Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-26
ONE OF THE BRIGADE.
Hero of Tennyson's Great Poem No,
Janitor in Milwaukee.

Hero of Tennyson's Great Poem Now
Janitor in Milwaukee.
Evening Wisconsin,
James Watt, who has charge of the pas
senger elevator in the iron block, was a
member of the famous Light Brigade
Tennyson's Noble Six Hundred which
made the terrible charge at the battle OF
Balaklava during the Crimean war. In a
talk with Wisconsin reporter to-day, Mr..
Watt gave a brief history of his life, which,
previous to his coming to this city, four
teen years ago, was quite eyentful. He
entered the British army at the age of II
years, enlisting for period of twenty-one
years. The young soldier was assigned to
the Seventh Dragons. and served a year
and half in the East Indies. He returned
to Edinburgh a few months before the
Crimean wal, and, with three of his old COM
rades, volunteered in the Seventeenth Lam
GERS, which was afterward better known as
the Light Brigade. He served two years
and nine months in the Lancers, and par
ticipated in many battles and sllirmishes
during the Crimean war. The famous
charge of the Six Hundred was made at
about 9 o'clock on the morning of October
%, 1854. The order was given by Lord
Cardigan, the commander of the brigade.
As to the claim afterwards made that the
order to charge was the result of blunder
or the miSinterpretation of the purport of a
dispatch alleged TO have been received by
Lord Cardigan from his superior General
Lord Lucan-Mr. Watt knows nothing ex-
cept what has been chronicled by the Cri-
mean historians. We got the order to
charge the enemy's works, and we obeyed,"
he said; " and mighty hot charge it was,
too. The distance was about half mile.
Men and horses fell by the score, and still
we kept on, under most terrible fire from
the Russian batteries. The slaughter
finally became so great that the brigade,
or as many as there were left of
US, turned and ran, many more falling
during the retreat. ! have seen it
stated that Lord Cardigan accompanied the
600 on the charge; that is not true. He was
standing back of us when the fatal order
was given to charge, and l never saw him
again until everything was over. l am
sure he did not go with us. OF the GOO
men only 81 survived the charge. | was
shot through the leg, but did not dismount
from my horse until night. My boot was
full of blood, and l suffered greatly from
the wound during the remainder OF the
dav.n Mr.. Watts statement regarding the
number of survivors of the brilliant but
useless exploit varies somewhat from that
given by the historians, some of whom
place the number as high as $50. The vet
misgivings, but he and his comrades never
faltered until only a handful were
left, and we were glad to get out OF
it, [ can tell YOU he added. Mr.
Watt remained in the army until the
close of the war, when he claimed and
received his discharge after having served
inst eight years and seventy-six days III heI
Maiesty's service Mr.. Watt exhibits with
pride three silver medals presented to him
by the British Government for meritorlous
service. The medals are little larger than
a silver dollar, and appropriately inscribed
with his name and the names and dates OF
the battles in which he engaged. One OF
the medals commentaries his bravery IN
the "charge of the Light Brigade" He
came to the United States in 1857 and en-
listed in the One Hundred and Sixty ninth
New York Volunteers at Troy n. Y, in
1862, and served for three years. Mr. Watt
participated in twenty-three battles and
skirmishes, and was only wounded once
and that but slight wound in the hand
caused by the bursting of a shell. He says
he was in several charges during the late
war which were just as severe as that
at Baiaklava, particularly that made
at the battle of Cold Harbor, when
every line and commissioned officer
with the exception of one Captain
of the gallant One Hundred and Sixty
ninth New York Regiment, was killed.
During this charge Mr.. Watt had five bull
let holes shot through his clothes, but
miraculously escaped injury. He came to
Milwaukee in 1872, and is now in his 9th
wear. Mr. Watt is slightly lame from the
effect of the wound received at Balaklava.
He informed the reporter that there was a
gentleman living in Milwaukee named
Miller, who was a member of the crew OF
the transport which conveyed the Seven
teenth Lancers to the Crimea early in the
sos. If you could find him. Mr.. Watt
remarked, he could tell you more about
the charge of Balaklava than l can, for he
was an eyewitness from distance and
saw it ALL The old gentleman concluded
the interview by quietly saying: AL
though | cannot stand as much knocking
about as when l was young vigorous and
ambitious, yet would do my duty again
If called upon to serve my country