The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-08-27
Miscellaneous.
THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
TRUTH ABOUT TIE FAMOUS CHARGE
"lNTU TIE MOUTH OF HE'LL"

At last we have a historical
blunacr gracefully corrected and 4
handsome defense ola brave soldier
whose name has under been 4 cloud.
1t has been popularity decided that
Captain Louis Nolan, Of Lord Rag
lan's staff, being an impetuous sol
dicr, purposely misconstrued the
actual meaning ofan order which
he carried into IN authorization
of the scnsclesS sacrifice Of the
Light Brigade, and that his only
excuse was that he was the first
man killed in the charge. Lauucc
Poynt,, - the Galaxy, after re-
viewing the topography Of the
battlefield and the position Of the
forces, says:
As it was, matters stood thus
when Nolan left Raglan, bearing
the "fourth order" The Russians
were clustered on two hills, the
English and French cavalry stood
looking on. Lucan was in his
usual nervous, ritable'state, when
the g1llop of q horse was heard
A tall, slender young officer, with
= trim figure and black mustachc,
was coming down steep descent
at full speed, with q white envelope
stuck in his belt and every eye
was on him in q moment.
1t was Captain Nolan, in his
scarlet she'll, jacket, little forage
cap set on one sido Of his dark
curls. his face fall Of joy and ca
ycrness.
An audible murmur wen t
through the ranks.
"Osders come Nolan's the boy
thatll show us the way TO movo."
For Nolan was woll known and
universally beloved.
In another moment he Ii a d
dashed up and salutcd then hand
ed his letter to Lord Lucan.-
The cavalry General tore it open
with the nervous haste character
istic of every movement OF his
lordship. When he read it over,
his countenance changed. Then
his lordsnip broke out something
in this style:
WHY, good heavens, sir, what
can he mean. With the little
fore at our command we can hard
ly iold our own, much less advance.
1t Is perfectly suicidal. How can
We advance
Eolan's eye began to blaze. lie
had just come from the high ground
whence the whole Russian po-
sititn could be seen at glance
Knowing that his order contcm-
plated the doubling back Of the
Russian columns and saving the
gurs in the rcdoubts, he was i'm
patent Of the pragmatical objec-
tion Of this captious old man.
IN a stern, distinct tone he
spike 20 Lord Lucan:
Lord Raglau's orders arc that
the cavalry should attack imme-
diately."
"Attack, sir?" cried l. uca I
augr:ly. "Attack what? What
guns; sir Z"
Nolan threw his head back in
digrant!y, and pointed to the
Causoway Ridge, whore the Rus
slams were busily at work trying to
haul away the captured guns. The
group was standing at the right OF
the north valley,
"Thcrc, my Lord, is your onemy,
and there are your guns
The Captain forgot that he was
talking to an cxcitable and imprac'
ticable man. Wrong headed Lucan
chose to fancy that he pointed to
the end of The valley, and with all
the obstiuacy of his nature kept
to tie error.
Very well, sir, very WE'LL" he
said angriIy.
"This order shall be obeyed. !
wash my hands Of it,"
He wheeled his horse and trot
ted off to where Cardigan sat il
front of his brilliant limos gnawine g
his gray mustache and chafng
over his inaction.
Then said wrong-headed Lit
can:
Lord Cardigan, you will attack
the Russians in the valley"
The Earl dropped his sword II
salute.
"Cortainly, my Lord but allow
me to point out to you that there
is Il battery in front, battery Oh
each flank, and the ground is Gov
cred with Russian ritlemen."
81 can't help it" said Lucan
5nappishIy: ''it is Lord Raglan
positive order that the light brig
adc is to attack the enemy. VIZ
have no choice but to obey
Then Cardigan bowed his head
every we'll, my Lord" was al
he said. Then turning to his staff
"The brigade will advance" h'
said quietly.
Meantime, y Ian, after hi
sharp passage Of arms with tn
division commander, had ridder
off to the light brigade himself
where he was chcertuIly talkin!
to his sworn comrade and friend
T...,;, Norric of ha CovaDtnnnt !