Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-08-15
set on one side of his dark curls,
his face full of Joy and eagerness.
An audible murmer went through

An audible murmer went through
the ranks.
"Orders come! Nolan's the boy
that'll show us the way to move"
For Nolan was we'll known and uni
versally beloved.
In another moment he had dashed
up and saluted; then handed his
letter to Lord Lucan. The cavalry
general tore it open with the ner-
vous haste characteristic of every
movement of his lordship. When he
read it over his countenancc chang
ed. Then his lordship broke out
something in this style:
"Why, good heavens, sir, what
can he mean? With tho little force
at our command we can barely hold
our own, much less advance. 1t is
perfectly suicidal. How can We ad-
vance?"
Nolan's eye began to blaze. He
had just come from. the high ground
whence the whole Russian position
could be seen at a glance. Know
ing that his order contemplated the
doubling back of the Russian col
umns and saving the guns in their
redoubts, he was impatient of the
pragmatical objection Of this cap
tious old man.
In stern distinct tone he spoke
to Lord Lucan:
"Lord Ragan's orders are that the
cavalry should attack Immediate
ly."
"Attack, sir?" cried Lucan,
angrily. Attack what? What guns
sir?"
Nolan threw back his head indi G.
nantly, and pointed to the Cause
way Ridge, where the Russians
were busily at work trying to haul
away the captured guns. The group
was standing at the right of the en-
trance of the north valley.
"There, my Lord, is your en-
emy," he said, "and there are your
guns"
The captain forgot that he was
talking to an excited and impractl-
cable man. Wrong-headed Lucan
chose to fancy that he pointed to
the end of the valley, and with all
the obstinacy of his nature kept to
the error.
every well, sir, very WE'LL" he
said angrily. "rhe order shall
be obeyed. | wash my hands OF
it,"
He wheeled his horse and trotted
off to where Cardigan sat in front
of his brilliant lines gnawing his
gray moustache and chafing over his
inaction.
Then said the wrong-headed Lu'
can:
"Lord Cardigan you will attack
| the Russians in the valley"
The earl dropped his sword in sa'
Lutte.
"Certainly, my lord; but allow me
to point out to you that there is 6
battery in front, a battery on each
flank, and the ground is covered
with Russian riflemcn."
"I can't help it, said Lucan, snap
pishly; sit is Lord Raglan's pos
tive order that the light brigade II
to attack the enemy. We have ne
choice but to obey"
Then Cardigan bowed his head.
every well, my lord" was all h.
said. Then turning to his staff
"The brigade will advance,'he said
quietly.
Meantime Nolan, after his SHARP
passage OF arms with the division
commander, had ridden off to thu
right brigade himself, where he wa
cheerfully talking to his sworn com
rade and friend, Capt. Morris, Of th'
18th lancers. Now that he had main
tanned his position as mouth-piec'
of the commander-in-chief, agains
the impudent, fault finding of Lu
can, he felt happy. His beloved
cavalry was to be launched a
Causeway Ridge, and already d
Allonville was preparing to as
sault the other flank Of the Rus
SLAMS.
Who can wonder that cnthusias
tic Nolan told Morris that he wa'
going to see the brigade through
the charge? 1t was his privilege
to do so, and his heart beat high
with hope. Little did he know o
the extent of pig-head stupid
ity natural to the two members o
the English aristocracy who re
spectively commanded and led tina
charge.
A clear, sharp voice was sool
heard in front Of the brigand now
formed in thlee lines. Lord Lucar
rode away to the "Heavies,'' and
Nolan galloped around to the real
to the left of the brigade, as the SHARP
voice cried:
"Light brigade forward--trot-
marchm
In a moment the front line wa:
away, as steady as if on parade, a
a rapid trot, following an erect gen
tleman, mounted on chcstnu
thoroughbred, and wearing tight
scarlet trowsers and blue fur
trimmed jacket, the front perfect
blaze of gold.
The erect gentleman was as slcn
der in figure, as alert in gesture as
boy Of twenty, and yet that man
was fifty-seven years old and the
Earl of Cardigan himself.
But hardly had they started when
Nolan uttered a cry of astonishment
and rage
"Go cd God!'' are the fools going
to charge down the vallcy?" he
shouted.
Then, setting spurs to his horse,
lie dashed out his place, and gal
loped madly across the front, wav'
ing his sword.
"Where are you going, my lord?
That is not Lord Ragla's order!
Change front to the right. This
way! The batteries on the ridge!'
he shouted.
Lord Cardigan was as hot tenn
pered as in his way as Lord Lucan.
The audacity of an officer presum-
ing to cross his front was enough.
For that officer to address his bri-
gade was an additional insult. He