The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-07-26
Cannon to right Of them
Cannon to left of them
Cannon in front Of them
VolIev,d and thundnr'd"


We gladly give place, therefore, to the fol-
lowing personal and graphic account of the
affair which has never before been made pub
lie. It came substantially from the lips Of
the Earl of Cardigan, the commander of the
Eleventh Hussars, at Balaklaya, in 1854, who
actually led the celebrated charge" and
was related to Mr.. Stephen Massett, during
his recent visit to England, after he had re-.
cited Tenuyson's stirring epic to Lord and
Lady Cardigan, with an effect which may be
easily imagiued by all who have ever heard
his recitations.
Al about one O'Clock on that memorable
day, after the Heavy Brigade had been at
tackled by the Russian cavalry, the whole Of
the cavalry division YVES considerably ad-
vsnced toward the enemy, and the Light Bri-
Qads had been ordered TO disnount 70 relieve
their horses. Suddenly they were again Of
-dsred to mount" and aid-de-camp Captain
Nolan came forward, and told Lord Lucan,
commanding the cavalry, that the Light Bri-
rade we're to attack the Russians in the val
Isy. Lord Lpcsn rode up to Lord Cardigan,
and said:-"It is Lord Raglan's order that
the Light Brigade is To attack the Russians
IN the valley" Lord Cardigan replied,
sslutine with bis sword;-sOertainly, my
lord, but you viii allow me TO inform you
,hst there is Russian battery in front, and
one on each flank. while the grouud on the
fapk is covered with Russian rifemen." !"
Lord Lucsn answered: = cannot help that,
it is Lord Raglans 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. while Lord
Eucan ordered Lord .Csrdigan's own regi-
uept. the Eleventh Hussars, back, 50 as to
line Lord Cardigan immedistely ordered
the advance. After going about sixty yards.
.Csntaip Nolan rode obliquely across the
front when Russian shell fell upon the
Ground near him, and not far from Lord
Cardigan. Nelan's horse then wheeled aboat
md carried him to the rear, and Lord Oardi-
Rap led the brigade down to the main battery
sn front. about one mile and quarter dis
tant. On arriving at about eighty yards
from the battery, the hre became very severe,
and the officers were considerably excited,
and had 10 be ordered to ''be steady.
Lord Cardigan, at the head OF his brigade,
passed close BY the nuzzel OF gun, which
vas fred as he entered the battery, and rode
straight forward through the Russian timber
carrisges, until he came Up close TO their line
of cavalry. His brigade did not follow him,
and he vas stacked By two Cossacks, :light-
" wounded, and nearly dismounted but he
fenced them of, and gradually retired from
Them and others whojwere aEtsnptisg to sur
ronna him. When be got back to the battery
his command had retired and diverged to the
left and he slowly retreated. until he met
Ganer.l Scarlet. commanding the Heavy
Ry;oade of cavalry. He told him that the
Isa6t Rripade was destroyed, and mentioned
the fate of Captain Nolan, after bringing the
order for the attack, when General Scarleti
said tba. he had just ridden over Captain
Nolan's body.
Iord Cardigan then had his brigade
eourted nv his staff officer, and found that
there we're only one hundred and ninety
I've man present out of six hundred and
f;fty He then Immediately rode off to Lord
RaSian to report what had taken place.
The first thing that Lord Raglan said, was
eWbst sir. could you possibly mean by at
tack;ng battery in front, contrary to all the
nsagps az warfare, and the custom Of the
seyTice?'' He replied:-',Ny lord hope
yo,, viii not blame me-for ! received a
nos;tige order from my superior officer in
front of the troops, to attack them, although
/ vas quite well aware of the unusual course
Of proceeding ofdered. Lord Raglan then
inquired what he had done and was told
that he had led the brigade into a Russian
battery that he had ridden up to the Rus
.;sn csyalry that he was not followed by
The brigade; that he was wounded and near
iy d;smounted. and bad some difficulty in
cett;no svay from a number of Cossacks
fbat tSe brigade was nearly destroyed, there
now being only ons hundred and ninety,
1--WE left out of six hundred and fifty, and
finally. that the whole affair had occupied
only The brief space of twenty minutesl