Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-04-06
THE SIX HUNDRED"
Graphic Description Of the Terrible
Charge.

THE SIX HUNDRED"
Graphic Description Of the Terrible
The charge of the Six Hundred at
Balaklava, is thus described in story
in the Scottish Aheric0n. entitled
"One Of the Six Hundred"
Recoiling before the glorious
charges OF our Heavy Brigade, the
Russian horse and foot had retired
into Il narrow gorge at the head OF
the long green valley. Their thirty
pieces of cannon were i'll position,
and in the rear of them were found
six solid columns of cavalry and six
of infantry, while other dense masses
occupied the slopes beyond.
Notwithstanding this formidable
array, in an almost unassailable po-
sltion q message vas 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, "Wc should take them"
and that the motion was taken tor
an order.
Ere many minutes was passed,
poor Nolan paid the full penalty of
this misconception or error in judg-
ment-if error it was.
Pcrilous, rash and desperate
though the attempt, Lord Lucan re-
luctantly ordered the Earl If Cardi-
gan to advance with his brigade, and
cheerfully We obeyed the startling
order.
We numbered only six hundred
and seven horseman, officers includ-
ed.
Each officer took up the words in
succession-"The brigade will ad-
vance; First squadron, march, trot,
gallop!" And then for the first time
as led my squadron on, did l be-
come aware how thirsty we uncon-
sciously became when under fire.
My lips were quite baked yet the
morning air was moist and COOL
We had before us Il mile and 4 half
to gallop over,level and open ground,
cncu,nbered here and there by the
dead and wounded men and horses
of The previous encounter; but these
are swept over in our advance to
ward where the dark and grim artil-
lery stood, with round and gaping
muzzles, before the solid array of
Russian horses and toot-those dark
columns i'll long gray capotes, all
cross-belted, with fixed bayonets
gli,tering in the sun; those darker
and less distinct clouds Of horsemen
whose forest Of lances, sword-blades
and brighter appointments glittered
and flashed from among their un-
numbered masses.
On and on we rode, and faces
flushed red, and hearts beat wildly,
while the Earl, brave as every Eng
lish gentleman should be, with all
his faults of temper, led us On with
brandished sword. Every hand was
firm Oh 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 and boot to boot,
the squadrons were pressing on.
"Charge" escaped me, almost be-
fore the time, and then the madden
ed horses rushed on at full racing
speed, with long,invigorating strides.
Our lances were all unslung, and in
the rest, the banneroles tluttering be-
tore the horses heads and outstretch-
ed necks, from which their names
were floating backward like smoke.
We were 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 OH front and flanks at
once. An iron shower Of round shot
and grape shells and rockets, with Il
tempest Of conlcal rifle bullets,
whizzed pa.t 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 OH 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 stirrups, vindicating
even in death, his reputation as one
of Eugland's noblest horsemen.
Man after man, horse after horse,
are now going down thick and fast,
and shrieks, and prayers and curses
rise together to heaven; but the rest
close in from the flank, and tirmer,
denser, wilder and more resolute
than ever we ride the race Of death!
On and Oh yet, steeds snorting,
lances raising and falling, pcnnons
tluttering and sabres flashing in the
sunshine.
"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 rank, and galloped mechanically
on. For moment, amid the contu-
sion, l 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 wounded in the left
o;d., His l;f., hl.,od xw.u ohh;u.r.