The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-04-25
The Light Brigade.

in the Scottish american, entitled Zone
of the six Hundred"
Recoiling before the glorious charges
Of our Heavy Brigade, the Russian
horse and foot had retired into a nar-
row gorge at the head Of the long
green valley. There thirty pieces q
cannon were in position, and in the
rear Of them we're formed six solid
columns of cavalry and six Of infan.
try, while other dense masses occu-
pied the slopes beyond. Notwith.
standing this formidable array, in an
almost unassailable position, a mes.
sage was received by Lord Lucan
from Capt 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, eve should take them" and
that the motion was taken for an or
der. Ere many minutes were passed
poor Nolan paid the full penalty OF
the misconception or error in judg-
ment-if error it was.
Perilous, rash and desperate though
the attempt, Lord Lucan reluctantly
ordered the Earl Of Cordigan to ad-
vance with his brigade, aud cheerful.
ly We obeyed the startling order.
We numbered only six hundred and
seven horsemen, officers included
Each officer took up the words in
succession --"Ghe brigade will advance;
First squadron, march, trot, gallop p'
and then for the first time, as 1 lead
my squadron on, did l become aware
how thirsty we uncongciously become
when under fire. My lips were quite
baked, yet the morning air was moist
and cool. We had before us milS
and a half to gallop over, level and
open ground, encumbered here and
there by the dead and wounded men
and horses Of the previous encounter
but these were swept over in our ad.
vance towards where the black and
grim artillery stood, with round and
Gaping muzzles, before the solid ar.
ray Of Russian horses aud foot-these
dark columns in long gray capotcs,
all cross belted, with fixed bayonets
in the sun; darker and less distinct
clouds Of horsemcn, whose forest of
lances, ord-blades and brighter ap-
pointments glittered and flashed among
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 faults Of tenn
per, led us on with brandished sword.
Every hand was firm on the bride,
every grasp was firm on the sword !,
every knee was pressed on the saddle
laps, every rowel was tinged with blood !;
so, holster to holster and boot to boot,
the squadrons were pressing on.
Charge p escaped me, almost be-
fore the time, and then the madden
ed horses rushed on at fail racing
speed, with long invigorating strides.
Our lances were all unslung, and in
the rest, the banneroles fiuttcring be-
fore the horses heads and outstreatch-
ed necks from which the names we're
floating backward like smoke.
We were soon within the lines of
fire Like the thunder of heaven the
park Of artillery shook the air, as can
non, mortars and rifles opened like
fiery hell on front and aanks at once.
An iron shower Of round shot and
grape, shells and rockets, with tenn.
pest Of conical rife bullets, 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 with a shell
the gallant Nolan fell back in his sad
die with a wild and narrowing cry, as
his horse swept round and bore his
body to the rear, with his feet still in
the stirrups, vindicating, even in
death, his reputation as one of Eng
lands noblest horsemen.
Man after man, horse after horse, are
now going down thick and fast t,shrieks
and prayers and curses rise together to
heaven; but the rest close in from the
fauk, and frmer, denser, wilder aud
more resolute than ever we ride the
race Of death
On and on yet, steeds snorting, Ian
ces rising and falling, ponnous fat.
tering, and sabers flashing in the sun
shine.
STEADY, lads, steady" cried Lion.
ell Beverly, as another shower of grape
tore through the squadrons, and many
more went down, though somo Of the
horses remained riderless in the rank,
and galloped mechanically on. For a
moment, amid the confusion, / saw
the Col. for the last time as he led us
that noble heart, that polished gen