Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-11-11
1.-THE Light Brigade, ,"--Its Charge
at BaidIkdpu.

order which he carried into an authorize
tion of the senseess sacrifice OF the
Light Brigade at Balakl,ya, aud that his
only excuse WAS that he was the first
man killed in the charge. Lauuco PoynIz
in the GALAXY, alter reviewing The topo
graphy OF the battle field and the position
o; the forces says:
As it was, matters stood thus when
Nolan lett Raglan. bearing III fourth
order The Russian. were mustered on
two hills. the English and French Caval-
~ stood looking on, Lucan was in his
usual nervous, irritable stale. when the
gallop ot horse was heard A tall,
SENDER young officer. with trim figure
AID black moustache. was coming down
II steep descent nj u tull lpeed. with "a
white envelope stuck in his belt; and
every eye was on him la - moment.
1t was Captain Nolan. in hi, ,ctrlet
shell jacket, u little lurL,o cap BET on
one side OF his dark curs. IA. lace full of
JOY and eaSeruoss.
An audible murmur went through the
ranks.
Orders come Nolan's The boy that'Il
show US the way TO move" For Nolan
was well known and universally beloved.
In another moment he had dashed up
and saiuled ;hen handed his letter to
Lord Lucan. The cavalry general tore it
open with nervous haste characteristic of
every movement OF his Lordship When
hu read II over his countenaucc changed.
Then his Lordship broke out. something
in this style:
"Why. good heavens. sir. what can he
mean! With the little force tat our COM
maEd We can hardly hold our own, much
less advance 1t is perfectly suicidal
How can wc ADVANCE
Nolan's eye began To blaze. lie had
Just come hom the high ground whence
The whole Russian position could bo seen
At glance. Knowing that his order con-
templa;cl The doubling back oil the Rus
sian columns, aud saving the guns in the
reduubts, he was impatient OF the prag.
ma,ical objections OF this captious old
man
Iu stern. distinct tone lie spoke 10
Lord Lucan:
Lord RagIan's orders arc that the cav
airy should attack Immediately"
Attack. sir?" cried Lucan angrily.--
Attack whaP What guns. slr?"
Nolan threw his head back Indignantly
and pointed To The CauSeway Ridge.
where the Russians were busiy at work
trying To haul away the captured guns.
The group WAS standing at the right OF
entrances ol the north valley.
There. my Lord is your enemy" he
said, and there are your guns"
The captain forgot that he was talking
to an excited and impractible man.
Wrong headed Lucan chose to fancy that
he pointed 10 the end ui the valley. and
with all the obslinacy Of his nature kept
10 the error.
Very well, sir. very well, sir" he
said anglily. The order shall be obey
ed. wash my hand of it,"
He wheeled his horse aud trotled off TO
where Cardigan sal in front OF his bril-
liant lines gnawins his gray moustache
and ehating 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 battery
on in front, battery on each flank, and
the ground is covered with Russian rifle.
men,"
81 can't help it," said Lucan snappish-
ly, lit is Lord Raglan's positive order,
that the Light Brigade is to attack the
enemy. We have no choice but 10 obey"
Then Cardigan bowed his head.
Very we'll, my Lord" was all he said.
Then turning 10 his staff. THE brigade
will advance" he said, quietly.
Meantime, Nolan, after his sharp pas
sage of arms with division commander.
had ridden of to the Light Brigade him.
self. where he was cheerfully talking to
his sworn comrade and friend, Capt.
Morris, oil the Seventeenth Lancers.
Now that he had maintained his position
as mouth piece of the Commander'in-
Chief, against the imprudent fault find
ing of Lucan, he felt happy. His belov.
ed cavalry was to be launched at last on
this glorious mission against the Cause.
way Ridge. and already D'Allonville 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 lhrou' the charge. 1t was
III, pri, iIege to do so, and his heart beat
high with hope. Little did he know OF
the extent of pig.headed stupidity natu-
RAJ to the two members OF the Eugiish
arisiocracy who respectively commanded
and led that charge.