Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-29
2stgisetllaneuns @eadiug.
THE CHARGE OF BALACLAVA.
BY A PARTICIPANT.

- I
BY A PARTICIPANT.
The Russian horse and foot had retired in.
to narrow gorge at the head Of long green
valley. There thirty pieces of cannon we're
in position, and in rear of them were formed
six solid columns of cavalry and six of infan-
try, while other dense masses occupied the
slopes beyond. Notwithstanding this formid-
able array, in an almost unassailable position,
a message was received by Lord Lucan from
Captain Lewis Edward Nolan, of the 10Th
Hussars, undoubtedly one Of the bravest of
the brave, to the effect that the Light Bri-
gade was to carry those thirty pieces of can
non. Another account says that he simply
pointed to the guns with his sword, and said,
I'VE should take them," and that the motion
was taken for an order. Ere many minutes
we're passed poor Nolan paid the full penalty
of this miscopception or error in jud gment-
if error it was. Perilous, rash and desperate
though the attempt, Lord Luran reluctantly
ordered the Earl of Cardigan to advance with
his brigade, and cheerfully we obeyed the
startling order. -
We numbered only six hundred and seven
horsemen, officers included. Each officer
took up the words in succession-"Fhe bri.
gade will advance. First squadron, march,
trot, gallopW And then, for the FIRST time,
as led my squadron on, did l become aware
how thirsty we -uncensciously became when
under fire. my lips were quite baked, ykt the
morning air was moist and cool. We had be-
fore US mile and q half to gallop, over level
>nd epsa grnnnd. encumbered here and there
by the dead and wounded men and horses of
the previous encounter; but these we swept
over in our advance towards where the black
and grim artillery stood; with round and gap
ing muzzles, before the solid array of Russian
horse and foot-those dark columns in long
grsy-copotesj all cfoss:belted, withi6xed bay
onets glitterng in the sun those darker and
less disidct clouds of horsernen whose forest
of lances, sword. blades. and brighter appoint
meuts glittered and flashed from among their
umbered masses.
On and on we rode, and faces flushed red,
and hearts beat wild dly-w while the Earl, brave
as every English gentleman should be, With
all his faults of temper-led ua on with bran
dished sword. Every hand was firm on the
bride, every grasp was firm onssthe sword,
every knee was pressed TO the saddle,lsps, ey-
cry rowel was tinged with blood, so, holster 10
holster and boot to boot. the squadrons we're
pressing on. IChsrgsY escaped mes almost
before the time and then the maddened hors-
es rushed on at full racing speed, with long,
invigorating strides. Our lances we're all un-
slung, and in the rest, the banneroles futter-
ing before the horses heads and outstreched
necks, from which the names we're floating
backward like smoke. =, ..;..
We we're soon within the line of fire. Like
the thunder of heaven the park of artillery
shook the air, as cannon, mortars and rifles
opened like fiery hell on front and fanks at
once. An iron shower of round shot and
grape, shells and rockets, with a tempest of
conical riae.builets, whizzed past our ears, or
tore through horses and men, and down they
went ON right and left at every stride. Struck
on the breast by shell, the gallant Nolan
fell back on his saddle with wild and har-
rowing cry, as his horse swept around and
bore his body to the rear with his feet still in
the stirrups, vindicating, even in death, his
reputation as one Of Euglands nohlest horse.
men. Man after man, horse after horse, are
now going down. thick and fast, and shrieks
and prayers and curses rise together to Heav-
en- but the rest close in from the flank, and
6rmer, denser, wilder, and more resolute than
ever we ride the race of death.
On, and on yet, steeds snorting, lances rising
and falling, peunons fiuttering, and sabres
flashing in the sunshine. STEADY, lads,
steadyp' cried Lionel Beverly, as another
shower of grape tore through the squadrons,
and many more went down, though some of
the horses remained riderless in the ranks and
galloped mechanically on. For a moment,
amid the confusion, saw the colonel for the
last time, as he led us-that noble heart, that
polished gentleman and gallant lancer. He
was deadly pale, for he was mortally wound.
ed in the left side. His life.blood was ebbing
but his sword was still uplifted, and light
was flashing in his eyes, which already could
see "the glories and the terrors of the un.
known world" "Close up, gentlemen and
comrades! Keep your horses we'll in hand;
but spur on-charge, and charge home
Hurrah I" A ball hummed pasta twenty
four pound shot, apparently-and where was
Lionel Beverly? Doubled up. dead and
ghastly heap, under dying and mangled
charger! The next who fell was my friend
Wlford. f-he was somewhat Of adandy.iA
England, there was no want Of pluck in him
here. Leading his troop, he fell close by me,
and I eaped my horse over him as he rolled
past, churning a mouthful Of grass and earth,
his features awfally convulsed, and his limbs
trembling in their death agony. Poor Fred
Wilford j. ~
On, and on yeti Many familiar face is
gone now the gaps are fearful, and men who
we're on the fanks now find themselves in the
centre. On we still gallop towards that
mouth of 6re-on, and fearlessly. The best
blood of three kingdoms is in our ranks, all
we'll and nobly mounted, the flower of our
gallant cavalry-on yet like whirlwind, the
hearty British "Hurrah q! hurrahl hurtahp
ringing in our ears; the hearts blood seems
mounting to the brain; and nov we are upon
them l-now the red flashing nuzzles of the
cannon are passed; the gunners are throwing
themselves under the wheels and limbers,
where we cut them down., and spear or pin
them to the turf. Others are. rushing for
shelter to their squares Of Infantry, under
whose rifles they lie fiat and securely; while
sheets of lead are tearing through US! O.,
the superlative bitterness of that moment,
when, with all our horses blown, look back
and see that we are without supports
The guns are taken-the gunners alm6a
annihiated our horses are breathless. We
have no aid, and no resource but to ride back,
under such concentrated fire as troops were
never before exposed to- "It's all up-threes
about-retire" A single trumpet feebly
gives the call, and away we. 60. Shot in the
heart, perhaps, my Arab steed sank down
gently beneath me but received severe
Blow from something, know not ,what-the
splinter of shell, probably, which crushed
my lancer.cap, and almost stunned me. l