The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-10
CHARGE OF LIGHT BRIGADE
Colorado Veteran Saw the Remnant
of the Six Hundred Return.


A parade of Grand Army of the Re
public veterans and civic societies was
held here today, after which the usual
exercises took place at the Sterling Gem
etery.
In the exercises today Mr.. Thompson
was the entire center of attraction The
gray hair, the erect. soldier-like form,
the vigor of an aged but dauntless eye
was noted and wondered at by all. This
old soldier was born at Linlethgo, Scot
land, during the last hour of the last
day in the year 1919 In 1852 he enlisted
in the Seventy ninth Cameron High
landers while at Edinburgh castle He
served through the Crimea campaign,
being with Sir Colin Campbells brigade.
He recUuntS with vivid distinctness the
bloody field of battle at Alma, the rush
ana roar of that heroic charge of the
Light Brigade at Balaklava, the almost
ruthless sacrifice of life at Inkerman,
and the tedious, long -drawn-out siege of
SebastOpol Mr.. Thompson enlisted in
the Forty-first Ohio volunteers, serving
throughout the civil war to its close.
Mr.. Thompson came to the United
States in 1858, locating a Cleveland, O.,
and moved from there to this place in
1899.
war his company was hurried on board
a vessel named the Simeon and sent to
Turkey. and later to the Crimea.
Mr.. Thompson's first battle was par
ticipated in on the Alma river. He re-
ceiNed Il Slight wound in this engage
ment. The next conflict between armed
men, and where they fought like tigers
to the death, was at Balaklava, where
the brave 900 rode through the valley
of death" Mr.. Thompson said today
that his brigade was drawn in battle
line across a great plain between the
Russians and the light brigade. When
Lord Cardigan obeyed the order brought
him by lmcan and gave the COM
mand to advance, Sir Colin CampbelIs
brigade swung into tours, clearing gaps
through which the brave 500 rode on
its way to death.
4 saw Lord Cardigan with the bugler
near his side ride through the gap OF
fourS adjacent to mine
Il saw the remnant of the 500 when
they returned, but cid not see the bugler.
| suppose he was killed in that bloody
charge. Yet see by q recent copy of the
Denver News that the bugler. Suther-
land, of the light brigade, still lives and
resides in Denver.
I hope to live to meet him said the
old hero. and talk with him of that
trying hour
At the battle of Inkerman Mr.. Thomp
son said his company lay upon the
ground in n line reaching across the
field. The commanding officers told the
soldiers to hold their fire until they
could see the whites of the enemies eyes
The command was obeyed, and then
came a -to-hand conflict, where
colder tossed soldier like a game OF
shuttlecock. literally strewing the field
with the dead, equal more In NUMBERS
than the survivors After the battle
enc of the English generals saw a Rus
=ian riding on white horse at great
distance He asked the soldiers to bring
the enemy down. The soldiers fired con-
ti-ueuslv at him. hut without the de-
sired result. Finally. Mr. Thompson and
ore of his Highland comrades decided 10
try shot They both fired simultan-
eously and the rider fell The keen eye
nd the steady nerve of the Scot was
she key to it ALL and ever will be-" he
sid, las LONE IS the glen and crags OF
I'D Scotland give birth and Drawn TO
he human kind" 1t was afterward
learned that the rider was a Russian
! prince. The captain of Mr.. Ihompsons