The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-09-28

catch every detail of some grand drama en-
acted on the stage below, the warclad, be-
weaponed English and French, drawn to
the scene by the commingled roar Of tramp
ling hoof and battle shout, strained neck
and eye to follow the quick impetuous
movements of their friends, the cool and
masterful tactics of their foes, upon the
bare and sloping hillside skirting the val
ley on the north. Over the crest and down
the slope in fine battle array, with ardor
enkindled by the smoke of preliminary con-
fict, the Joy of incidental victories, mass
i've columns Of Russian cavalry, of artil
lery and of infantry to the number Of 25,-
600, swept resistlessly onward, aiming at
the heart of the allied camp. In their path
way as they marched every hostile redoubt,
every battery and every outpost detach-
ment was ridden down as with the remorse-
less force, the pitiless slaughter, of an ava
lanche. The booming of cannon captured
by the Russians and turned upon enemies,
the scattering rifle shots of clouds of Cos
sack skirmishers speeding in front of the
grand columns of the car like leaves whirl-
ing in an autumn blast, told the whole story
to the startled watchers on the hilltops
The Russians had caught the allies I'M
awares by an early morning SURPRISE Pick
cts and advance batteries had been over
powered and wiped out, and their conquer
ors, still unopposed, were entering the bor-
ders Of the camping ground of the outpost
reserve Lord Lucan's cavalry division of
1900 men, comprising the Heavy Brigade
of General Scarlett and Lord Cardigan's
Light Brigade, stood to horse among their
half dismantled tents, hastily formed
squadrons and wheeled into line of battle
to accept the sudden challenge to combat.
Imagine yourself one of the favored spec
tators of a struggle of which the partici-
pants brought away no memory beyond
confused notion of a rush and a melee. In
front of a handful of British horsemen to-
ward the Russian side General Scarlett is
in saddle, with Lieutenant Elliott, staff
officer of the brigade, by his side and an Or
derby and bugler a few PAGES behind.
Three heavy squadrons are within 20 PAGES
of the generals group, standing and dress
ing the line in a sort of mark time move
ment, awaiting orders to march. The Rus
sian army is hidden from view by an inter-
vening curtain of ridges, and the Britons
only know that something is coming and
they are to meet it. Suddenly Lieutenant
Elliott turns his eye toward the crest above
and beholds the sky line fretted with the
shining points of countless Russian lances.
In another moment there bursts into view a
solid mass of Russian cavalry numbering
quite 5000 men charging down the slope
but 400 yards away. Elliott directs the
| eyes of his chief to the spectacle, and IN
stantly, without stopping to count the adj
vantage of delay or the risk Of charge, the
intrepid brigadier gives the command,
wheel into line!'' Two squadrons of
Scotch Grays and one of Inniskilling dra-
goons, six troops in all, numbering 300
braves, are within hearing of the order.
They obey, and few PAGES to the left bring
them squarely IN front Of the center of the
Russian column which has changed its di-
rection after passing the crest and is NOV
ing with the weight of thousands straight
down the hillside. From the Chersonese
heights the dark moving acres of gray Rus
sian horsemen appear to be an immense
landslide. So compact is the color that in.
dividuals are lost in the mass. For the
moment, although other squadrons gather
in support on the flank, ''Scarlett's Three
Hundred" march out alone to meet the
wave Of advancing spears. Scarlet, fol
| RUSSIAN CO.. .U1h