Middletown transcript., 1873-08-16
The Light Brigade.
Truth ABOUT Tug raMors CHARGE iSro
THE MOUTH or HE'LL.

At last We have historic blunder
gracefully corrected and handsome de-
fence Of q brave soldier whose name has
been under cloud 1t has been popular
ly acel,lei that Captain Louis Nolan, Of
Lord Rarlins stat, being an i,npetuous
soldier, purposcly niscenstruc,ed the act
ual meaning Of an order which he carried
into an authorization of the senseless sac
rIice If the Light Brigade. and TINT his
ouly excuse was that he was the first one
kilc in The charge Launce Poyutz, in
in the Goi,,g, utter reviewing the topog-
raphy Of the battle field 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 aud French eavalsy
stood looking Gu. Lucan was in his usual
nervous. irritable state, hen the gallop
sf a horse va, heard 4 tall slender
young officer. with trim figure and black
mous,achr, Vas coming down u steep dcs
cent 1t full speed with white envelope
stuck in hi, ttlt, and every eye was on
him in a moment
|, was Captain Nolan. in his scarle,
she'll iaekrt a little forage cap set on one
side of hi lark enrls his face full Of jos
am! tnrnssfntss
IN audible murnur went through the
ranks
'.Orders come Nolan's the boy ,bat'll
show US the way 10 move Fer Nplan
was we'll known aud universally beloved
i In another nomen, he had da.hcl up
and salated then handed his letter IL
j Lord l.ncan The cavalry general tore i,
I open with the nervous haste characteristic
i o. every movement Of his lotdship
| When hc read il over his countrnance
changed Then his lordship broke ont
something in this style:
Why. good heavens, sir. what can he
mean With the little force at our com.
nand We can barely hold our own. much
les advance 1t is perfectly suicidal.
How can We advance 7"
Nnlan's eye began to blaze. lie bud
Just come from the high geouaa, whence
the whole Russian position could be seen
at glance Knowing that his order
contemplated the doubling buck OF the
Hnssian columns aud saving the guns in
the redbubis he was impatient o. the
pragmati,al objection Of this eap,iou. old
man.
In a stern distinct tone, he spoke 10
Lord l.ncan:
Lord RAG ms orders are that the
cavalry should at,aek Immediately"
Attack, sir, = cried Lucan augrily
Attack whai ? Mha, guns. sir p
Nolan threw his heal back Indignantly
and pointed to the Gnusesay Ridge. whcr.
the Russians were tusl. at work trying
to haul away the captured guns. III,
group was standing at the right Of th,
entrance If the North Valley.
, There. my lord, is your enemy h,
sail. and there are your guns.
! The Captain forgot tla, he was talkia1
to an excited aud impractieahle man
Wrong headed l.uean chose to fancy tha
, he pointed to the sud Of the valley, an,
/. with all the obstinacs Of his nature KEEP
!. To the error.
y Very well. sir very we'll" he sai,
/ angrly The order shall be obeyed
G | wash my hands Of it. -
r lie wheeled his horse and ,rotted ol
i To where Cardigan sat IN front OF hi
brilliant lines. knawing his gray mustach
:. and chatting over his inaction.
y Then said wrong headed Lncan
!. Lord Cardigan. you will attack til
:, Russians in the valley
h The Earl dropped his sword in salute
: Certainly. my Lord but allow me
o point ont 10 you ,ha, there is q battery i
II front battery on each flank, and III
j. ground is covered with Russian riilemcn
Il can, help it, said Lncan, snappisf
e ". lit is Lord Raglan's positive orde
!. that the ligh, brigade Is to aitaok tn
= enemy We have no choice but to obey
> Then Cardigan bowed his head.
n VERY we'll, my Lord" was all he snit
Il Then turning tn his s,af, Tho brigad
y will advance" he said. quietly.
!, Meantime Nolan. after his sharp pal
sage of arms with the division commander
t. had ridden of to the right brigade hin
l self where be vas chcerfully talking
e. his sworn comradc and friend. Captai
l. Morris, Of tho Seventeenth Lancer
y Now that be had maintained his positio
: as moa.h-pieca Of the commardcr.il il