Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-01-23
St Louis & San Francisco
AT BALAkLAVA.
A Cavalry Charge That Amazed the
World Thirty Years Ago
The Light BrI.ade'- Eieroism De
scrlbed by One Who Saw Their
Attack-''MagutGcen hut
Not Wars
TPittsbury piSpatch I

III wa, ihirty years ago ON The 3Jth OF NC
tobeG that the earl If CariiSan's light
brigade made its famous charge at Sebas-
topol A gentleman who was on the staff of
an English general, AMI who witnessed the
charge, gives this description of il:
"On Oct IS, IsJi. our eyes turned TO the
heights of Baiaklava, on tine possession OF
which depended tine very existence Of the
allied FORCES. On that day the Russians
maie iesI crate attack ON our lines u be
rs desperately repus.sd. Word was sent to
headquarters that the enemy, under cover of
heavy fire from the forts. had LETT SeiraS-
topol in foIce and was Inassing himself So
TO threaten the safety of the heights. | was
Mt oIce sent with order for the cavalry
and horse artillery to move and be ready IL
assume the offensive They hal not to wait
long Tie Turkish lines were swept as by
whiriwind and with our Mohnmmelan allies
the word was sauve qui lcut. The heavy
cavalry on the right and the light brigade On
the left were advanced, with the artillery in
the center playing game at long bowls.
Meanwhile a Russian Lartery was ostcnta-
tiOusiy moved forward whose well-scrycd
guns promised 10 lie embarrassing
Lord Raglan. who did rot know the full
strength Of the foe, saw that this obstacle
must he removed: hut whether or NOT he
fore the leap tale mast b. forever n
mystery. The commanG. =. 4 the cavalry
brigades, Lords Lucan and Cardigan broth
ersin- law, between whom no love WAS lost.
waiting the word 10 engage, Lord
Lucan being the senior officer. To them sped
Capt Nolan. a dashins huzzar SalUting
tie general, he said he b, r, an urlcr-un-
~ritten-from Lord Raglan that the battery
must be silenced ami ihe guns captured Lord
Lucan, a man 50 cautiou rs To have earned
the nickname LORD Lpok-on' fearing tu ex-
pose his small fore, 10 any amhushel dangers
asked for more definite order. WITH a
slightly contcmptuous tuTli f the haHd4Ire
lip, the aid-de-camp pointed in the dire ton
Of the battery and aid;
"'You see your enemy, my lord
Even the earl of Car'i gan. inn c:uous ~
ne was, generally speaking. oksa nj ms com
mander in doubt t. the works. But,
owing 10 the unhappy enmity existing be
tween them, neither would speak his
thoughts, and orc, mere \. Ian. inlpa'irntly
waving his sword. which he hal iyr,,y
drawn from its scabhnrl. and pointing ii To
the artillery, cried: Take the guns; these
are your "rlerSr
The crisis has arrived No recourse is
left but 10 do as he lid a cold moi of
assent from Lord iucnn. \ profound bow
follows from Lord Cardigan. Light iivi
sion, forward charge. breaks from his lips.
An echoinS chcar i, the reply from G01
Threats, rs with clanC # scabhard and
rattle Of bride and bit, and the hrayin- of
the trumpet, and the ringing cheer Of the
'Heayies' the ith and 18th Lights, 9Th and
llth HuSSars the latter Lord Cariican'S OWE
CORPS conspicuous in their cherry-Colored
trousers and the isth laRcerS. with |
ranks closet up sIi -qIadronS dressed a.
evenly n If at a march past, trut forward |
down the slight declivity At their head /
ride the gallant Nolan and the dauntleSs /
Cardigan-even in thi, supreme moment (:
with a reckless laugh upon his face. as he 1
argues some point Of war with his brother 1
hussar.
The unmasked batteries are already 1
belching forth shot ard shell. The trot breaks 1
into gallcp the gsllop into furious, head I
long charge Already Nolan has fallen. cut
down BY grape shot. thu secret of the fatal
day DIVING with him. The serried ranks show /
frequent gaps as saddle after saddle is !
emptiel Close up, Close up, Charge! Is .
the unceasing cry. and in shorter time .
than it takes 10 tell the opening ranks Of the .
foe disclosed To the doomci, but indomitable /
few, cannon 10 the right Of them, cannon Ia 1
left Of them cannon in front of them and 4
now cannon behind them On through the 4
broken Russian line pressed the noble army
uf martyrs, their orifarnme, their brave
leaders flashing sabre. their support,
with wild cheer and wilder leap the 4
cherry-clai heroes fly over the guns
lightly as thew would over = Eve barrel gate
on the hunting field. sabcTing the gunner> a
t,,ey Leap. 4 bearilesS boy, not Yet l.. holds .
fast to the colors he has sworn - carry 10 ,
death or victory and falls with the cry Ny 1
mother will hear Of this on his diving lips.
still crasping that banner in his hand.
Far away, clear in front, with his aid lie
camp and few choice spirits on his right .
hand ard on his left-nune ahead o. him.
raging like lion, fights. as with for,orn /
hope the leader and commander of the Light .
brigade He hears charmed life and his .
brswny arm is endowed with power of .
slaughter that grows mish.ier every moment .
from the meat i; feeds on Further AMI .
further he daSheS on. cleiying his way with .
his blood-s;ainei sword till he reaches the /
last Of the guns
H ere. when he secs tie end is not vet, but
that rank upon rank OF cavalry AID infantry /
with heavy artillery in the rear. stretches
ont back 10 the c!ty'S utmost haStion. he
necocniz.s how useless i: viii lie further TO
tempt the fsteS and fight one against
thousand Cooly and calmly, as If in Hyde
Park, he takes in the situation ut glance.
and gives the word TO the trumpotsr to sound
first the assembly then the 'retreat'
bullet crashes through the boys hand rs ne |
raises his trumpet 10 his mouth, hut. stole
like be makes no sign Gear rings out the
the summons a dozen only answer the cali.
Not one save Lord Cardigan, hut : wounded
more or less severely, and his clothing shows
where lance or saber or hall plowed their way
over his unscathed flesh. Right about the
little band turns, leaving the boy trumpete-
dead ON the ground behind them.
The enemy. paralyzed by the shock Of the
charge. and fancying that the whole British
army supports the handful Of braves,
rauses IN his murderous work 10 cheer The
los survivors who returned sadly and slowly
10 the place from which they came, having.
nom a military standpoint. achieved moth
ing, yet covered with a deathless. faGeleSs
wreath Of glory. i. was magnificent said
Cen. Bosauet, but it WIGS not war