Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-02-20
An American Soldier Reviews Some
Decisive Military Events OF the
Worlds History.
Before Balakalva, in Full View Of the
Allies come Grand Fighting
Was Done.
Bfawny Scots and Bold Irishmen
Lashed About and Drew Blood
With Every Blow.

yeas Ids Itdu d9Hlu ana again OF the
charge of the Light Brigade
No incident IN the warfare of the
country-nOt even the last stand Of the
Old Guard at Waterloo or the grand
assault of Pickett's column at Gettysburg
has been more widely spoken of than
the dash OF Cardigan 5 gallant Six Hun
bred on the Russian guns in front of
2alaklava
1t was one of the most dramatic affairs
that ever took pace in the arena Of arms;
but from a military point of view, as an
exploit, 1t was not worthy to be mentioned
In the same breath with the cavalry com.
bat that preceded it by only an hour or
so-the assault by their comrades of the
Heavy Brigade on the dense masses of
Russian hOrsemen. Let me tell that story
first and as the affair looks in the eyes of
an American cava!ryman.
When the Great Britain" invaded the
Crimea in the war against Rus ia in 1884
she sent thither a famous division OF
horsemen-ten re ,iments taken from the
home station-and in all the wide world
there was probably no more brilliant and
gorgeous an array than these '.gallants Of
England when they set forth on their
wild campaign
SuperbIy mounted, richly uniformed.
admirably disciplined. II was a command
Ziethen, NUrat, JED Stuart or Custer
would have gloIied in, and that any clvalry-
man would have given almost anything to
lead. But the first misfortune of the
cavalry division began right there
The finest field in ali the world for
India, and England had a host OF daring.
,Inyn+aEe ar,l ,,,,r,,,lI,1,,1
soldiers, dozens of whom wOuld have made
excellent commanders for her troopers.
HANDICAPPED BY INCONVENIENCE.
But she also had pack of pompous old
prigs in the war Office VIII ignored tho
CLAIMS and ability Of these cavalry gen
erals AMI gave the commau Of this pre-
ci0us division to the earl of LGcan. or 40
other Teas on, it would seem. than that he
was a peer OF England and wanted to
$ rye. He had never in his life set
squadron in the field never been in
2@mpaign or battle; n,v-r hoped Tor any
thing better than to get an infantry hri-
gade in The coming campaign But be
had high connections and that settled
1t, and came near settling tie fate OF Brit
ians troopers.
Not content with this piece Of absurdity
Her Majesty's minista proceeded to make
their next biunder The swell brigade
the pets Of all Eagland-wds nj de up
ct hussars, lancars ana light dragons, and
to the command of this Gray Of eager
young bloods the earl # Cardigan was as
signed-1ncther general who had never
taken part IN campaign or battle, but had
bought his way from bottom to top from
"orneb % colonel IL seven years-a thing
that never could have happened in Amer
lea.
With too much incompen' ence at the
top 1t was not to be expected things would
go smoothly, and to make matters worse
they we're brotherS-in-Iaw and hated each
other like poison.
But the heavy Brigade" had better
inck. 10 command them was the Right
Hon. lorke Scar'ett, u gentleman and
soldier. who proceeded at once to make up
for his own III experience by summoning to
his staff Colonel Beatson and Lieutenant
Alexander Eliot, tde latter one of the most
accomplished troopers that ever rode; dnd
when they reached the LEAK Cline and
went into camp under the shelter of the
high crest Of the CherSOlese and among
the rolling foothills in front Of the little
town of Balaklava, the "He3 vjes soon
got to know and esteem their brigader and
to pick up many valuable pointer
from his staff officers. who. by the way.
by the bumptious official at headquarters
were refused recognition except as volun-
teers unattached
The two brigadeS were encamped close
together, only few hundred yards away
from the foot of the long sharp like slope
that str be across he rolling pl in and
separat d them from the high p at"au Cf
the CheTssnese. The French. English and
Turkish forces were closely investing Sc
bastopOl. which lay seven or eight miles
away to the northwest, but the cavalry
were kept here on the lower ground in front
Of Balkiava with only a brigade of I'M
disciplined Turks and Colin Campbel's gal
liant Nmetythird Highlanders t. help
them defend the position in case the Rus
slams carried GU their threat OF sweeping
down from the valley Of the Tohernays, a
few miles east of them, and rolling them
all into the sea before hell could come
from the main command.
AN EARLY MORNING ATTACK.
And one hazy morning lac IN October.
out very early III the ddy-beF0re dawn in
fact-a great mass of Russians, horse.
100! anu htl" guns >"oopGo Gown on the
I,o.IIIon, sever! Snous5'h4 OF me - IN nIQeI
"a s,.:A.'' o5le el9uA'!e
f i' f i i,oi I "a u 'e VIC Iglg '@'eS III
iI' VI ;l-o coo TnlIe ldl
C 60 Mt.u 49, o''lie ny Iions
lig CouEeNal I ~ .Ie SUN oi me
N"ley warning lhe Stahpeoed turks from
one ie1ouPt 70 aHotner ana Playing me
WY IuisGhleI uh.L ms caEaTy ran 1oui
{ ~ l5id1 Iohg, Ihlh Inc OF Pohle scot
''i ~. anu VIZ oioliEIt. u SI'u"lIIS,
We ~ ~ Ply s'0I1oIS' Tue M"5, gray
Il. 49, o1' '7ll No'!n ~" liz NtIIe"' oon-
.'et}'' l':''I s74I tul5s Cli TlH9 " uStoNI'eS
10 ~ inF tiRlLI aTgu'' oul e maven Iiuie 10
'ell VI VHav. we must sctIIS on 10 'he
yf%SI-l'S camp ana see Will Is gong on
'i'e1e
Aroused before sun M by the bang of
field pieces and rate Of musketrv far ont
on the Cdusewav Heights both brigaGes
had diligently sprung to work. saddlpd
their excited CHARGERS and donnad their
own uniforms and sentiments II was tba
fashion in those dsvs for everybody Ia
wear what we would call full dress in 90
into battle. And hear at the nearest cann
that of the "Heayies the men were
now standing 10 horse in thor scarlet
coats. white leather belts and Lpavv Oils
-enjno br,ss bel,nefs-aII excenf ona fan
ous c6rns the scots Gravs dr3g7on