Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-29
THE SIX HUNDRED.
A WASHINGTON MANS STORY OF
BALAkLAvA.
A Graphic Description Of the Cele-
brated Charge-The Death OF Mo-
Ian and Othera-Rcmnant of the
Hand.
washington Times.)
Da nd.


Thomas Morley enlisted In the Seven
teenth Lancers. famed in British military
history as the Death or Glory Lancers.'
at Dublin, Ireland, on June 80, ls49. he
was born In the parish of 81. Mary's.
county Of Nottingham, England, In lS'o.
and at the age Of Is left his home to en-
list in the Seventeenth Lancers. then
stationed In Ireland. He continued with
this famous regiment TIL December. 1871.
These facts were taken out OF his regi-
mental account-book by a reporter TOT
the Times this morning. His name also
appears on the roll OF the Balaklava Com
memoration Society.
Following Is a copy Of letter to cap
tain Morley from Lord Tredegar, WHO
commanded the Seventeenth Lancers at
the battle of Inkerman, fought between
The English and Russians on November
5, 1854:
"TREDEGAR PARK. Newport Eng
land April 6. lss9.--Morey: | remember
quite well that on the field OF Inkerman
you asked permission 70 fall out to so
and try and bring in Cornet Cleveland.
who had been seriously wounded short
time previously. ! gave you permission.
and you went with two 0Iher men. and
also know that you displayed great gall
lantry i'm the light-cavalry charge of Bala-
klava. Yours sincerely,
"TREDEGAR."
Morley Is the wearer of the Queens
Death or Glory" medal. inscribed: "Se-
bastopol Inkerman, Balrklava, Alma
He also wears The Sultans medal for gall
liant service In the Crmean war.
The Times reporter called on Captain
Merely at his home. go First street, s.
W., this morning. He bears his age as
easily as his honors and his
scars. He speaks with a decided Eng
lsh accent. He stands feet inches, Is
deep and broad-chesied. erect. and wears
a long white beard and moustache. while
his hair is scarcely tinged with gray. lie
has a direct blue-gray eye, an aquiline
nose. and a firm jaw. The reporter found
him a willing talker, and in fighting his
battles over this IS what he said OF the
famous charge OF the Light Brigade
Il recall the fearful charge OF the Light
Brigade as though il occurred but yester-
day. The charging column was composed
Of the Fourth Light Dragons, the Eighth
Royal Irish Hussars. Eleventh Prince Al
bert's own Hussars. the Thirteenth Lieht
Dragons, and the Seventeenth, Death
or Glory Iancers.' In the engagement ]
was corporal. and later sergeant. | was
at the end OF the line on the right flank
OF the second squadron Of my regiment.
ONLY FORTY-FIvE ANSWERED.
1--WE went in with rs men. and at roll
call after the fight only forty-hve an
swered. The strength Of the brigade was
go, and OF these only 1875 answered Here!
when their names were told off. Every
man had blood on him. with the excep-
Of nd of
Cardigan. Though his clothes were cut
and torn. yet | do not think that he
received a wound. and | am quite GER
| tain that he was the only man who es
capped unhurt
Il received a slash over the head from
! the sword OF Russian officer. and a
wound In the right hand. During the
morning OF the 25.h of October We were
stationed in the South Valley. close to
the Heavy Brigade We witnessed their
engagement with the Russians. hat We
were not ordered to participate In II.
THE attack OF the Russians on this
| brigade was unexpected. Ii came while
| the English soldiers were at breakfast,
and while some Were watering their
horses, but they rallied. and after some
tanglng fighting. charged the enemy.
who were scattered by the courage and
discipline Of the men and the greater
weight Of their horses. the Russian
horses being very light. II was a thrill
| ing engagement. but the list of fataities
was not long.
"'rhe order came for the Light Brigade
| % 90 into the North Valley and after
| some manoeuvring we entered II. IL Is
| . little valley about 800 yards wide al
| It's narrowest, and with q slight declina-
| ton toward a Russian battery which
INSTRUCTED il at the lower end about
one mile away. The main body Of the
| Pussian forces lay behind this. The
| Causeway Heights were on our right
ard the Fidloukine Heights on our left
| Along these elevations there were plenty
| 70, Russian batteries
THE men OF my regiment did not know
| II the arrival OF the order 10 move. Nom
| II them knew what our destination wa
10 be- though no one would have be
| lieved that we had been ordered TO charge
through the valley. fringed and blocked
by guns.
1.-The brigade struck a good trot, and
Lord Cardigan headed II straight down
the valley. ! saw ca tain Nolan, our
regimental commander. who had brought
the moving order from Lord Raglan to
Lord Cardigan. waving his sword toward
the latter. and indicating that IL was
the batteries on the right which had
been Intended in the order. Captain
]
and understood the signal. and ordered
Second squadron, threes right and We
obeyed
NOLAN KILLED.
Just then Nolan was killed by frag
ment of shell. Then Corporal Nunnerly.
| who is also a survivor and liz still livinf
al Ormskirk. Liverpool. shouted. Three
eft forward. In obedience 10 this order
| we went TO the left and headed straight
! down the valley. every foot OF which
is now such historic ground. Just as thi,
| movement was executed a shell dropped
In the midst Of our troop and dozer
men went to their eternal home.
"The shock OF the explosion relied my
horse. but he arose without dismount
ing me. and onward down the valley We
rode.
I'VE had then proceeded but few hun
dred wards. but the batteries were open
| ing on US and the roar Of guns as they
| be,ched death and destruction was deafen-
/ ing. Men were dropping all around by
. This time. and although the gaps In the
| ranks were promptly closed, yet there
! was so much noise and smoke and con-
fusion that nobody really could tell what
was going on or where we were gong.
Captain Winter. our troop ieaner. zen
next, and close after him Captain Webp
| fell, moTtally Wounuru in'o iei' o".
troop without a commissioned ofhcer' ou'
we rushed on with the rest OF the bril-
gade. The guns on the heights were
doing good work against us. but. being
at the disadvantage OF having to shoot
down-hin they were not nearly SO enec-
tive as the batteries directly ahead.
which raked US with terrific enect, for
the Russians were good gunners.
AT the very instant that we came
upon these guns volley was discharged
with horrible results; but. In moment
more We dashed against and through the
guns, driving the men before u.s. put re-
celving a good deal OF fight from strag-
elIux groups Of gunners. In the dir
| "a "a !. fusion uhile I MAS looking for ar