The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
HIS RIDE At BALAKLATA.

HIS RIDE At BALAKLATA.
A BuEler's story OF Ills Part in the Famous
Charge.
DENVER, April 2O.-Thc news of war in the
Fast stirs up the fighting blood of Alexander
Sutherland, living in retirement in this city, for,
though 81 years old. his memory is still keen.
and he delights in relating again and again tho
part he took in the famous charge Of the Light
Brigade. There may be other survivors Of that
desperate race down the valley between hills
bristling with guns. but Alexander Sutherland
insists upon being credited with the honor OF
blowing the buglc that started the Light Bri-
gadc upon its Inflated mission.
The 600 men who were selected for this
charge" said he, were divided into three pla-
toons, two companies to each platoon. Each
company had its own bugler, making six In all.
Al / was with Lord Cardigan in the first platoon,
/ was the first bugler to receive his orders. l
sounded the charge Of that e%ventful day, and,
following my buglc, the others repeated the call.
We had been idle spectators of the general en-
gagement that day, and we're waiting for orders
from Lord Raglan. The order came after a time.
1t was to Lord Lucan to order up about 600
light cavalry and hold them in readiness
to take tho guns which the Turks had lost
on Causcway Heights. Lord Lucan await
ed support from the infantry before
advancing. A second order canc from Lord
Raglan. brought by Capt. Nolan. directing the
cavalry to charge to prevent the Turks carry
ing away their guns. Lord Lucan asked what
guns to attack, and Capt. 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 Causcway Heights.
e n~l I ,,an - than pntnn Yprf n I ord VI ltfrar
to give orders for the charge, ] was near by on
foot. holding my horses bride rein. and heard
Cardigan. They did not seem to interpret tho
order OF Lord Raglan in the same way. Lord
Cardigan explained 10 Lord Lucan, that there
were guns in the valley ahead as well rs on both
sides Of US. and he thought that there must no
some mistake. but Lord Lucan replied that that
was the order OF Lord Raglan, and there was no
Lord Cardigan assentcd. l was about eight
gave or ZEN me- ,f the q frs ! "ra trc'n / Blew BLEW " .Stte enti,snF ana hG
then mount The first, second. and third pla-
toons were formed, and then. facing his MEN,
Lord Cardigan briefly addressed them. telling
them OF the dangers of the charge and the prob
ability of death to all. Tho men checrci him
sound the forward and we set off at a fast
walk. a little later. turning his head. Lord
Cardigan shouted 'Trumpe'er' sound the trot.'
We swept directly down the valley with tho
Causcway Heights, on the right and the Fcdiou-
kline hills on the LETT. and for II distance OF n
mile and Il quarter we had guns on three sides OF
us. While We were still on the trot Capt. Nolan
was seen riding at furious speed across our front
and bearing his course TO the right. lie was
waving his sword and shouting 10 our command.
His words VIC could not hear distinctly. but we
aftCrward knew thai he was trying to correct
the hlunder. Lord Cardigan shouted out: In
Gods name. what is that man doing there
Some one in the middle platoon shouted back:
Your lordship. / think he wants you To charge
toward The CausewHy Heights, 1t is too late
to too Sh he"F tn none sHe,S S%i4 t Then ci 'RqnGinH in i0f Ih we s "GG
die he shouted to me: 'Trumpctcr. sound the
charge blew the blast and was swept like a
1T was the first shell, think, that was fired
thai, exploded some distance in front Of Lord
Nolan, tearing n great hole in his lett side. Ills
horse. mt once missing the guiding hand. turned
e No, form I,r Ti INA our %is I ndTaaH SinfG; dna 90 m;,o GaPt;
shrek that made us shudder. Then he wayercd
in HIS seat and fell to the ground near our charg-
1T was no time to think. l followed close to
Lord Cardigan. who rode ahead; turning often
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 l lost
voice shouting encouragement TO his men. Run
against II Russian artillerynan ! struck
him with my sabre. but the stroke was short
and he came at me with a hammer. My horse
was plunging ahead. and before we could fight
ont, our duel was carried beyond the battery
a lungc at me. but, ] PARTED the thrust. Tho
smoke was SO thick that objects were indistinct.
L van ! llE " INV IFlu Wv 81 hN W
Was impossible. Finally / heard his voice
time / saw the white hind leg OF the horse he
rode. ! lifted tho huglc TO my lips and tried TO
sound the retreat. but my horse was ~plunging
madly about, and 1 could scarcely play the notes.
l was slightly wounded in each leg and was weak
from loss Of blood. and my horse was suffering
more than !. The blast from nv buglc indi-
Gated to tho Russians my position. and as
/ ngain ttcmpted TO sound the call II
shot tore away the bell OF my instru.
mcnt. At tho same time received
n lance thrust on my head. Dazed by the blow.
/ fell forward, clasped my horse about the 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 Capt. SOlan's body lay
the animal fell dead. ! hObbled back to our
place OF starting. At the roll call; out OF G73
wounded SO badly that they died afterward."
Alexander Sutherland Of the Seventy ninth
Regiment, who was one OF the officers of tho
guard over Napoleon Mt 81. Helena. lie was
born in Suthorlandshire in 1910. He served in
the SiXty-siXth Regiment in England, ireland.
Scotland. and the West Indies. He received his
discharge at Quebec in 1852. He at once re-
enlisted for the Crimean war. and owing to n
scarcity of trumpeters he was transferred TO tho
Eleventh Hussars under Lord Cardigan. He
was at the siege OF ScYnstopol and at lnkerman
and Malakoff. After u few months in the
Chelsea Hospital he came to America and mar
ried in ST, Joseph, Mo. He came to Colorado
several years ago. and now livos with his two
daughters.