The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-21
WAS AT BALAKLAVA.
A BuGLER'S STORY OF HIS PART IN
THE FAMOUS CHARGE.
The Man Who Claims the Honor OF Blow
ing the Call For the Charge Living In
Denver-Anothcr Added to the Many Ac-
counts of That Awfui BIunder.

Though Alexander Sutherland, who Il
living in retirement in Denver, Is 81 years
old, his memory is still keen, and he de
lights in relating again and again the part
he took in the famous charge of the Light
brigade. There may be other survivors OF
that desperate race down the valley be-
tween hills bristling with guns, but Alex
ander Sutherland insists upon being cred.
tied with the honor Of blowing the bu2le
that started the Light brigade upon its i'll
fated mission.
1.-The 600 men who were selected for
this charge" said he, "were divided into
three platoons, two companies to each
platoon. Each company had its own bu.
glcr, making six in all As / was with
Lord Cardigan in the first platoon, was
the first bugler to receive his orders. ]
sounded the charge of that evcntful day,
and, following my bugle, the others re-
peated the call. We had been idle specta-
tors OF the general engagement that day
and were waiting for orders from Lord
Raglan. The order came after time. It
was to Lord Lucan to order up about 600
light cavalry and hold them in readiness
to take the guns which the Turks had lost
on Causeway heights. Lord Lucan await
ed support from the infantry before ad-
vancing. A second order came from Lord
Raglan, brought by Captain Nolan, di-
recting tho cavalry to charge to prevent
the Turks carrying away their guns. Lord
Lucan asked what guns to attack, and
Captain Nolan replied:
There, my lord, Is your enemy, and
there are your guns, pointing with his
hand to the left and toward the end of
North valley, and not toward the Cause
way heights.
Lord Lucan then rode over to lord
Cardigan TO give orders for the charge /
was near by on foot, holding my horses
bride rein, and heard the conversation
between Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan.
They did not seem to interpret the order
Of Lord Raglan in the same way. Lord
Cardigan explained to Lord Lucan that
there were guns in the valley ahead as well
as on both sides of us, and he thought that
there must be some mistake, but Lord Lu-
can replied that that was the order of Lord
Raglan, and there was no choice but to
obey.
Lord Cardigan assented. / was about
eight or ten feet distant from him, and,
turning, he gave me the first order. /
blew attention and then mount The
first, second and third platoons were
formed, and then, facing his men, Lord
Cardigan briefly addressed them, telling
them of the dangers of the charge and the
probability of death to all. The men
cheered him vigorously. Turning to me
he said, 'Trumpeter, sound the forward'
and we set OIL at fast walk. A little lat
er, turning his head, Lord Cardigan
shouted, "Trumpeter, sound the trotp and
blew the call.
"We swept directly down the valley with
the Causeway heights on the right and
the FediOukine hills on the left, and for a
distance Of q miles we had guns on three
sides OF us. While we were still on the
trot Captain Nolan was seen riding at
furious speed across our front and bearing
his course to the right. He was waving
his sword and shouting to our command.
His words we could not hear distinctly,
but we afterward knew that he was trying
to correct the blunder. Lord Cardigan
shouted out, In Gods name, what is that
man doing there?' Some one in the mid.
die platoon shouted back, Your lordship,
l think he wants you to charge toward
the Causeway heights. 1t is too late to
change now said Lord Cardigan, for we
are too near the enemy Then turning in
the saddle he shouted TO me, 'Trumpeter,
sound the charged blew the blast and
was swept like whirlwind down the val
ley.
ut was the first shell, think, that was
fred that exploded some distance in front
of Lord Cardigan, and a piece Of that shell
struck Captain Nolan, tearing great hole
in his left side. His horse, at once missing
the guiding hand, turned to form with our
advancing platoons. Captain Nolan still
held his sword aloft, and he uttered
shrek that made us shudder. Then he
wavered in his seat and fell to the ground
near our charging column.
"It was no time to think. followed
close to Lord Cardigan, who rode ahead,
turning often to urge his men forward.
When we finally reached the enemy, so
that we could return some Of the blows,
the men were lost to any sense of fear.
The smoke became SO thick that / lost
sight of Lord Cardigan, but 1 could hear
his voice shouting encouragement to his
men. Running against a Russian artil-
leryman struck him with my saber, but
the stroke was short, and no came at me
with a rammer. My horse was plunging
ahead, and before we could fight out our
duel was carried beyond the battery and
among the Cossacks. A cavalryman made
q lunge at me, but I parried the thrust.
The smoke was SO thick that objects were
indistinct.
II was trying to find Lord Cardigan,
80 as to be near to receive his orders For
q time this was impossible. Finally
heard his voice shouting to his men to fall
back, and at the same time saw the
white hind leg Of the horse he rode.
lifted the bugle to my lips and tried to
sound the retreat, but my horse was
plunging madly about and could scarce
ly play the notes. ! was slightly wounded
in each leg and was weak from loss of
blood, and my horse was suffering more
than !. The blast from my bugle indicat-
ed to the Russians my position, and as
again attempted to sound the call q shot
tore away the bell Of my instrument. At
the same time received a lance thrust on
my head. Dqzcd by the blow, fell for
ward, clasped my horse about tho neck,
and scarcely realized what was passing.
My horse followed the troopers moving
away In small squads through the dense
smoke, and somewhere near where Cap
tain Nolan's body lay the animal fell dead.
hobbled back to our place OF starting.
At tho roll call out of 673 men only 1876