The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-23

A survivor of Balaklava Dying in New 20
New York Mercury.l

WI VI efA<N
A survivor of BalakIava Dying in New York.
New York Mercury.l
John Brown. one ofthe few survivors of the
immortal six hundred who rode into the
jaws of death at Balaklsva, is patient
in the Presbyterian Hospital, waiting to die.
He knows he is beyond hope OF recovery, his
malady being cancer of the liver, and looks
advancing death in the face with the same
fearless spirit with which he dashed against
the heavy. compact columns of Russian cav
airy on that memorable morning of October
%. 1851. Mr. Brown resided in East Fifty
eighth street with his interesting family. but
when lac found death coming on him, he in
sisted on going 10 the Hospital.
lie was born IN the County Fermanagh,
Ireland. Strong and robust by nature. he
preferred the barracks TO the schOol-house
in the days of bOyhOOd, until, when eigh-
teen wears and six months OF age, heenlisted
in the famous Enniskillen Dragons, becom-
Ing member Of Troop f. This was in 1876.
When, a few years subsequent, the Enuis-
kilienS were sent out to the Crimea, he as
he often stated himself felt as If he was
goins 10 . ball. lie knew he would have
chance to taste of wars thrilling ihtoxicat-
ing excitement, and of testing what sort of
stuff was in him. His experiences of the
terrible times and scenes that have made
the Crimean peninsula immortal in history
he would relate when he felt in the mood.
"It was in my twenty-sixth year" he said,
when the Balakalva charge was made. 1t
was made through misunderstanding of
orders, but it was a glorious affair. and those
that did die in il, ! don't think their spirits
regret it, The EnniSkillens and the Scots
Grays-we always fought tOgether-formed
one Brigade. We were commanded by Gen
eral Scarlet. as fine soldier as ever trod
the field. We ali loved him. and would
charge into the
JAWS OF DEATH OR HE'LL
any time for him. The commander OF my
troop, L, was Colonel White fine soldier.
too | was a favOrite with him. | had a
peculiar feeling that morning rs mounted
my horse; and, hot blooded and reckless as |
was. | said prayer 1t might not have been
a very eloquent affair, or according to the
books, but | tell you, sir it was sincere, and
probably was as good as ii it was repeated
after Bishop. We were drawn up in two
lines. The Enniskillens and the Grays
formed the front line and behind us were
the Fourth Royal Irish of the Fifth Dragon
Guards and the First Royal Dragons. We
saw the RuSsians-mOre than twice our num-
bers-adyancing on the left to the brow of the
hill. and behind them was another force
about - large. They came down the hill in
hurry. but looked confident, and thought
they had us beyond all hope. They were
the flower too, of the Russian cavalry We
became terribly impatient at first, but soon
the GOODNESS of desperation came over US. /
don't believe there were many there who
expected to ever get out alive. 1t was do or
die. and we decided to do first and die after
ward. l know that was how / felt. The
buglcs rang out. We felt released and went
right nj their center. The shock was fear
fUl one IL was no child's play, can tell
You. As we struck against the enemy
a MuscOvite cavalier, with r look as black as
hate on his face, and an eye blaZing-I re-
member it yet-aimed his lance at nv
heart. | parted his blow and struck his
weapon down, and then dispatched him
But il must have been from him received
my wound, for at night 1 found my left boot
fu!l 81 blood and 4 lance wound right under
the knee-cap. Striking down his lance, | |
suppose the point OF il entered there, but ] |
did not feel it. There was no time to feel !
or think then. Every man fought while he |
could sit on his saddle, and still tried TO |
6glit when down. Think? 10 sir; you
COUli no more think then than man in |
the delirium tremens could compose 4 ser
mon. / rouldnt tell you how we broke /
through that heavy rampant OF Russian I
cavalry, but we did. | came to my senses a |
little when we appeared on the other side /
Then we met their second column but the /
devil WAS rOused in us, and we swept through !
them like
SHEET or LIGHTNING.
II was terrific work and our troops suffered \
heavily, but that scratch under the knee
pa; was all i received, or all got during
The bloody work of the Crimean campaign
Ii fires me up a lit,lc when / think of those
times Just like an old war-horse al the
sound Of a trumpet; but l don't think l
would care to see them again"
NJ Brown was private when he went /
into the charge. and after he came out he /
was made Corporal, and received two dis
tnguished marks Tor bravery and good con
due, He subsequently, on the 9th of No
UeIIJeT, 1854, took part in the terrible en-
ga-ement on the nights Of lnkerman, across
tbs valley OF the Tchernaya from the town,
where some 14,00O of the allied troops.
mostly British. held the ground against /
60 0cJ Russians, and ultimately drove them /
from the field with wholesale Slaughter. He /
remained all through the siege of Sebasto- |
pol and participated in the stOrming of the /
MalakOh After the treaty of Paris, which 1
put an end 10 the war, the Enniskillens re- !
turned to England, and We're accorded the |
honDTs which they had so calamity won, /
no. only in the charge of the 600, but all |
through the campaign. And here comes in |
a touching episode in the brave warriors \
life. \ young sister who loved him with /
that deep and fervent affection which only a /
sister knows, journeyed from her distant /
home on the banks of Tough Erne, County /
Fermanagh, to Dublin, most of the way by 1
the slow mail stages then in vogue, and /
crossed the Channel to Liverpool. and |
thc!Ice to London, to welcome him back, in |
person, from the War. The meeting was
ONE OF JOY AND TENDERNESS.
The sister tried to persuade him to give up |
his soldier life, but the exciting scenes !
which he had gone through had only deep |
encJ his devotion to the, to him, fascinating
life 81 a soldier. She begged and implored I
him with force and elOquence that sprung |
FROM the heart. and then he mentioned 10
her the obstacle that stood in the way he
would either have to desert or be bought off. /
%Don-t desert" she said, land destroy the
character you have won / would rather
you would remain than DO that. / will go
home and get the money" Accompanied
by the sister, Mr. Brown visited Colonel
White, who, touched by the appeals of the
young girl, said he would do all he could to
make the sum that would purchase his
freedom as small as possible, although
he would regret losing such a good
soldier. On the representations of Colonel
White the freedom money was reduced to ten
pounds sterling. Next day the young girl
started for Ireland. and returned as quick as
cOnveyanceS could bring her with the requi-
site amount. which was paid, and,
Brown was giveR an honorable discharge,