Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-06
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 6, 1884.
THE NOBLE SIX HUNDRED.


October 25th at Sebastopol in 1864 De-
scribed by a Staff officer.
From the Philadelphia Press.
We are all hankering after some ex-
element. Things had not gone we'll,
and the army was dOwnhearted. We had
been bitterly disappointed. The Rus
SLAMS had been equally, though agreea-
bly,, disappointed. They had looked for
an immediate pursuit, and In their rap
i'd retreat up the Katcha River had pass
cd on pell NELL, in mOmentary expecta-
ton of being attacked 10y our cavalry
and horse artillery, in which case their
whole army must have been cut to pieces
or made prisoners. But, owing to lack
of dash on the part Of the French COM
mander, who was generalissimO Of the
allied forces, they were suffered to es-
cape into SebastOpOl, which, at that
time, was comparatively undefended,
especially from the sea front. Three
days afterward, under the very eyes of
the allied fleets, the mouth of the harbOr
was blocked up by the sinking of seven
Russian ships of war, and all entrance
on the part of our ships forbidden.
On the land side, the northern portion
of SebastOpol was at their mercy. But,
instead of pushing forward and carrying
1t by assault, the flank march to Balak-
lava "a very skillful, but very fatiguing
and unnecessary piece of generalship-
was undertaken and successfully carried
out, though the cholera, worse foe than
the Russians, was decimating the allied
forces and literally strewing the line of
march with cOrpses. SebastOpol was
kept on the right, and thus the fort Of
Balaklava was secured. On the other
hand, through this delay, the enemy had
more than timely notice of our advance,
and was thereby enabled to run up those
historical sarthworks, which were in re-
ality stronger than the granite forts
themselves. By the 18th Of October, a
month and three days after the battle of
the Alma, a combined attack was made
on SsbastOpOl by sea and land, but the
naughty Black Sea frontier defed her
assailants. Nothing remained but to
invest the stronghold, task for which
we had not nearly men enough.
THE SCENE OF THE STRUGGLE.
On October 25 the scene of the strug-
gle was for the nonce changed. From
the front, mems eyes turned to the
heights of Balaklava, ON the possession
Of which depended the very existence of
the allied forces. On that day, there
fore, just thirty years ago this day, the
Russians made desperate attack on our
lines, to be as desperately repulsed. Well
do / remember that morning. L was on
the staff of General --, and as such
or rather, series of battles. Word was
sent to headquarters that the enemy, I'M
der cover Of heavy fire from the forts,
had left SebastOpol in considerable force
and was massing himself so as to threat
en- the safety of the heights. was at
once sent with an order for the cavalry
and horse artillery to move and be ready
to assume the offensive. They had not
to wait long. The Turkish lines were
swept as by whirlwind, and with our
MOhammedan allies the word was sauce
Qai peut. The heavy cavalry on the right
and the Light Brigade on the left were
advanced, with the artillery in the CEN
tire playing game at long bowls. Mean.
while Russian battery was Ostenta
tiOusly moved forward, whose well served
guns promised to be exceedingly embar-
RAISING. Lord Raglan, who did not
know the full strength Of the foe, saw
that this obstacle must be removed, but
whether or not he also foresaw the ne
cessity of first looking before the lear
was taken must be forever q mystery
The commanders Ofthe cavalry brigades
Lords Lucan and Cardigan, brOthers-iR
law, between whom no love was lost
were waiting the word to engage, Lord
Lucan being the senior officer. To then
sped Captain Nolan, dashing hussar
who had written treatise on the ON
impotence Of cavalry and was, therefore
not unwilling to put his theories to the
test. Saluting the General, he said III
bore an er-unwritten-frOm Lore
Raglan that the battery must be silence(
and the guns captured. Lord Lucan, 8
man so cautious as to already have earn
nick name Of Lord LOOk-On,' fearing Il
expose his small force to any ambushet
dangers, asked for more definite orders
With slightly cOntemptuous turn O
his handsome lip, the aide-de-camI
pointed in the direction of the battery
and said:
Even the Earl of Cardigan, impetuOu
as he was, generally speaking-sO i'm
petuOus as to have been decorated will
the annexed title of Lord Cbarge-again'
LOCKED at his commander in doubt a
to the words. But, owing to the unhap
py enmity existing between them, nei
Their would speak his thoughts, and ono
more Nolan, impatiently waving hi
sword, which he had flercely drawn from
Its scabbard, and pointing 1t to the ar
tillery, cried: take the guns; those ar
your Ordersp
The crisis has arrived. No recourse
left but to do as he bids. A cold nod o
assent from Lord Lucan. A prOf0un
bow follows from Lord Cardigan. "Ligh