The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1875-10-29
THE FAMOUS SIX HUNDRED.
Re onion Of tie Suruiuors ofne Charge at
BdtdkldUd--About de Men cho Rode
into "THe Vu(Leu of DEATH"

BdidkldUa--About die Men who Rode
into "7he Valley Of DEATH"
The soldiers of the Light Cavalry Brig
ade, the men who rode into the "Valley of
Death" on that fatal October morning one
and twenty years ago, were invited to attend
meeting last night to make arrangements
for dinner in celebration of the anniversa-
ry of the Balaklava charge. The trysting place
was the Prince of Wales Tavern, Villiers
street, Strand, and the hour fixed for the
muster was 9 o'clock, to enable those who
were engaged in business to put in an appear
ance IR consequence of the disagreeable
drizyliDg rain, not 80 many came as were
expected, but respectable contingent, in
every sense Of the word, of war-worn vete-
rams, answered to the rolcall all the same.
Hale, hearty men they were, the most of
them but, so portly of build, that they set
one wondering what sort Of light cavalry
that must have been where the weight in
the pig skin ran up to eighteen stone of
living flesh in sundry instances. Jovial of
manner and neat of address, they discussed
the matter before them as one might have
expected-in brief, soldierly, and most har-
monious manner. 1t was agreed that din
ner should be solemnized in the Charing
Cross Hotels not solemnized the correct
word for has not Charles Lever defined
dinner as a social sacrament-on the 25th
Of October, and it was stated that many
officers who had helped to write one of the
most brilliant pages in our military annals
had promised to give the event the sanction
of their presence. The greatest part of
those in the room had belonged to the Elcv-
enth Hussars, that distinguished corps hav-
ing been principally recruited in London.
One warrior had served his apprenticeship
to arms under DeLaccy Evans in Spain !;
another was remarkable as having borne the
flag of truce to the Russian lines the day
after Balaklava a third was never tired of
celebrating the hduts fats of his ancient
captain, Sir Roger Palmer who led the E.
troop or the Eleventh into action, and did
his slaughter with cold steel, having forgot
ten his revolver in the hurry to jump into
the saddle. After the formal proceedings
were over, there were some rare gossip
over former campaigns, and the non
military observer was enabled to pick up
some interesting "reminiscences.
1t is a curious circumstance that every
man but one who won that supremest of all
military distinctions, the Victoria Cross, in
the magpi6riht mad ride, immortalized{by
fSeS ftS6SH2S 5ooper els<>'yssa sssa pafp,sas, 81 dbe
Light Dragodhs, who stood on the ground
with his charger writhing in the death ago
ny beside him. Trumpet-Major Crawford
flashed by his good stecd stumbled, the
rider was dismounted, and his naked
sabre sent whirling out of his grasp. A
pair of Cossacks saw their opportunity and
spurred upon the defenceless Crawford but
Parkes confronted them and kept them at
bay. When the retreat came the two
brave fellows followed their comrades, and
were pursued by six Russians, but Parkes
with his single sword, held them at arms
length and retired slowly, fighting and de-
Tending the trumpet major until deprived OF
his weapon by shot. This is no rhodo
mon:ade, but plain facts, as recorded in the
Gazette. Lieutenant Alexander Robert
Dunn, of Cardigad's boys, was another hero
of that day, fruitful in heroes He saved
the life Of Sergt. Bcntly, of his own corps
by cutting down two or three Russian troop
ers who wereattacking him in the rear, anc
afterwards hewed to the chine Russian
| uuSSiT WuO udu upOu piNac'
Levett This Dunn, it will be remembered
afterwards commanded the Thirty-third
being the youngest man of his rank in thu
army, aud perished in the Abyssinian expe
dtion. Riding master Joseph Malone hat
his horse shot in the charge, but properl.
speaking, his bit of alorious gun-meta
was gained the day previous when he vol
unteered with three troopers, on the marc
to Balaklava, and captured an escort of tn
enemy's cavalry and the baggage they wer
conveying to Sebastopol. Troop Sergeant
Major John Bergman, of the old "Death's
head and Cross boncs," the same sturd
cavalier who took prisoner three Russian
while they were within reach of their ow
guns at Mckenzie's farm, behaved splendid
ly at Balaklava When his horse was she
under him he,stopped in the field with Cap
Webb, who was wiinded, amid shower c
shot and she'll, and, although repeatedly tol
,, by that officer to consult his own safety, an
leave him. he refused to do so. and, Sc
geant John Barrell coming by, the tw
faithful fellows carried Capt. Webb out
) the range of the guns. The courageol
Irishman Farrell, who lost his horse liz
the majority of his plucky companions, an
had gone near to losing his life, was awar
ed the envied honor, but did not long su
vive to wear it. Charles Wooden now
quartermaster in the. One Hundreth al
Fourth foot, was another of the Seventeen
lanccrs who earned the cross on the 25th
October, 1854, and he, too, had his charg
: kill in the wild melee Assisted by DR.. NJ
! matt of the Inniskillen dragons, he su
n ceeded in carrying Major Morris, of his oV
G regiment, who lay dreadfully wounded, to
&c place of safety. In chatty recollectio
sucb ne those we have tried to pen and