The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-07


Stephen Massett says that during his recent
visit TO England, and while visiting the House
OF Commons, he was presented to the Earl OF
Cardigan, who was in command of the 11th
Hussars, and led the charge Of the six hundred
at BalaklRva. Being one of the frst TO recite
In public Tennyson's famous lines he had a
natural ambition to deliver them in the pre-
sence OF Lord Cardigan. polite note was
received from the Earl, inviting Mr.. Massett to
call upon him at his residence in Portman
Square, where, after rendering the poem to him
L ana nus nus leoy, the following graphic account OF
inc ughI was gwen mimi
At about ] O'clock, after the heavy brigade
had been attacked by the Russian cavalry the
whole oil the cavalry division was considerably
advanced towards the enemy The Light Brt-
gade was ordered to dismount to relieve their
horses Suddenly they we're ordered to mount"
Ald-qe-Osmp Captain Nolen came forward ana ana
told Lord Lucan, commanding the cavalry, that
the Light Brigade were to attack the Russians
In the valley. Lord Lucan rode up TO Lord
Cardigan and said:-"It is Lord Raglan's order
that the Light Brigade is to attack the Russians
i'm the valley" Lord Cardigan's sWer was
saluting with his sword, ,l"Certainly, my Lord;
but you will allow me to inform you that there
is Russian battery IN front, one on each flank,
and the ground on the flank Is covered with
Russian rnemenn Lord Lucau's answer was,
81 cannot help that's it is Lord Raglau's positive
order that the Light Brigade is to attack them"
Lord Cardigan then formed his brigade of five
regiments, with three regiments IN the front line,
and two in the second. Lord Lucan ordered
Lord Cardigan's regiment, the llth Hussars, back
so as to form support on the left rear of the
front line. Lord Cardigan Immediately ordered
the advance. After going sixty yards or 80,
Captain Nolan rode oblquely across the front,
when q Russian shell fell upon the ground near
Captain Nolan, and not very far from Cardigan.
Nolan's horse turned and carried him to the
rear. Lord Cardigan then led the brigade do wn
to the main battery in front, about one mile
and quarter distant On arriving at a position
about eighty yards from the battery, the FIRE
became very seyere, and the officers, were con
slderaby excited, anO had to be called to "be
steady" Cardigan, at the head of his brigade,
passed close by the muZZle of gun, which was
fred as he entered the battery. He then rode
straight forward through the Russian timber
carriages, and came up close TO the Russian
line of cavalry. HIS brigade did not follow
him. Lord Cardigan was attacked by two Cos
sacks, slightly wounded and nearly dismounted
He fenced Off the Cossacks, and gradually re-
tired from Others who were attempting TO sur
round him. When he got back to the battery
they had all retired ard diyerged to the left
Lord Cardigan slowly retreated and met Gene
raj Scarlet, commanding the heavy brigade of
the cavalry. Cardigan told him that the Light
Brigade" was destroyed. The brigade was then
counted by the staff officer, aud it was found
that there were only 1875 men left out of ESQ.,
Lord Cardigan Immediately rode off to Lord
Raglan TO report what had taken place. The
first thing Lord Raglan said, in very angry
tone, was, "What sir, could you possibly mean
by attacking battery in front, contrary to all
the usages of warfare and the customs of the
service?' To which Lord Cardigan replied, 'My
Lord, hope you will not blame me, for re-
ceiyed positive order from my superior officer
in front ofthe troops to attack them, and was
quite as well aware of the unusual course of the
proceeding ordered" Lord Raglan inquired
what had been done. To which Lord Cardigan
replied that "he had led the brigade into the
Russian battery; that he had ridden up to the
Russian cavalry; that he was not followed by the
brigade: was wounded and nearly dismounted
and had some difficulty in getting away from q
number OF Cossacks; that the brigade was nearly
destroyed, there being only 1876 Temaining.n
The whole of this memorable affair occupied
the brief time of tlcenty minutes!