unfortunately at the commencement Of that
bnttlo our allies the Turl-, djaappeared from
their position in worry short time, without carry
ing nny contest with the enemy 1t was late
III the afternoon when | received nm order to af-
tack the Russian forces in the valley, consisting
of long line of guns drawn up in the form OF
batteries. ! received that order, and obeyed IT.
Loud cheering. delivered that order myself
To the brigade under my commando ordered u
10 march, ordered it To advance-l ordered II
To attack the Russians in tho valley. But, my
lord | must say this. that upon that occasion,
IT being my duty to give this order to tho brig
AIDE, did il through deeply regretted 1t at tho
| timc-and | am sure, should have mueh
more deeply regretted it afterwards, II anything
had prevented my performing the rest of my duty.
which To share the danger with those brave
men. Renewed cheers
We proceeded down and along gradual de-
scent of more than three. quarters of n mile, with
tho batteries vomiting forth shell, round aud
grape sho-a battery on the right, and bate
ry on the left flank, and all tho intermediate
ground covered with Russian rifemon; 50 that
when W. came down within a distance OF hfty
vnrds of tho mouths of tho artillery; We were
truly aud in fnct surrounded and encirccd by q
blaao of fire, in addition TO the fire from the rifle
men upon our hanks. As we aseended the hill.
II. a.. 4 H.. It'll hrnu IN,
bear upon our rear. We had therefore, strong
fire upon our front, our flanks and our rear We
entered the hhttery-we won't through the bate
ry, cheersl the two leading regiments cutting
down n great number Of the Russian gunners. In
two regiments which | had the honor to lead,
every officer, with one exception, was either
| killed or woundcd.or had his horse shot or
wounded under him. Those regiments proceed
ed followed by the second line, consisting of two
moro cavalry regiments, which continued to per-
| form the duty OF cutting down the Russian ar.
! tilleryrnen. Then came tho third line, formed OF
| another regiment, which war employed also In
| carrying out tho duty assigned to the brigade.
Tho result was that this body Of about go mon
succeeded in passing through the mass OF Rus
| sian cavnry. which, as have learned sinoe,
was 1900 strong. (oheers) aud having broken
| through thnt mass, they went according to our
technical expressions, 'threes about and retired
in the same way, doing much execution in
/
chccrs.) Upon returning up tho hill which we
! Ind descended in the attack. we had to run the
same gauntlet, and to incur the same risk, from
! the flank fire of the traleurs which we had en-
countered in commencing the advance Num-
! bers of our men were shot down, men and horses
were killed, and many of those brave soldiers who
! had lost their horses were shot down when en-
deavorng 10 make their escape. But what was
! the feeling, and what the bearing, of those men
who rcturnedt to the position, The noble and
gallant general here appeared to be greatly At
| fectod, and shed tears.
Ofcnch regiment engaged there returned but
a small detachment thirds OF the men hay
! ing been destro, ed and those men. when they
nrrvc, at the summit of the hill from whence
! the, had commenced the attack short time be-
| fore, gave three hearty cheers OF triumph ana
rejoicing at the exploit which they had perform
ed loud cheers) For they had ridden ovor
| Russian battery and attacked most powerful
| body of Russian cavalry in its rear. tRenewed
cherrs) 1t has been stated that tho British caval-
~ is of n very inferior description, and That that
| body requires thorough reform that 1t ls bad
" ofiicered--bcing ofiioered by gentlemen OF too
| high IA rank IN the country-and that 1t ought to
be better oiicered. I viii only say, this, that
do not think you will find any body Of officers
more careful of their mon than those officers who
now live command, and perform their duties in
the cavalry regiments of this country, or that
YOU will find any regiments IN the world, where
there is such mutual sincere attachment be-
tween the officers and men exists in our cayal-
ry. (Cheers.)
The officers arc at all times perfectly ready
! to assist and attend to the comforts of their men.
The men are so attached to their officers that
wherever those officers lead them. In the cause
of honor and glory, those men are sure to follow.
cloud oheers.) In conclusion will say that in
tho minds of those who escaped the dangers of
that attack there exist reflections of which they
cannot dvest themselves. | think that every
man who was engagedin that affair at Balaklava;
and who was fortunate enough to survive it
must feel that it was only by a merciful decree
of Almighty Providence that he saved from
that greatest certainty of death which could by
possibility be imagined. (Renewed cheers.)
HAnISlIESl RlSIISllESi IA larra sun