The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-23
CHARGE AT BALACLAVA.
A Canadian Gives the Losses of the Light
Brigade During the Crinean War.

Brigade During the Crinean War.
- INTRUDE upon your notice, not seek
ing controversy, as that would be some
thing my position a stranger and
foreigner would scarcely entitle me to,
but merely To correct an error in the columns
of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE which ran across.
/ am a constant and interested reader OF your
valuable paper, which am enabled to obtain
through very much esteemed friend and fell
low-countrymen. Capt. Harper Wilson, Past
Commander of the GA. II. Post here and being
an ex-soldier myself, though of another coun-
try feel the effect OF that "one touch of
ture" which makes US feel interested in mill
tary affairs the world over.
In the article From Bull Run TO Appomat-
tox a veteran gives some figures in regard to
per centages of loss of some Of the Union regi.
ments in the late rebellion, and places the
casualties of the Light Brigade in the charge
at Balaclava in comparison, giving these at 81
per cent. If the writer will consult King
lakes Crimea," he will find considerable diff
ference between this figure and the actual fact.
The figures that the mustered strength Of
that i'll fated brigade, under Cardigan. Whose
exploit excited the admiration of eye witnesses
some of whom were veterans of the Napoleonic
era,) was, according to Lord Raglan's report
673 composed Of squadrons of several different
regiments.
The casualty list the morning after the affair."
when time had been given all StraggierS TO re-
port, was: Killed, 1l3, equal to 1850 per cent;
wounded, 1874, or 1888 per cent; missing, 1886
or 80. 04 per cent. Total killed, wounded, and
missing 4S3 officers and men, Or q percentage of
7I.72.
The word missing. which has such an omin-
Gus sound upon the battlefield. included a
near relation of mine, who, like others of that
unfortunate remnant. no doubt, met his death
at the hands of the enemy, out of reach OF any
| tidings being heard. As no trace of many of
| the missing could be found, it is safe to say
| that considerable number found resting
| place in that mound on the edge of the Woron-
! zoo road which is pointed out as the grave of
| the mad Huzzars who died behind the Little
| Fathers" cannon on that terrible day. This
| loss, when it is known that the entire charge
only lasted some 90 minutes will, think, be
admitted by "a veteran to be pretty severe.
Should you publish this, and should it fall
under the eye Of member of the GAR. who
attended the Reunion at Washington, d. c., in
1892, an ex-member of Massachusetts, regi-
ment, now resident of Topeka, Kan, the
| writer desires to say that he is the man he met
at Liberty Island, New York, while visiting
| the famous Statue of Bartholdi, and who would
like to hear Of him. ! may be mistaken as te
the regiment he belonged to, but he will re-
member the affair and circumstances of meet
ing.
Should you give this place in your valuable
paper, / shall feel deeply obliged for the cour
tesy, and, should you desire, may be able II
give you some items of interest to military
men, upon which subject / am, possibly,
crank. II. FITZGERALD, Winnepeg, Mani
toba, Canada.