Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
PRIVATE LAMBS STORY or HIS ex-
PeRlENCgs At BAlAKLAvA.
duct Toward wounded OAncers-Rob-
hing the Dead for Water.
Nov York Herald, October es,h.,


battle. and following is description.
written by Private James Lamb, Of the
famous charge as he saw il. The writer
Just missed winning the Victoria Cross
on that evcntful day:
On October %. 1854, / was a trooper
in the Thirteenth Light Dragons (now
the Thirteenth Hussars). and was in the
foremost squadron that led the attack on
the Russian gums on that never-to- be-
forgotten morning. l was riding close
TO Captain Nolan when he WAS MORALLY
wounded by ono of the first shots from
the enemy's guns. The gallant Captain
stuck 10 his saddle, and his horse gal
loped shoulder 10 shoulder with us down
the valley. The next discharge from the
Russian cannon tore wide gaps through
our ranks, and many trooper fell 10
rise 10 more. Owing TO the dense smoke
from the encmy's guns lost sight OF
Captain Nolan, and did not afterward
SEQ him alive.
We still kept on down the valley at a
Callop, and cross-fre from Russian
battery on our right opened deadly fu-
sillade upon us with canister and grape.
causing great havoc among onr horses
and men, and moving them down IN
heaps
STRUCK DOWN.
l myself was struck down and rem.
dered insensible. When l recovered
consciousness the smoke was so thick
that was not able TO see whore i was,
nor had the faintest idea what had be-
come of the brigade. When at last l
made out my pAsition / found i was
among numbers of dead and wounded
comrades. The scene | shall never for
get Scores of troopers and their
horses were lying dead and dying all
around me, and many men severely
wounded and unable to extrlcate them
selves from their dead horses. Luckily
for me my horse was shot through the
head. and falling forward pitched me
clear. My own wound WIS not very
severe one, and / soon recovered sum
ciently 70 endeayor to return TO the BIZ
tish lines.
Just rs made start looked around
and spied two companies OF Kusslan
rifles doubling out from the right rear
of the position whore their guns were
stationed, and as they dropped on one
knee to fire volley up the valley J lay
down close to my dead horse, having It's
boiy between me and the firers. L was
not a moment too soon, as | had scarce
" sheltered myself before the bullets
came whzzing around me and literally
riddled tho dead body Of my horse and
Its saddle.
PROM BEHIND THE HORSE.
After the volley l ventured to look
over nv dead horse. thinking to see the
enemy reloading TO fire again, but u
NV surprise [ saw them mastering to-
gethcr quickly and running to the rear
Of their guns.
On turning around l saw body OF
horsemen charging down the valley on
NV right front and thought they were
body of Cossacks coming down to cut
oil our retreat but ! quickly discovered
that was mistaken and that the horse
men were two squadrons of French ORA
goons charging down t. silence mask
cd hussian battery that was frlng or
orr left flank, whose guns were covered
regiment Of Polish lancers. This
battery gave the gallant Frenchmen a
warm reception by means OF canister
and crane, by which number OF sad
dies were emptied. But riding swiftly
ON despite their losses they charged
right up into and cut their way through
the Polish regiment. and wheeling
around to their right flank rode oil and
made good their retreat.
In the mCic, saw chance OF captur-
ing one of the stray horses Of the French
dragon regiment whose rlder had been
killed. and before could effect my pur-
pose the animal bolted, and l was
obliged to get along on foot.
GETTING AWAY.
During the short time in which the
French dragons and Polish lancers were
fighting | managed to get some distance
up the valley toward our lines, and when
near No. 3 redoubt saw two men sup
porting q wounded officer OF the Seven
teenth Lancers. One of the men was a
trooper belonging to my own regiment
and the other was one OF the Seventeenth
Lancers.
The officer was faint and exhausted
from loss of blood and was asking feebly
for water. Neither Of the men who were
helping him had their water bottles with
them, and mine had been shot through
in the cross fire when the Russians first
opened fire upon us at the commence
ment of our deadly ride. | saw nc
chance of getting water other than by
searching among the dead bodies on the
battlefield. | accordingly retraccd my
steps and was soon fortunate enough &c
find q caabash half full of water strap
ped 70 a dead troopers saddle.
snatched up this calabash, and as
made my way back. pulled out the stop
per and had good drink, as ! was
frightfully parched myself. / had tc
get along as sharply as could for the
enemy were again on the move. but
succeeded ir reaching the wounded Off
Ger without any mishap, and gave hin
the water, which he gratefully &C
knowledeed, and turning to us, said
"Men. leave me here and seek YOU
own safety"
"But we would not leave him, ant
the other two troopers carried him OF
the field while limped along by IN
side, ready to render any assistance
could, should the necessity arise.
GOOD CoMRADEsHIP.
As We were moving painfully along
saw trooper of another regiment, WHIT
had been severely wounded, and anothe
endeavo ring to get him off the field
but they were getting along very slowly
l went to their assistance, leaving tn
two men with tine wounded officer. whom
they eventually succeeded in carryin
safely from under fire. ! afterwar
heard that this officer died the mex
morning, after having had one of hi
legs amputated. My comrade and my
sell managed to get the wounded troope
safely into our lines
then went in search OF my regiment
and at last found what was left of it
only about ono-half remained. "
went into action that morning III strong
and came out with only 81. OF horse
We lost 81. and had besides sever.
wounded, some Of which eventually r,
covered, while others had to bo d,