Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-21
BRITISH SOLDIERS.
Their Valera Tribute from Marsh al
MacMnhon.
Marshal MscMabon in 10 Gnulois.l

Marshal MscMnhon in 10 Gnulois.l
You cannot form an idea OF the gallantry
o, the British soldiers. / win give you few
anecdotes OF m,tters OF which | took note In
the Crirhea. The first feat OF arms l Will
speak OF took place in the plain Of Balaklava.
Lord Raglan, the English commandments
chief. had taken up his station ON the PA
teau OF Chersonesus. IN mont OF him was
mound which subsequently was called the
Mamelon Csnrobert." To the south were
heights occupied by Lord Cardigan. In the
middle OF the triangle formed by these three
points stretched the plain OF Balakava. All
of a sudden Russian troops appeared De-
hind the Mamelon Canrouert, which they ap-
neared to menace. Lord Raglan saw them.
He Immediately dispatched one Of his orderly
officers to General Cardigan. "You will Or
der him." he said, "to charge the Russians"
The orderly officer galloped of without say
ing word. He took half an hour TO get up
10 General Cardigan. and once he bad gained
that point be saw the plain which had been
previously concealed from his sight and per-
ceved behind the Russian cavalry two diVi-
sious, OF whose presence LORD Raglan
had not been aware when be gave
the order TO advance. Nevertheless, he
gave General Cardigan the Instructions
he was ordered TO transmit, taking
no account OF the events which had altered
the situation. He was not on good terms
with Lord Raglan, who would not have Tor
given his taking any initiative upon hlmsen;
So he quietly told General Cardigan, " Lord
Raglan orders you to charge the Russians"
The General replied: "Cbsrge the nus
SLAMS. Don't you see how numerous they
are? Lord Raglan must be mad " NO
matter" replied the orderly officer, "you
no I
mauded TO transmit to you" Hay-
ing delivered his message, IL was
0nite omen to the orderly TO turn
back. but be did nothing OF the kind. The
General drew his sword. aud exclaimed:
g Err route. mes amis-let all follow the last OF
the Cardtgans." That same evening Gene
raj Cardigan had two bullets in bis leg. Only
one third OF his men came out OF the charge,
the remainder having been killed, and not
one would have escaped but Tor frencn
general. Morris, who, advancing 10 tne re-
lief Of tue English. enabled them to fall back.
Bnt the orderly officer who had accompanied
the charge was killed.
What can be more admirable than those
men. dash,ns with indomitable pluck against
the enemy, although they know that death
awaits them, without any sdvautage to any
one. and that merely because an ill'inspiIed
chief had given the werd OF command.
What can be more admirable than this orderly
officer, who, without being under any obl'
cation TO do so, accompanies those about 70
| die! This feat will give you an loea ei the
British army. Tt Will will be set down in my
men,oir.. which are TO be published after
nv death. II Lord Raglan had been on
| good terms with his orderly officer the
mish,p I have described would not have
occurred. ALWAYS kept nay orderies with
me as long rs 1 could. Broye, for instance,
who now commands division in the Thir.
teepth corps, was under my orders as cheT
| d'escddrOns. One day sent him with an
order 70 General De La Motto Rouge. lie
was clever enough TO see how matters stood,
and directed him TO DO precisely the reverse
Of what had ordered. / was the first to
congratulate him on this modification, which
the euemy's movements made necessary.
Some initiative should be left to ones officers
when one knows them TO be intelligent.
Thi. is the kind OF courage Of The British
army. The nen-connissioned officers are
excellent. The soldiers, paid volunteers,
freely laid down their lives, for II Is IN lhelr
eyes an obligation. tho consequence OF q
contract freely entered into. The force OF
resistance Is very great. Those whe ven
tured To effect q landing in England would
have their work cut out for them. The
Turk, alone can be compared with the Eng
lisb, a. they are buoyed up by the belief
that they can not be killed before their
hour is come. The Russians also have al little
OF that feeling. They are perhaps little i6-
luctant to enter the service, but once they
are in the regiment they behave we'll. In
proved weapons, military training count for
good deal no doubt; but what is indispensa-
b,c is disregard of death. and, above all, that
military spirit that enables men to bear up
against fatigue and disappointment. That
is everything; that Is the only road to vic
tory.