The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-08-15
The Light Brigade.
Truth About the Famous Charge "Into
the Mouth of Heli.',

| gracefully COrr6cG6u ana handsome
defense of brave soldier whose nam,
has been under a cloud. 1t has beer
popularly decided that Captain Loui
Nolan, of Lord Raglan's staff, being al
impetuous soldier, purposely miscon
strued the actual meaning of an ordel
which he carried into an authorization
of the senseless sacrifice of the Ligh
brigade, and that his only excuse wa:
that he was the first man killed in the
charge. Launce Poyntz, in the Galaxy
after reviewing the topography of the
battlefield and the position of the
forces, says:
As it was, matters stood thus wher
Nolan left Raglan, bearing the 'tfourth
order" The Russians were clustered
on two hills, the English and French
cavalry stood looking on Lucan was in
his usual nervous, irritable state, when
the gallop of horse was heard. A
tall, slender young officer, with a trim
figure and black moustache, was coming
down a steep descent at full speed, with
a white envelope stuck in his belt and
| every eye was On him in a moment.
It was Captain Nolan, in his scarlet
shell-jacket, little forage cap set on
one side of his dark curls, his face full
of Joy and eagerness.
And audible murmur went through
the ranks.
"Orders come Nolan's the boy
that'l show US the way to move" For
Nolan was well known and universally
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 nervous haste charac-
teristic of every movement of his lord
ship. When he read it over, his counte-
nance changed. Then his 1ordship
broke out, something in this style:
"Why, good heavens, sir; what can
he mean? With the little force at our
command we can hardly hold our own,
much less advance. It is perfectly
suicidal. How can we advance?"
Nolan's eye began to blaze. He had
just come from the high ground, whence
the whole Russian position could be
seen at IA glance. Knowing that his order
contemplated the doubling back of the
Russian columns and saving the guns in
the redoubts, he was impatient of the
pragmatical objection of this captious
old man.
In stern, distinct tone he spoke to
Lord Lucan
"Lord Rag1an's orders are that the
cavalry should attack Immediately"
"Attack, sir ?" cried Lucan, angrily.
Attack what? What guns, sir?"
Nolan threw his head back indig-
nantly, and pointed to the Causeway
Ridge, where the Russians were busily
at work trying to haul away the cap
tured guns. The group was standing
at the right of the entrance of the north
valley.
"There my Lord, is your enemy"
he said, "and there are your guns.
The Captain forgot that he was talk
ing to an excited and impracticable old
man. Wrong-headed Lucan choose to
fancy that he pointed to the end of the
valley, and with all the obstinacy of
his nature kept to the error.
Very we'll, sir, very well, he said
angrily. "The order shall be obeyed.
1 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 mus
tache and chatting over his inaction.
Then said wrong headed Lucan
"Lord Cardigan, you will attack the
Russians in the valley"
The earl dropped his sword in salute
Certainly, my lord but allow me
to point out to you that there is a bat
terry in front, battery on each flank,
and the ground is covered with Russian
rifemen."
81 can't help it." said Lucan, snap
pishly; cit is Lord Raglan's positive
order that the light brigade is to attack
the enemy. We have no choice but to
obey"
Then Cardigan bowed his head.
Very we'll, my lord" was all he
said. Then turning to his staff: "The
brigade will advance" he said quietly.
sage of arms with the division com
brigade himself. where he was cheer
fully talking to his sworn comrade and
friend, Capt. Morris, of the seventeenth
lancers. Now that he had maintained
his position a mouth-piece of the COM
mander-in-chief, against the impudent,
fault-fnding of Lucan, he felt happy.
His beloved cavalry was to be launched
at last on this glorious mission against
the Causeway Ride, and already DIAL
lonville was preparing to assault the
other flank of the Russians.
Who can wonder that enthusiastic
Nolan told Morris that he was 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 of the extent of pig-headed
stupidity natural to the two members
of the English aristocracy who respec-
lively commanded and led that charge.
A clear, sharp voice was soon heard
in front of the brigade now formed in
three lines. Lord Lucan rode away to
the Heavies," and Nolan galloped
round to the rear to the left of the bri-
gade, az the sharp voice cried:
"Light brigade forward, trot, march!"
In moment the front line was away,
as steady as if on parade, at a rapid
trot, following an erect gentleman,
mounted on chestnut thoroughbred,
and wearing tight scarlet trousers and a
blue fur-trimmed jacket, the front a
perfect blaze of gold.
The erect gentleman was as slender in
figure, as alert in gesture as a boy of
twenty, and yet that man was fifty
seven years old, and the earl of Cardi
gan himself.
But hardly had they started when
Nolan uttered cry OF astonlshment
and rage.
Good God! are the fools going to
charge down the valley? }" he shouted
Then, setting spurs to his horse, he
dashed out of his place and galloped
madly across the front, waving his
sword.
"Where are you going, my lord ?"
he shouted. "That is not Lord Rag
lan's orderl Change front to the right
This way! This way! The batteries
on the ridge !"
Lord Cardigan was as hot-tempered
in his way as Lord Lucan. The audaci-
ty of an officer presuming to cross his
front was enough. For that offict to
address his brigade was an additional
insult. He spoke not a word, but
pointed grimly forward with his sword.
Nolan's words were lost in the thunder
of hoofs, and all that was seen was his
figure crossing the front and wildly
gesticulating, pointing to Causeway
ridge.
Then the Russian batteries opened
There was flash, boom and second
flash in the air, little cloud of white
smoke, and loud spang! as the first