The Worthington advance., 1879-05-01
THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
Another Graphic Description of the
Charge at Balaklava.

"A survivor OF the celebrated ride into the
jaws OF death gives in the Boston Commercial
Butteto" the following graphic picture of the
charge:
Lord Cardigan's eye glanced us over; then
said:
"My men, We have received orders to ST.
lence that battery
"'My G-d!. my brother calculated. Then
grasping my hand, he said:
"'Fred, my dear fellow, goodbye; We don't
know what may happen God bless you; keep
close to me-
What more he might have said was lost in
Lora saCtag CGtardigan's ringing shout Of:
INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH.
I'VE went in at trot; the trot changed to a
canter, and the canter to gallop Through
the lines could see Lord Cardigan several
horse-lengths ahead riding as steadily as if he
was on parade. Now, to tell the plain truth,
when We had ridden a short distance, say one
hundred PAGES, felt terribly afraid. The
truth flashed upon me in moment that we
were riding into position that would expose
US to fire on both TANKS, as we'll as the FIRE
from the battery in front OF us, which we had
been instructed to silence. said to myself,
This is ride to deathr but said it loud
swered and said:
There goes the frst!'
lhe nrst was Lord Lucans aid.da-camp,
Capt. Nolan, who, after making slight de-
tour, was crossing our left to join us in the
charge. canon ball had Just cut him in two
as my brother spoke
my heart leaped into my mouth and al
most shrieked with fear, but restrained N.Y.
self, and setting my teeth hard rode on. A
moment later the rifle bullets from the sharp
shooters on the hillside began to whistle
about our ears. Saddles were emptied at
f1o <ryhs sok1 I,o<
and the shrieking shell and tole through our
squadrons, mangling men and horses, plow-
ing bloody burrows through and through our
ranks. Then my fear left me. My whole
soul became filed with thirst for revenge,
and believe the same spirit animated every
man in the ranks. Their eyes flashed and
they ground their teeth and pressed closer to.
gcther. The very horses caught the mad
spirit and plunged forward Us if impatient to
lead us to our revenge aud theirs. At this
time there was not much to be seen. A heavy
dense smoke hung over the valley, but the
flaming mouths of the guns revealed them
selves to our eyes at every moment as they
belched forth their murierous contents Of
shot and she'll
Nov shot tore through our ranks. cut
ting red line from flank to flank, then a shell
plowed an obllque and bloody farrow from
our right front to our left rear; anon a ri
cochetting shot rose over our front ranks, fell
into our centre and hewed its way to the rear,
making terrible havoc ia its passage. Oh!
that was ride. Horses ran riderless, and
men bareheaded, acd splashed with the blood
Of their comrades pressed closer and closer
and ground their teeth harder, and mentally
swore deadler revenge as their numbers
grew smaller.
"INTo THE GATES OF HE'LL"
"Alone and In front rode Cardigan,
still keeping the same distance ahead. His
ri q od for ho offh hoI hat
terry. Silently We followed him. Up to this
time neither my brother nor myself had re-
ceived the slightest scratch. Although We
were now riding side by side with comrades
who at the start were separated from us by
several files. We reached the battery at last.
Up to this time We had ridden in silence,
but what yell burst from us as we plunged
in among the Russian gunners! Well would
1t have been for them if they had killed us
all before we reached them. They had done
too little and too much. They had set US on
fire with passion. Only blood could quench
our thirst for revenge. We passed through
the battery like whirlwind, sabring the
Of them lived to tell til. tale of that ride. Out
Of the battery and into the brigade-an army
it was-of cavalry. Our charge was resist
less.
"The Russians fell before our sabres as
corn falls before the reaper. They seemed to
nave NO power OF reslstance. And there was
no lack of material to work upon. They
closed In upon us and surrounded us on
every side, but We heWed our way through
them as men hew their way through virgin
forest, and only stopped when we reached
the bank Of the Tehernava river.
wheeling here we proceeded to cut our
way back again. On the return ride was
assailed by gigantic Russian trooper who
made strike At me with his sabre. 1partial-
)y guarded it, but not wholly, and the next
moment felt stinging pain 10 my neck. 1t
passed In q moment, however, and l was
about to make short work Of the trooper,
when heard my brother cry:
"'Ahl you would, would your" and the
Russian fell cleft to the chin.
1--WE cut our way through and once more
entered the fatal valley. When half way back
to our starting point cannon shot struck my
brother and beheaded him. Tom, ah thank
your"
The color sergeant drained another glass.
"When We formed up on arriving at ouI
| starting point, Lord Cardigan, with the tear
streaming from his eyes, said:
ut WAS not my fault my men,
"And the men replied with one voice:
1--WE are ready to 70 in again my lore, IL you
will lead U.s."
''Just then became dizsy. My scalp had
| been lifted by the stroke Of the Russian's
| sabre, the skin of my cheek cleft across to my
upper lip, and fainted from loss Of blood.
"When my time expired In the cavalry I 70