, 1877-03-16
n" ST. HanArsA.-
o..rutc DnscHIFTIOS or THE TERRIBLE
cHAnaE AT nALAKLAvA.

The following description OF the
.harge Of the Six Hundred at Balaklava
!. giVen in a story in the SoonisL Auey,-
"a. entitled ' One Of the Sin Hun
Recoiling before the glorious charge
n our Heavy Brigade, the Russian
borse and foot hal rctircd into a narrow
gorre at the head of the long. green
valley. There thirty pieces Of cannon
we're in position, and in the rear Of
them were formed six solid column2 81
calyary and six Of infantry, while other
dense masses occupied the slopes be-
..yond. .
raw. in an almost unassailable position,
message was received by Lord Lucan
from Captain Lewis Edward Nolan, Of
the Fifteenth Hussars, undoubtedly
one of the bravest of the brave, TO the
effect that the Light Brigade was to
carry those thirty pieces Of cannon.
Another account says that he simply
pointed to the guns with his sword and
said, 1--WE should take them, and that
the motion was taken for an order.
Ere many minutes were passed poor
Nolan paid the full penalty Of this mis-
conception or error in judgment, if er-
ror it was.
1Perilous, rash and desperate though.
the attempt, Lord Lucan reluctantly or
dered 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 sue
cession-" The brigade will advance.
First squadron, march, trot, gallop |"
And then for the first time, as led my
squadron on, did become aware how
thirsty we unconsciously became when
under fire. My lips were quite baked,
vet the morning air was moist and cool.
We had before us a mile and half to
gallop over, level and open ground, en-
numbered 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 gaping muzzles, before the
solid array OF Russian horse and foot
those dark columns in long gray CO.
potes, all cross-belted, with fixed bay
onets glittering in the sun; those darker
and less distinct clouds Of horsemen,
whose forest Of lances, sword-blades
and brighter appointments glittered and
flashed from their unnumbered masses.
On and on we rode, and faces flushed
red, and hearts beat wildly-while the
Earl, brave as every English gentleman
should be, with all his fault Of temper
led us on with brandished sword.
Every hand was firm on the bride,
every. grasp was firm on the sword,
every knee was pressed to the saddle
laps, every rowel was tinged with blood !;
so holster to holster, boot to boot, the
squadron were pressing on.
"Chargep" escaped me, almost before
the time, and then the maddened horses
rushed on at full racing speed, with
long invigorating strides. Our lances
were all unslung, and in the rest, the
banneroles huttering before the horses
heads and outstretched necks, from
which the names were floating back
ward like smoke.
We were soon within the line of fire.
Like the thunder of heaven the park of
artillery shook the air, as cannon, NOR
tars and rifles opened like fiery hell
on front and tanks at once. An iron
shower Of round shot and grape, shells
and rockets, with tempest of rife bull
lets, 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 a shell, the
gallant Nolan fell back on his saddle
with wild and narrowing cry as his
horse swept round and bore his body
to the rear, with his feet still in the stir
rups, vindicating, even in death, his
reputation as one of England's noblest
horsemen.
Man after man, horse after horse, are
now going down thick and fast, and
shrleks and prayers and curses rise
together to Heaven; but the rest close
In from the flank, and frmer, denser,
wilder, and more resolute than ever, we
ride the race of deathi
On and on yet, steeds snorting,
lances rising and falling, pennons fiut.
tering, and sabres flashing in the sun
shine.
Steady, lads, steady |" cried Lionel
beverley, 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
moment, amid the confusion, saw the
Colonel for the last time, as he led us
that noble heart, that polished gentle
man and gallant lancer. He was deadly
pale, for lie was mortally wounded in
tne left side. His. life-blood was ebb-
ing; but his sword was still uplifted,
and light was flashing in his eyes,
which already could see 1.-The glories
and the terrors Of the unknown world.