Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-08
The Earl Of Cardigan,


The name Of the Earl of Cardigan, who COM
nands the light brigade OF cavalry in the East, has
been brought with more frequent and unhappy
prominence before the public than that Of perhaps
any other officer in the service. Though heir to
estates OF forty thousand year, which bear on
| their broad surface not one Of those bemishes
which, in the shape Of fat mortgages and judg-
ments dis6gure most of the great landed proper
! ties in England, and shear the high sounding in-
comes OF the greater number of her nobility OF half
their fair proportions, Lord Cardigan carly con-
ceived an intense passion for the service, which he
has since retained under circumstances calculated
in general 10 strip thc young soldiers romance Of
all It's gay and gallant plumage. Those who are
acquainted with military life in England know that
the voice Of the death bell does not fall more heay
lily and sadly on the ear of pleasant summer night,
than does the "ordcr for India on gay, reckless
thougbtless regiment Of British light dragons.
Those who have seen such regiment embark in
all tho pride Of it's youth and strength and beauty
and Witnessed its return, or rather the return Of
its remains some twenty-five years after, (tbe pre-
scribed period OF service in Inda) may understand
the feeling of CONSERVATION and alarm which such
an order creates.
twenty-five years is long period in most mems
Ives A very long period IN life under the burn
ing sun Of India. Not more than two three Off.
GERS who start with regiment for India ever re-
turn, and those who do, present more the appear
ancc of a galvanized cinder than man. The arri-
val Of the order Is therefore az may be imagined,
the signal for every officer, possessed OF tho means
Of living by any other resource, at once bidding
farewell TO the pomp and circumstance of glorious
war. Lord Cardigan, however, notwithstanding
his fortune and rank, not alone served in India,
but underwent the almost as wearying innicton OF
country quarters In Ireland, where, notwithstsnd-
ing the rosy pictures Of Mr.. Harry Lorrequcr and
Tom Burke, following miserable snipc over some
twenty miles Of bog, or exchanging glances with
what is termed in these parts hcentious" apoth-
ecary's daughter are the sole luxurics Of life II
was in the sweet little village Of Gort In the county
Of Galway, whose attractions arc fatteringy pic
turcd in the above description that Lord Cardigan
performed the first feat Of gallantry which brought
his name before the public He had then been
about four years in the army, his first commission
being in the sth IIussars TO which he was gazctted
as Lord Brudenellthc courtesy title of the family
and in which his wealth enabled him 10 riso very
speedily TO the rank Of Major.
II was with this rank he found himself in com
mand of squadron Of his regiment at Gort, where
also was stationed detachment Of the eth IN
fantry, under the command Of Major johnson.
The Major was blessed with wife, considerably
Lord Cardigan's senior in years a bold, masculine,
vigorous woman, Of the "strong-mindod" school,
and without any Of those softer aud genter sttri-
butcs which usually captiyate the fancy and inspire
the sentiment Of man Seen from the omnibus box
At the opera, his lordship's lorgncttc would not
have fingered one second on Mrs. johnson. But
IN the absence Of any other woman idleness and soil
tude-the fruitful parents Of mischief and OF love
combined 70 surround Mrs. Johnson with Rcti-
tious attraction. Lord Cardigan loved, or fancicd
be loved an elopemcnt was the consequence,
which, owing to his lordship's rank, and the many
romantic Incidents with which the imaginations OF
rural Celtic editors surrounded H. created fnrore
which, as usual, lasted for few days, Al
the first resting spot in their fight Of love, Lord