Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-26

| dlUlOst the erect Oh pldChhco0s 49,
| this black, threatening, steadlly-moVihe
| mass was dawn in the valley below, at
a distance OF some GOO yards, the vivid
crimson line of the English cavalry, the
Grays. with their white horses and pear
skin caps, the Inniskillings, with gleamlhs
helmets Scarlet was white-whlskefeu'
red-faced soldier, So years old, delight-
fully simple minded warrior, who nad
never heard n shot fired In anger. But
as he looked up and saw that huge, threat
ening mass on his flank, with the instinct
OF a brave man. he took the one possible
course Left wheel into lineW he shout
ed. The men swung round instantly.
faced the Russian front and quietly
moved forward, two squadrons or Grays
and one Of Inniskilings forming the front
line.
ANXIOUS TO CHARGE.
The ground was rough with the debris
OF a camp; part of the British cavalry,
too. had to cross the site of an old vine
yard. bristling with vine stumps and
girdled by a ditch. BY the time they
cleared all this the ranks were some
what dIsordered. and the company officers
commenced TO dress" their line. This
was dainty process for 300 cavalry, with
huge mass nearly ten times their
strength 600 yards off, and hanging like
threatening GlOuu ph NhS 49, NSN'N
them. ready 10 burst in overwhelming
tempest The Russians moved steadily
down TO within 100 yards OF Scartietts
line, and then a spasm OF doubt seemed
to run through the mass. IL matted. me
beat of trampling hoofs died away. Inc
officers of the Grays were still, with their
backs turned coolly TO the enemy, daiht-
lily dressing" the lines of their men,
and under that treatment the mems
tempers were growing slightly volcano.
The Inniskllings had clear stretch OF
grass before them, and the passion 10
charge thrilled in the men so Hereby
that Scarlet could only restrain the lire
by waving it back with his sword. The
troop resembled a high-bred horse channS
at the curb for start.
Scarlet saw the huge mass above him,
and outflanking his so enormously, draw
TO a halt. Just as the dressing of his cwn
lines was completed. His trumpeter rang
out stern and clear the signal 10 charge
and Scarlet himself, mounted on horse
OF great speed and size, led against the
enemy at a trot, which, after few yards
quickened to a gallop. His troops, still
hindered by broken ground, could not
come on so swiftly, and there was the
amazing spectacle presented Of a red
faced British general gallOping headlong
and alone into a gigantic mass OF Rus
sian cavalry, his aide-de-camp, trumpeter,
and orderly following hard on his rear,
and more than fifty yards behind some
goo Grays and Inniskilings just getting !
into their stride. Scarlet himself. Hour |
shing his sword, drove deep into the |
Russian mass Elliott, his aide-de camp, |
a splendid swordsman, came next, and a |
Russian officer, sitting on his morse a |
few PAGES in front OF the line struck fu- |
rf1 Of fv,, ha 1arr TOT
parted the cut, dropped his sword point |
to the thrust, drove it through the body |
OF his antagonist, and. as the rush Of his |
horse carried him onward, the Russian |
was literally turned round in his saddle |
by the leverage Of the sword thrust clean
through him. Then as his sword was re-
leased, with a flash OF the crimson blade, |
Elliot, too broke through the Russian
line.
THREE HUNDRED AGAINST THREE
THOUSAND.
How eagerly the three squadrons fol-
lowing were, by this time, riding, may
be imagined. The Inniskillings on the
right. as the Russian line came within |
sword-strOke, broke into a shout. sudden,
loud. and menacing Grey and Innis-
killing had not ridden side by side since
the great charge at Waterloo, and the
men OF 1854 were as gallant as the men
OF 1875. When before, indeed. was ever
seen a spectacle Of 800 men galloping up
hill to charge 5000? AS the squadrons
loosened in the gallop the men in the
second line seized the opportunity az
forded by every interval to add them
selves 10 the first line, and, largely. il
was in a single line that Scarlett's 800
flung themselves on a mass of cavalry
OF almost unknown depth.
The fight was fought on a slopng floor
Of elastic turf; there was no explosion OF
irearms. nothing but the ring of steel on
steel and the shouts OF the comba.ants.
The Russians everywhere were on the de-
iensive, with crouching heads In the
passion OF the fight a British soldier,
while he cut down a Russian with mis-
light hand, would often clutch another
Russian by the throat and drag him from
he saddle. Clarke was cut cruelty across
lis bare head with the stroke OF a Rus
ian sabre, and the rush of crimson blood
urned face and neck 10 the color OF his |
ed coat yet Clarke himself. in the ex.
iltation Of the fight, knew nothing OF his
wound! Elliot, familiar with war in In
LA, and fine swordsman, played great
'art in the fight; but oyerreaching him.
elf for moment IN a thrust, four Rus
ian swords simultaneously struck him |
Ioint Of one enemy in the forehead. the
'lade OF second divided his face trans
ersely by furious slash a third smote
Inn behind the ear, fourth cut clean
through his cooked hat. Elliot received !
4 all fourteen sword-wounds, yet kept his 4
eat and his sword through them all. /
BAD GENERALSHIP.
What, meanwhile. was scarletts second
ne doing? II was a sOldierly inpulsa =
n the part of Scarlett which made lin z
Instantly swing round and charge with l
he three squadrons he had in hand the C
use bulk OF Russian cavalry which sud r
emily appeared on the Hill above him !
tut II was a scandal 10 his generalship .
hat lie had not discovered the presence /.
SO formidable a force within striking ;
istance earlier; IL was a still further a
under that, instead of striking the enc c
~ with his whole force, his men were r
1T TO expend themselves I'm no fewer p
lan five separate and unrelated attacks. a
The Fourth Dragon Guards were NOV. "
lg IN the rear OF Scarlett's first line when u
hey saw AT almost the same moment !
ne dusky mass Of the Russians. Scarlet ~
Imsef. his white whiskers visible be- 4,
cath his glittering helmet. in their u
lidst fourshing his sword, and the first q
ne at full galop just crashing on the n
usslan front. The Fourth Dragons I
ere advancing in leisurely fashion. bur. l,
{ that spectacle, the men without orders !
lstincuvely drew their swords. and their a
)lonel (Hodge) said 70 his second in com / n
land: Foster, l am going on with ths
II squadron as soon as your squadron
cts clear OF the vineyard, front form
nd charge" Hodge was a good soldier. y
Z went at the gallop past the Russian p