Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-12-08
The Light Brigade.

frey Morgan who found himself IN
charge of the 18th Lancers at Bala-
clava when all his senior officers were
either killed or wounded in the famous
charge ofthe Light Brigade-has been
induced by the Western Mail to de-
scribe what he did and saw on that
memorable day. His lordship's mar
rative, which is published today lthe
forty-third anniversary OF the battle
Of Balaclava), is as follows
Ny first recollection on the eventful
morning of October %, lS54,was turn
lng out before dawn very cold and un-
comfortable, but soon after forming up
in front of our camp unusual move
ments were observed in the redoubts
held by the Turks on the rising ground
on our left front, and it was not long
before we felt that something out OF the
common was going to happen on that
side Of Balaclava. We had not long to
wait, as we saw shots striking the re-
doubts from an invisible enemy the
other side of the hill. Soon after this
the lances Of the Cossacks or other Rus
sian cavalry appeared over the brow
surrounding the redoubts, out OF which
the Turks came running, leaving them
in the possession Of the Russians. l
then saw the Highlanders forming into
line in front of Balaclava, and almost
Immediately they were attacked, but
they stood their ground, and the Rus
SLAMS did not get very near. At the
same time a large body of Russian cay
airy came down the hill at the charge,
and the heavy cavalry brigade formed
at once in line and advanced to meet
them. 1t was a curious sight.
They had hardly time to get up a
trot when they met the Russians COM
ing down hill. There was kind Of
shock as they met, and then the
heavens appeared through them. a
hand-to-haud fight continued, and
then the Russians turned and galloped
back. At that moment Captain Nor
ris, who was in command Of the 18th
Lancers, said or shouted Now is our
chance - and then he suggested, |
think to Lord Cardigan, our chief, who
was Just in front Of US, that 1--WE ought
to follow up the success and complete
the route. He was told it was not
his business, or words to that effect
f. Captain Morris then turned to the
18th and said "The 18th shall DO it
themselves. Seventeenth Lancers, adj
vance 1" We advanced about hun
dred yards, when Lord Cardigan gal
loped up and ordered us back into
| line. We were shortly afterward
moved up over the hill and formed up
at the head of the valley. When we
got there we saw the army, which we
afterward knew was that Of Liprandl $
masses, at the head of the valley and
on it's hills to right and left Some Of
them were at the redoubts vacated by
the Turks. About II o'clock an or
der came to Lord Lucan to prevent
the enemy carrying off the guns
While standing in position | remarked
to poor Webb I've are in range Of
them now from that battery on our
left.
At that moment we were ordered
to advance, and puff Of smoke from
the battery alluded to told me that the
Russians thought as l did That first
shell burst in the air about 100 yards
in front Of us. The next one dropped
in front of Nolan's horse and exploded
on touching the ground. He uttered a
wild yell as his horse turned round,
and, with his arms extended, the reins
dropped on the animals neck, he trot-
ted toward US, but in a few yards
dropped dead off his horse. DO not
imagine that anybody except those in
the front line of the 18th Lancers
| (I3th Light Dragoons) saw what had
happened. We went on. When We
got about two or three hundred yards
the battery of the Russian Horse Ar
tillery opened fire. l 10 not recollect
hearing word from a trot to canter,
though the noise Of the striking Of men
and horses by grape and round shot
was deafeaing, whilst the dust and
gravel struck up by the round shot
that fell short was almost binding,
and lrritated my horse 50 that l could
scarcely hold him at all. But as We
came nearer could see plainly
enough, especially when l was about a
hundred yards from the guns. l ap-
peared to be riding straight on to the
muzzle of one Of the guns, and | dis
tinctly saw the gunner apply his fuse.