Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-26
A FAMOUS CHARGE.
THE WORK OF sCARLETTs THREE
HUNDRED AT BALACLAvA.
The BATTLE OF The HEAVY BRIGADE



held by the allied armies. A quick eyeC
aide-de-camp saw that above the redoub
two flags were flying instead Of one
what does that mean?" asked one
why" was the answer, that is tn,
arranged signal that the enemy is adj
vancing." and as he spoke there broke
from the redoubt the sullen roar OF a
gun fired at some unseen object to the
east. The Russians were. indeed, adj
vancing. Balaclava, the base Of supplies
to a Russian assault, and the open valley
that led 10 it was guarded by nothing
better than six redoubts held by Turks
over which a donkey might have scram-
bled--one battery OF horse artillery, part
of the Nnety-third Highlanders. and the
| light and heavy cavalry brigades, num-
| boring about 1900 swords And on these
scanty forces in the chilly dawn of that
| October day were marching. according to
a writer in Cornhilrs Magazine, 5000
Russian infantry. thirty-four squadrons
| of Russian cavalry and seventy-eight
pieces Of field artillery. Lord Raglan had
been warned by spies the previous day of
| the coming attack, but took no steps 10
meet 1t. News that the attack had ac-
tually begun was carried TO the tent OF
the sleeping English general at 1880 A. NJ,
but he did not turn out till past o'clock.
nor did he get. a single British regiment
on to the threatened ground before 10
o'clock Meanwhile the Russians were
coming on with more than usual decision.
BALACLAVA.
Balaclava is plain about three miles
long and two broad. girdled with hills
from 300 feet 10 1000 feet high. while q
sort of spine OF low hills. called the
"Causeway Heights" runs from east TO
west across IT, The valley is thus divided
into two parasitic North Valley. the
scene Of the famous Light Cavalry
charge and the South Valley, where the
charge of the Heavy Brigade took place.
Canroberts Hill, or No l Redoubt. stood
in the eastern throat Of the South Val
ley. and five other redoubts, known as
Nos. 2, 3, 4. 5, and sail held by Turks
were scattered along the Causeway
Heights The unfortunate Turks in No.
1 Redoubt-only 500 strong-on the dawn
OF that historic day, saw an entire Rus
sian army marching upon theml The
Ninety-third Highlanders were two miles
TO their rear. guarding the immediate
approach OF Balaclava: at a distance as
great at the western root Of the Cause
way Heights, whence they project like
an extended lance across the valley,
stood two brigades Of British horse.
Turks behind an earthwork can fight
stubbornly, but when the tiny cluster
Of Turks in No. Redoubt saw II 900 Rus
sian infantry and thirty-eght guns
marching straight upon them. with no
support in sight, they might be forgiven
If their nerve failed. AS a matter OF
fact. they returned with their five guns
the fire OF thirty-eight guns and held
their ground until one fourth OF their
number were killed. Then, as the gray
coated Russian battalions came tumbling
clumsily but in resistless masses over
their earthworks. the Turks fled. The
solid column OF Russian cavalry opened
like a fan. long sprays Of galloping skir-
mishers shot out and soon Cossacks and
lancers were busy Staying among the
flying red fezes.
TURKS IN RETREAT.
Soon the Turks were in full retreat:
their guns were In the enemy's hands;
nothing stood between the British ships
in Balaclava and the Russian guns but
some LOO marines. the immediate garri-
son OF the port. 400 men Of the Ninety
third Highlanders. with 100 invalids on
their way TO hospital, a battery Of light
field-pieces, and the British cavalry, ap-
parently withdrawn from the fight alto
gether
Ilprandi, had up to this shown a high
degree of resolution, and II cannot be
doubted that II he had thrust resolutely
forward with his full force, he must
have reached Balaclava. Just at this point,
have crossed his mind, and his huge gray
battalions halted in their march. Per-
haps the cluster of generals-British and
French-with their STATS and escorts
showing against the skyline on the
crest OF the western hills, gave him
pause. But the Russian cavalry continu-
ed its advance. a dense mass, squadron
after squadron deploying on a front that
wdened till 1t threatened to I'LL the whole
space of the valley, and all flowing
steadily forward. The advance guard Of
the Russian cavalry, 1000 strong swung
over the Causeway Ridge into the South
Valley. Nothing seemed 10 be between
them and Balaclava but the famous thin |
red line" of the Ninety-thIrd-by this |
time increased to $50 men-with a bat
talon Of Turks on either flank. who, at |
the sight of the Russian lancers, dissolv- |
tors-and that a British general and his |
staff could be mere spectators in such a |
scene is very wonderful-it seemed as II |
that great mass Of ordered cavalry could |
brush aside the red fence OF men that |
barred its path.
"DIE WHERE YOU STAND"
But the horsemen were coming on fast.
and a grim silence fell on the High
a. nd as ba Of 81 he
troops sounded deeper and louder. a
curious culver ran down the long two
ieep line OF the Ninety-third. The men
we're eager TO run forward and charge.
'Ninety-third, Nlnety-third," rang out the
ierce voice Of Sir Colin Campbell, ID
al that eagsrpessw He had previously
'idden down. the line and told his sol.
Hers, Remember, there is no retreat
rom here, men. You must die where
you stand" And from the killed pri-
,ates came the cheerful answer. LAY. ay.
Sir Colin Wen do that" The Russians
we're now within range, and the fire OF the
dighlanders rang out sudden and sharp.
\ few horses and men came tumbling
lown, and the Russian cavalry wheeled
instantly TO the left, threatening the right
tank OF the Highlanders. Campbell. a
DOL and keen soldier. saw the skill OF
his movement. "Shadwell," he said.
urning TO his aide-de-camp. that man
Understands his business So. too, did
,ampbell. who instantly detected his line
o as TO protect his right, and met the ad-
.ance with a destructive volley, before
which the Russian horsemen at once fell
Jack.
ACRES OF CAVALRY.
At that moment an officer rode at
a M &c. n 81
raglan 10 where the British cavalry were
raWn nm on the base OF the hills below |