The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1873-08-20
THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
Truth About the Famous CIa;,rgc
"IntO the Mouth of HE'LL

At last VIC have a historical blundcr
gracefully corrected and handsome de-
fence of brave soldier whose name has
been under a cloud 1t has been popu-
larly decided that Captain Louis Nolan,
of Lord Raglan's staff, being an impc-
tous soldier, purposely misconstrued the
actual meaning of an order which he car
ried into an authorization of the sense
less sacrifice Of the Light Brigade, and
that his only excuse was that he was the
first man killed in the charge Launce
Poyntz, in the Galaxy, after revewin;
the topography Of the battlefield and the
position of the frees, 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 locking on, Lucan was in
his usual nervous, irritable state, when
the gallop of a horse was heard A tall,
slender young officer, with trim figure
black moustache was coming down Il
steep decent at full speed, with a white
cnyelop stuck in his bel and every eye
was turned on him in a moment
1t twas Captain Moan, in his scarlet
shell jacket, little forage crp set on me
side of his dark curls, his face full Of joy
and eagerness.
An audible murmur went through the
ranks.
"Orders come! Nolan's the boy that'll
show us the way to move" For Nolan
was well known and universally beloved
In another moment he had dashed ur
and saluted then handed his letter tc
Lord Lucan. The cavalry General tore
it open with nervous haste characteristic
of every movement Of his lordship -
When he read it over his countcrlanc,
changed. Then his lordship broke out
something in this style:
"Why, good heavens, sir; what can ht
mean? With the little force at our com
mand we can hardly hold our own, mucI
less advance. 1t is perfectly suicidal
How can we ADVANCE
Nolan's eye began to blaze He hat
just come from the high ground, Whence
the whole Russian position could be seel
at a glance. Knowing that his ordr
eonte .,plating the doubling back Of tn
Russian columns and saving the gun
in the redoubts, he was impatient OF tn
pragmatical objection of this captious oil,
man.
In stern, distinct tone he spoke t.
Lord Lucan:
"Lord Raglan's orders arc that tn
cavalry should attack Immediately"
"Attack, sir?" cried Lucan, angrily
Attack what? What guns, sr?'
Nolan threw his head back indignant
ly, and pointed to the Causeway Ridge
where the Russians were busily at worl
trying to haul away the captured gum
The group was standing at the right Q
the entrance of the North valley
There, my Lord, is your enemy,
he said, "and there are your guns"
The Captain forgot chat he was talkin
to an excited and impracticable MAJ
Wrong headed Lucan chose to fame
that he pointed to the end OF the va
ley, and with all the obstinacy of h
nature kept to the error.
Every well, sir, very WE'LL" he sal
angrily 1.-THE order shall be obcJcd.
wash my hands Of it."
lie wheeled hi, horse and trotted {
t) where Cardigan sat in front Of Ii
brilliant lines gnawing his gray mu
tache and chatting over his inaction.
Then said wrong headed Lucan:
"Lord Cardigan, you will attack tt
lsussains in the valley
The earl dropped his sword in salu
"Ccrtainly, my lord; but allow me
point out to you that there is bate
an front, battery on each flank, a
the ground is covered with Russi
rifcmen."
81 can't help it, said Lucan, sna
pishly; lit is Lord Raglan's positive
der that the light brigade is to alta