Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1889-05-17
CYLINDERS ALL AROUND.


| "Reminiscences Of the Famous Charge o
the Light Brigade.
The Crimean war, which broke on
In 1854, afforded to Lord Lucan thu
great opportunity OF his life. He wa
then fifty-four years old, but with th,
vigor, courage and energy OF man o
thirty. His reputation as cavalry
officer obtained for him the command
OF the cavalry division in tho Crimea
and he took part in the battles OF tho
Alma September 80. OF Balalslava Oc-
tober 25, when he was slightly wound
ed, and OF Inkerman November 8. 1854,
1t was at the battle of Balaklava that
the charge of the Light Brigade tool
place-that famous charge in connec.
tion 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 loet Laureate's words,
''some one had blundered. Tho
morning of October %. 1854, twelve
thousand Russians, under General
Liprandi, attacked and took a ro-
doubt in the vicinity OF Balaklava,
manned by about three hundred Turks.
The victorious Russians then assailed
the British position. and were driven
back and severely handled by tho
heavy cavalry under Sir James Scar
lett. At this critical moment an order,
supposed TO have emanated 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 few
contemptuous words OF his own when
Lord Cardigan appeared to hesitate
about complying with Lord Raglan's
order to charge the Russian army,
which had reformed on its own ground
with heavy masses of artillery in its
front. Unfortunately Lord Lucan and
Cardigan were not on speaking terms,
and, instead OF sending Captain Nolan
back to Lord Lucan. requesting him
to repeat the order under circum.
stances which Captain Nolan should
have been instructed TO ex-
plain. Lord Cardigan. too proud
to communicate with his brother-in.
law, proceeded to lead his Light Cav
airy regiment against the serrled ranks
of the Russians. Then followed that
splendid but useless display Of valor
which the French Com
mander-in-Chief remarked: "Cest mag
nifique. ma;s ce nest bas la querre;"
and OF which the present Sir George
Wombuell, who took part in it and was
among the few survivors, is now one OF
the ablest living chroniclers. Captain
Nolan, although staff officer, who
had no business to engage in the fray,
Joined in tha charge Of tho Light Brig
ade. and was killed by round shot
at the head OF those gallant horsemen.
They went into action go strong. led
by Lord Cardigan on his magnificent
thoroughbred charger, but OF them no
more than 1893 returned. 1t is
one OF the proudest achievements
Of the British cavalry, that al
though Cannon to right OF them,
cannon to left OF them, volleyed
and Numbered. they made great havoc
among the enemy, and the only won-
der is that any Of Lord Cardigan's in
domitable followers should have es-
capped 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 anniver-
sary OF the battle OF Balaklava in 1878.
The death Of Captain Nolan, who had
the most exalted ideas OF
the capacity OF the cavalry. removed
the witness who might have thrown
most light on the transactions OF that
passage at arms, and to
his hour we know little more about
1 than that were blunders all round.
London Telegraph.