The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-26
INTO IT, JAWS OF DEATH.
a Charge tina. Amazed TIE worla Just
Thirty Years Ago.

made 1tS famous charge NJ Balakiava.
near Sebasiopol A gentleman who
was on the STAFF Of an English General.
and who Witnessed the charge, gives
the Dispatch this description of il
On October -. l15i, our eyes turned
- the heights If Blla,lava. on the pos
session OF which depended the very exis-
;ence of the allied forces. On that dar
iin Russians made desperate attack on
o'r lines, to b. a. desperately renulsel.
Word was sent to headquarters that the
enemy, under cover of heavy fire from
the forts. had left Scbastopol il force
aud was massing himself so as to threat.
On the safety of the heights. ! was at
once sen. with an ord r for the cavalry
and horse artillery to move aud be ready
to assume the offensive. They had not
TO wait long. The Turkish lines
were swept rs by whirlwind.
and with or Mohammelan allies the
word was 'siuve qui pcut.' The heavy
cavalry on the right and the light bril-
gade on the left were advanced. with
the artillery in tine center PLAYING IA
game at long bowls. Meanwhile a
Russian battery was ostentatiouslv
moved forward, whose well served guns
promised to he embarrassing.
Lord Raglan, who did not know the
full strength OF the foe, saw that thi.
obstacle must he removed; but wheth-
er or not he also foresaw the necessity of
first looking before the leap was taken
must be forever n mystery. The com
manders of the cavalry briga,les.
Lords Lucan and Cardigan, broth
ers- n-law,, between whom no love
was lost. we're waiting the word
to engage. Lord Lucan. being the senior
officer. To them sped Captain Nolan.
a dashing hussar. Saluting the Gener-
al. he said he bore an erder-unwritteD
from Lord Raglan that the battery
must he silenced and the guns captured.
Lord Lucan, man so cautious as to
have earned the nickname Lord Look
on fearing to expose his small force to
any ambushed dangers, asked for more
definite orders. With a slightly con-
temptuous turn of his handsome lip, the
aid-de-camp pointed in the direction If
the battery and said:
"'You see your enemy, my lord
Even the Earl OF Cardigan, i'm
petuous as he was. generally speak
ing, looked at his commander in
doubt as to the works. But, owing
to the unhappy enmity existing be-
tween them, neither would speak his |
thoughts, and once more Nolan, impa- |
tiently waving his sword, which he had |
fiercely drawn from his scabbard, and |
pointing it to the artillery, cried: Take |
the guns; these are your ordersr
"The crisis has arrived. No resource |
is left but to do As he bids. A cold nod |
of assent from Lord Lucan. A pro-
found bow follows from Lord Cardigan.
Light Division, forward, charged
breaks from his lips. An echoing cheer
is the reply from COZ Threats. as with
clang of scabbard and rattle of bride
Of bit. and the Drawing of the trumpet,
and the ringing cheer of the 'Heavics,
the Fourth ard Thirteenth Lights, the
Eighth and Eleventh Hussars, the latter
Lord Cariigan's own corps conspicuous
in their cherry-colored trousers, and the
Seventeenth Lancers, with ranks closed
mp and squadrons dressed as evenly as
If ut march past, trot forward down
the slight declvity. At their head ride
the gallant Nolan and the dauntless
Cardigap-even in this supreme mo-
ment with a reckless laugh upon his
face, as he argues some point of war
with his brother hussar.
The unmasked batteries are already
belching forth shot and she'll The trot
breaks into gallop, the gallop into a
furious, headlong charge. Already
Nolan has fallen, cut down by grape
shot, the secret of the fatal day dv-
ing with him. The serried ranks
show frequent gaps as saddle
lfter saddle is emptied. Close up.
close up. Charge" is the unceas;ng
.ry. and in u shorter time than il takes
IN tell the opening ranks of the foe dis
.losed TO the doomed. but inlomitable
few, cannon to right of them cunnon to
eft of them cannon in front of them
md now cannon behind them On
through the broken Russian line
heir orihamme. their brave leaders
flashing sabre, their support.
with wild cheer and wilder leap
he CHEEKY clad heroes fly over the guns
Is lightly as they would over five
barred gate on the hunting field saber-
pg the gunners as they leap. A beard
less boy, not yet seventeen, holds fast
% the colors he has sworn to carry to
Heath or victory and falls with the cry,
MY mother will hear of thisv ON his
living lips. still grasping that banner in
lis hand.
Far away, clear in front, with his
and few choice spirits
IN his right hand and on his left-none
Ahead of him, raging like lion. fights,
Us with a forlorn hope. the leader and
Of the Light Brigade. He
bears a charmed life, and his brawny