The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-07
AT BALAKLAVA.
A Cavalry Charge That Amazed the
World Thirty Years Ago.
The Light Brigade's HerOism De-
serlbed by One who Saw Their
istack-"MagnifIeent, hut
Not Wars


[Pittsburg Dispatch.l
II was thirty years ago on the 18th of DC
tober that the earl Of Cardigon's light
brigade made its famous charge at Sebas.
topol A gentleman who was on the staff of
an English general, and who witnessed the
charge, gives this description Of it:
Con Oct. Is, 1854, our eyes turned to the
heights Of Balaklava, on the possession of
which depended the very existence of the
allied forces. On that day the Russians
made a desI crate attack ON our lines, to be
rs desperately repulsed Word was sent to
headquarters that the enemy, under cover of
Il heavy fire from the forts, had left Sebas-
topol III force and was massing himself so as
t. threaten 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
whirtwina, and with our MOhammedan allies
the word was sauve qui peut. 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 battery was ostenta-
guns promised to be embarrassing
Lord Raglan, who did not know the full
strength OF the foe, saw that this obstacle
must lie removed; but whether or not he
also forsaw the necessity of first looking be-
fore the leap was taken must he forever
mystery. The commanders of the cavalry
brigades, Lords Lucan and Cardigan broth
ers-in-law, between whom no love was lost,
We're waiting the word to engage, Lord
Lucan being the senior officer To them sped
Capt. Nolan, IA dashinS huzzar. Saluting
tie general, he said he bore an order-un-
written-from Lord Raglan that the battery
must be sileuced and the guns captured. Lord
Lucau, a man 50 cautious as to have earned
the nickname Lord Looh-on,' fearing to OK
pose hSsmall force to any amhushed dangers
asked for more definite order. With q
Slightly contemptuous turn Of the handsome
lip the aid4le-camp pointed in tine direction
OF the battery and said:
"'Nou see your enemy, my lord
Even the earl Of Cardigan, ilnpetuous rs
he was, generally ,paakns,, looked at his com
r1anlcr in Gulbt rs f, the works Eut
owing 10 The unhappy euE!ty existing be
tween them, neither would speak his
i5sEttr+. S.l! tilct more Nttltt. Itllt'ttNt2ttG
waving his sword which he had hereclY
drawn from it, scalbar,l, and pointing it 10
tao artillery, cried: Take the guns; these
.rr Your orGTsn
The crisis has arrived. No recourse is
1T Lut to DO as he lid. A COLI nod Of
assent from Lord Lucrn. \ profound bow
follows from Lord Cardigan Light diyi-
ion, forward, charge freaks from his lips.
An erhoiac chear Is the reply from Co
t,roats. O. with clan. Of scabbard aud
rattle OF tridIe and bit, and the braying Of
he Trumpet, and the ringing cheer of the
Hray.rs,' TIE Ith ana i3th Iights. och and
Iith HusNars, the latter Lord Car;iigaus own
corps, conspicuous IN tieir cherIy-coloIvd
trousers and the l7,h lancerS, with
| ranks closed up and squadrons dressed a.
! evenly IS if mt q march past trot forward
! town the slight dcrliyity At thei.' head
ride the gallant Nolan and the dauntla,
| Ca~ligan-even in this supreme momoni
| with reckless laugh upon his face, as h
argues some point of war with his brother
| Lus-Hr
| "Tho unuasked batteries are ALREADY
b lching forth shot and shell The trot brea6,
into . gallop, til gallop into a furious, he&t
long charge. Already Nolan has fallen, cut
| down by grape shot, the secret of the fata
| day diving with him The serried ranks show
| frequent gaps as saddle after saddle i
! emptied Close up, Close up Charge!
! the unceasing cry, and in a shorter tint
than it takes to tell the opening ranks Of tn,
| foe disclosed to the doomed, but indomitabl,
| few, Common to the right of them, cannon :,
| left OF them, cannon in front Of them--anl
| now cannon behind them. On through IL,
broken Russian line pressed the noble army
Of martyrs, their orii'Gmme, their brave
| leaders flashing sabre, their support.
with a wild cheer and wilder leap tht
2herry-clad heroes fly over the guns Il
lightly as they would over a five-barrel gatf
| On the hunting-field sahering the gunners "a
they leap A beardess boy, not yet II, hold
fast to the colors he has sworn to carry t.
death or victory and falls with the cry M
mother VIII hear OF thisr on his dying lips
still grasping that banner in his hand.
Far away, clear in front, with his aid d
| camp and a few choice spirits on his RICH
hand and on his left-none ahead of him
raging like lion. fights, as with forlor
| hope the leader and commander Of the Ligll
brigade He bears n charmed life, and hi
brawny arm is endowed with a power 0
slaughter that grows nigh.ier every momen
| from the meat it feeds on. Further an
further he dashes on, cleaviug his way wit
| lis blood-stained sword til he reaches tn
last Of the guns.
H ere, when he sees the end is not yet, bu
that rank upon rank OF cavalry and infantry
with heavy artillery in the rear, street.-the
out back 30 the city's utmost bastion, l.
recognizes how useless it will be further
tempt the fates and fight ono against
thousand CooLy and calmly, as if in Hy,i
Park, he takes in the situation at a glance
and gives the word to the trumpeter to SCUM
first the assembly then the retreat
bullet crashes through the boys hand as h
raises his trumpet to his mouth, but, stoi
like, he makes no sign. Clear rings ont Oh
She summons. 4 dozen only answer the cal
Not one. save Lord Cardigan, but is woundc
more or less severely, and his clothing show
where lance or saber or ball plowed their wa
over his mscathod flesh. Right about tt
little band turns, leaving the boy trUmpett
dead or the ground behind them
THE enemy, paraiyzed by the shock of ii
charge, and fancyiug that the whole BIRTHS
army supports the handful of brave
pauseS IN his murderous work to cheer Il
; JOS Survivors who returned sadly and sl0wl
to the place from which they came, havin.
from a military standpoint, achieved not
ing, yet covered with deathless. fadele
Wreath Of glory. 1T was magnificent sci
| Gen. EusQuet, but it was not war;
! Only Go Sinri t}sn Conversation.
[Rplioboth Sunday Herald