The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-02
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CHARGE OF THE THIRTY
EIGHTH

Attention. company shouted our
captain. Draw sabers!'
FLASHED all their sabers bare" as Ten
nyson says in "The Charge of the Lignr
Brigade" but I hope for the reputation
or their drillmasters that Cardigan ,
troopers flashed their swords more in
unison. Had they not some OF them
would not have been I'm condition. TO an
Aoy the Russian gunners much. Ours
was a sort OF cumulative fash; IL was
literally a long drawn out EFFORT. the
boys had learned TO draw their sabers
quickly on foot drill or parade. where the
scabbord was partly raised by the left
hand as the right hand sought the grip.
but the saber OF the mounted trooper
as low as the straps allow. and as we
never had drilled while mounted many
OF the men nearly fell from their saddles
while leaning 20 the left I'm frantic
reach for their sword hilts.
Captain Bright" roared our battalion ,
major. an officer in whim ] had not pre-
viously taken any interest not seeing
where his usefulness came In, why
are some OF your mems sabers undrawny'
You rascals" screamed the captain,
facing his horse toward the flank OF the
company, "why don't you draw you sa-
bers?"
II can't down TO mine" said Brain
ard. answering for himself His arm, Ike
the remainder OF him. was quite short.
al don't believe l can reach IL unless
turn somersault
Take your bride I'm your right hand:
draw your saber with your left; now
change hands; the rest OF you do the
same There the captain yelled.
Make haste, captain" said the ma
Jor. You're opening distance badly be-
tween you and the company ahead OF
you By being slow"
"Trotl march," the captain ordered In
q nervous shrek.
OF went the company. but not all OF
Il went off in the same direction. for at
least one man in every three had never
felt horse trot under him, so two ur
three fell off their chargers before we
had gone n hundred yard. Others re-
tained their seats fairly by grasping the
horn OF the saddle with the bride hand
and trying TO seize the pommel with the
other. But sword Is as much as no.
vice can held In one hand. Several had
10 choose between giving up their rear
hold and losing their sabers Some did
the latter. preferring present safety 10
future possibilities. Among these unfor-
tuHates was Brainard.-
The major dropped back 10 the rear
company, for which / was profoundly
grateful. IL wasn't pleasant to think or
any one, even a member of our own regi-
ment. observing all that was occurring In
our company during those few moments.
Men who were not accustomed TO r;d-
ing were bouncing briskly I'm their sad
dies and looking as wretched as the poor
fellow who same in wounded the day be-
fore Mick McTwyny lost his temper.
blamed his horse for everything, and and
turning TO the roadside and hating. be-
gan TO pound the poor animal with botn
fists and kick him in the TANKS with hts
spurred heels, proceeding which the
proper position. He turned his horse. look
ward and tumbling his rider into the
road. The lieutenant. who had chanceu
10 look backward. turned and threatened
TO saber Mick then and there unless he
at once remounted and acted like SOL
dier instead of a donkey, and Mick re-
turned the threat upon which the ieuten-
ant, using his saber as paddle, gave
Mick a tremendous spank. and Mick
swore an awful oath which he chewed to
extreme laceration as he uttered II, that
he would get even with the lieutenant,
and the lieutenant promised TO give him
a season OF arrest In which to think up
his ventful plan.
Meanwhile another man bit the dust.
for my horse stepped on the heels OF
his file leader. who had slackened ms
pace suddenly The injured horse reared
hind quarters TO kick. and over his head
shot the rider. breaking his fall by roll
ing between two horses In front OF him.
A similar fate befell several other men,
who trying to brace themselves by hold
ing their bride reins tightly, curbed their
horses so severely that the animals halted
suddenly and unhorsed their riders IL
seemed TO me they must be tramped to
death, but II was impossible to halt and
ask questions or offer any assistance.
During these scenes of humiliation
my heart was strengthened somewhat by
the demeanor OF our couple OF survivors
OF the historic charge of BalaklaVa.
Each rode as steadily as II he and his
horse were one. Neither man looked 40
the right or left but straight ahead and
each carried his saber as II on parade.
afterward told Cloyne about this, and ne
said:
'oyhy not? They did nothing but drill
from the time they first enlisted I'm Eng
land. and charge isn't half as hard to
go through as regimental drill of
mounted troops
Soon the major was on our flank again.
shouting
Captain Bright, what has become OF
your company There's only about half
OF IL In the ranks"
The captain, who had ridden forward TO
close the gap between him and the COM
pany In front fell back and looked along
the column. which had lost all regularity
of formation. Then he screamed;
Lieutenant. why have you let so many
men fall out. sir7"
The lieutenant commanding the rear
platoon had been getting head OF his
proper position. turned his horse, look
ed toward me and roared:
Where's the sergeant OF the left OF
the line2"
You ordered him 20 remount several
minutes ago. SIR l replied.
And he hasn't returned 10 his post
Then twas your duty as a noncommis-
stoned offcer 20 keep the men from
struggling 20 the rear"
This sudden and new load Of RESPONSE
bility seemed more than | and my horse
could carry. but / afterward learned 20
bear similar infections better. for founu
they were In accordance with military
custom. When anything goes wrong dur
Ing march. the highest officer with
whom fault Is found Immediately unloads
the blame upon the officer next below him
In rank. and so the scolding passes down
ward until IL reaches Some lowly non
commissioned officer, who gets rid OF II
by Al ing II 20 private soldier.
But had no thine 10 absorb this WIS
dom during my first charge. for the ma
5or suddenly ordered our captain 90 hurry
along with such men as ne had leaving
the stragglers 60 the tender mercies OF