The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-30
CARDIGAN'S LIGHT BRIGADE.
The Magnificent but Useless Display of Valo
ON the Field of Balakiaya.

The Magnificent but UseIess Display of Valor
ON the Field of Balakiaya.
London Telegraph's Notice of the Death Of Lord
Lucan.
The Crimean war, which broke out in 1854,
afforded to Lord Lucan the great opportunity or
his lite. He was then %ffty-four years old. but
with the vlgor, courage and energy OF q man of
thirty. His reputation as a cavalry officer OBJ
tanned for him the command OF the cavalry di-
vision in the Crimes. and he took part in the
battles OF the Alma on Sept. 80, of Balaklava on
Oct. Is. when he was slightly wounded, and OF
Inkerman on Nov. 5, 1854. 1t was at the battle
of Balaklava that the charge of the Light
Brigade took ~place-that famous charge In
connection with which oceans of ink have
since been shed, and which remains to this
hour an inexplicable mystery. about which
we know little more than that, In the Poet
Laureates words, some one had Numbered"
On the morning OF Oct. 30. 1854. 1900
Russians. under General Liprandi. attacked and
took a redoubt in the vicinity of Balaklava,
manned By about 800 Turks. The victorious
Russians then assaulted the British position.
and were driven back and severely handled by
the heavy cavalry under Si- James Scarlet. AT
this critical moment an erder supposed to have
emaDated from Lord Raglan, but communicated
through Lord Lucan to his brother-in-law, Lord
Cardigan. was delivered to the latter by Captain
Nolan who added q few contemptuous words or
his own when Lord Cardigan appeared to hest
tate about complying with Lord Raglan's order
to charge the Russian army. which had re.
formed on its own ground with heavy masses of
artillery in its front. Unfortunately, Lord Luz
can and Lord Cardigan were not on speaking
terms. and instead of sending Captain Nolan
back to Lord Lucan. requesting him
to repeat the order under circumstance which
Captain Nolan should have been instructed to
explain, Lord Cardigan, too proud to communi-
cate with bis brother-in-law. proceeded to lead
his lieht-cavalry regiment against the serried
ranks of the Russians. Then followed that
splendid, but useless display of valor concerning
which the French commander-in chief remarked:
'C'est maenifique, mais ce nest pas la ~euerre,n
ard Of which the present Sir George Wombwell.
who took part in it and was among the few sur
vivors, is now one Of the ablest living chron-
iclers. Captain Nolan, although q staff officer,
who had no business TO engage In the fray,
joined in the charge OF the Light Brigade, and
was killed by a round shot at the head of those
gallant horsemen. They went into action go
strong, led by Lord Cardigan on his mag
nifcens thoroughbred charger, but of them
no more than 1913 returned. It is one
of the proudest achievements Of the British
cavalry that, although Cannon to right Of
them, cannon to left of them voileyed and thun-
dored,n they made great havoc among the
enemy. and the only wonder is that any of Lord
Cardiean's indomitable followers should have
Escaped death or capture. Banquets have again
and again been given by their admiring fellow
countrymen to the survivors OF that glorious
day, and, notably, one which took place at the
Alexandra Palace on the anniversary of the
battle of Balaklavs, in 1875. The death Of
Captain Nolan, who had conceived the most ex-
allied ideas of the capacity Of the cavalry, re-
moved the witness VINO might have thrown
most light on the transactions of that memoir
able passage of arms. and 10 this hour we know
little more about it than that there were
blunders oil round.