The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-15

,,s of That Awfui bi"h"er'
ob Alexander Sutherland, who is
TIC in retirement In Denver Is 81 years
na'D S,s memory is still keen, and he de-
Du, IN relating again and again the part |
ns. .oot in the famous charge OF the Light |
W. There may be other survivors OF |
brig'SS Generate race down the valley be- |
thu' nils bristling with guns, but Alex
W,," Sutherland insists upon being cred
anu in the honor of blowing the huale |
l,cu startcd the Light brigade upon its III
,ated mission.
", I'm 900 men who were selected for
.,,-aharce." said he, "were divided into
l W. nlatoons, two companies to each
M nan Each company had its own bu-
making six in all. AS was with
I'D Cardigan in the first platoon, l was
10y arst bugler TO receive his orders. 1
w. dod the charge of that eyentful day,
DJ following my bugle, the others re-
an a,od the call. We had been idle spccta-
p 20 Of the general engagement that day
w, WI wore waiting for orders from Lord
az The order came after time 1t
i n"s 20 Lord Lucan TO order up about 600
W. cavalry and hold them in readiness
IN take the guns WiiOh o'N " No ""N 80"
w Cousoway heights. Lord Lucan await
Cd support from the infantry before al
.arc;rg A second order came from Lord
Raglan, brought by Captain Nolan, di-
rcctjng the cavalry to charge to prevent
the Turks carrying away their guns. Lord
Incan asked what guns to attack, anu
CAPTAIN Nolan replied:
q 'There, my lord, is your enemy, and
there are your guns, pointing with his
hand 70 the left and toward the end OF
North valley, and not toward the Cause
6Iord Lucan then rode over to Lord
Cardigan to give orders for the charge. 1
was near by on foot, holding my horses
bridle 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
"a ON both sides of us, and he thought that
there must be some mistake, but Lord Luz
can replied that that was the order of Lord
Raglan and there was no choice but to
obey
"I,ord Cardigan assented. l was about
eioht 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 mon
cheered him vigorously. Turning to me
he said, 'Trumpctcr, sound the forward J
and we set off at "a fast walk. A little lat
er. turning his head, Lord Cardigan
shouted, 'Irumpeter, sound the trot! ana
blew the call
ave 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 God $ name, what is that
man doing there2' Some one in the mid
die platoon shouted back, Your lordship,
think be 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 il
the saddle he shouted TO me, 'Trumpeteri
sound the charged l blew the blast and
was swept like whirlwind down the val
ley.
1T was the first shell, think, that was
fired that exploded some distance in front
of Lord Cardigan, and piece of that shell
l. Ill. N,.. IL, IN hnl
in his left side His horse, at once missing
the guiding hand, turned to form with oul
advancing platoons. Captain Nolan still
held his sword aloft, and he uttered
shrek that made us shudder. Then III
wavered in his seat and fell to the grount
near our charging column.
1t 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, 81
that we could return some OF the blows
the men were lost to any sense OF fear
The smoke became 80 thick that los
sight Of Lord Cardigan, but could hea
his voice shouting encouragement to hi
men. Running against a Russian artil
leryman struck him with my saber, bu
the stroke was short, and he came at IN
with rammer. My horse was plungin
ahead, and before we could fight out on
duel was carried beyond the battery an
among the Cossacks. A cavalryman mad
lunge at me, but parted the thrust
The smoke was 30 thick that objects wer
indistinct.
II was trying to find Lord Cardigan
so as to be near to receive his orders. Fo
time this was impossible. Finally
heard his voice shouting to his men to IA
back, and at the same time l saw tn
white hind leg of the horse he rode.
lifted the bugle to my lips and tried
sound the retreat, but my horse we
plunging madly about and could scarce
~ play the notes. / was slightly wounde
In each leg and was weak from loss
blood, and my horse was suffering mol
Than l. The blast from my bugle indica
ed to the Russians my position, and as
again attempted to sound the call sht
tore away the bell of my instrument.
the same time received lance thrust
my head. Dazcd by tho blow, fell 10
ward, clasped my horse about the necl
and scarcely realized what was passing
My horse followed the troopers movir
away In small squads through the dem
smoke. and w bpra Ia