Year: 1868

terms of this order there is disagreement III the
testimony of the two commanders but IL IS Inmate
ral-Iord Cardigan's understanding of the order
was made plain to Lord Lucan for he answered Loru
Lucan: Certainly, Sir but allow me to point ont
to Won that the Russians have battery in the valley
in our front. and batteries and ritemen on each
flank Lord Lucan replied, 81 know it, but Lord
Raglan will have it, We have no choice but 70 oDey'
Them said Mr. Kinglake, without further ques-
ton or parey Lord Cardigan tactly slgnlhed his re-
spectfu submission to orders, and began that great
act of military obedience which is enshrined IN the
memory Of his fellow-countrymen. He turned quietly
TO his people and said: The brigade will advanced!
The first line of the Light Brigade when it began
its advance INTO the Valley of Death, was composed
of the 18th Light Dragons and nth Lancers Lord
Cardigan placed himself quite alone at dis
| tance Of about two horses lengths in advance
of his Staff and some five horses lengths IN advance
of the center of his first line" At the very moment
of the advance occurred the death of Capt Nolan


Before Lord Cardigan had ridden hundred PAGES he
encountered sight which filed him with anger. Right
before him he Capt Nolan audaciousy riding across
his front from left to right but not content with tres
pass which alone would have been shocking enough to
Lord Cardgans orderly mind, Capt Nolan, turning round
| in his saddle, was shouting and waving his sword as
| though he would address the brigade. We now know
that when Nolan thus strangely depOred himself he was
riding in direction which might well give significance
to his shouts and his gestures for instead OF choosing
line of advance like that pursued by Lord Cardigan he
rode crossing the front Of tho brigade and bearing away
TO the right front of advancing squadrons as though
he would 90 on to the spot the Causeway Hghs where
the odessa regiment stood posted


|


"Bu Russian shell bursting on the right front OF Lord
Cardigan threw out fragment which met Nolan full
on the chest and tore away into his heart The sword
dropt from his hand; but the with which he was
waving 1t the moment before still remained high upfted
in the air and the grip OF the practced horseman remain
ing "a yet unre!axed still held HIM firm in his saddle


Missing the perfect hand of his MASTER and finding the
now succeeded by dangling reins,
the horse all at wheeled about and began to gaop
back upon the front Of the advancing brigade. Then
from what had been Nolanand his form was still erect
in the saddle, his swordarm still high in the airthere
burst forth cry strange and appalling that the nearer
who rode the nearest TO him has always called 1t un-
earthly And in truth. imagine. the sound resulted
from no human WILL but rather from those spasmodc
forces which may act upon the bodily frame when fe as
power, has ceased. The firm seated rider, with arm
upfted and stiff could hardly be ranked with the living
The shrek heard rendng the air was scarce other
than the shrek OF corpse. THIS dead horseman rode on
Til he had passed through the interval Of the 18th Light
Dragons. Then at / st he dropt out OF the saddle"


II was said at { time that as Nolan was dead, and
could refute no charge that ght be brought against
him. the blame OF tie error would be laid on him.
1t was so laid then and afterward, but the ungen-
erous effort may be thought by this time to have
exhausted ITSELF AMI the somebody" who blum
dered an order" will not finally be thought TO have
| been the heroic Nolan.


Neither the Allies gazing from the plateau OF the
Chersonese nor the Russians from their triple line
of batteries frowning on the doomed column, could
at first believe that the Light Brigade was moving
up tho valley. For IA space, the line of advance di-
verged very slightly from the true line, and the
troops that held the Causeway Hights took it for
granted that the cavalry were coming against them,
and began at once to fall back. But


"soon the fated advance Of the Light Brigade had pro-
ceeded begin to disclose It's strange purpose
tho purpose Of making straight for the ardsant battery
which crossed the foot OF the valley by passing for mile
between two RUSSIAN forces and this at such ugly dis
tance from each TO allow Of squadrons going down
under douby nankng fire OF rouud-shot grape, and
rneba without the opportunity Of yet doing any man
OF harm to their assalans Then, from the slopes OF
the Causeway Hghts the side, and the Fediou-
kline Hills on the other tho Russian artillery brought
It's power bear right and left with an efficiency every
moment increasing; and large numbers OF rihemen on
the slopes OF the Causeway ghts who had been placed
where they order 10 the retreat OF the Rus
sian bataliOns found means to take their part In the
work of destroying hOrsemen Whilst Lord Cardigan
and his squadrOns rode thus under heavy fire. the
visible object they had straight before them was the
white bank Of smoke from time to time pierced by Issues
OF flame which marks the sight OF battery in action
for truth tho very goal that had been chosen for our
devoted sqadronsa goal rarely before assigned to cav
aywas the front OF batory-tho front Of that twelve
gun battery with the main BODY Of the Russian cavalry
n rear Of IT, which crossed the lower end Of the valley
and faithful resolute, Lord Cardigan I'm exc
cutting this part OF what he understood to be his appointed
tas that chose OF the guns which he Judged
20 be the center OF the bait rode straight at It's


a
star"


| How do men ride on such an errand as thlsf and
| how did their leader ride 7


"Thor pace for some time firmly governed. When
horsemen, too val to be thinking OF hight, are
brought straits OF this kind their tendency TO be
gaOpng swiftly forward each man at the greatest pace
he can exact from his charger thus Destroying OF
course the formation OF the line but Lord Cardigans
love OF strict uniform order propensity having all
the force OF pason and long as 1t seemed possible
authority by voice by gesture the leader OF
this singular onset was firm In repressing the fault
| THUS when Capt. White OF the 18th Lancers (who
commanded the squadron Of drecton) became anxious
he frankly expressed IT, to get out OF such murder
GUS fire. and into the guns being the best Of the two
OWLS and endeavorng. with that view, to force the
pace pressed forward much rs to be almost alongside
Of the chiefs brdlea Lord Cardigan checked this I'M
patience by laying his sword across the captains breast
telling him at the same time not try force the pace,
aud not TO be riding before the leader OF the brigade
Otherwise than for this Lord Cardigan from the first to
the OF the onset did not speak nor make sign Riding
straight and erect, he turned In his saddle
object OF getting glance at the state OF the
squadrons which followed him; and to this rigid absti
nence-giyng proof as such abstinence did, OF an un-
bending resolyeit was apparently owing that the brig
ade never fell into doubt concerning s true path Of duty
never wavered as the best squadrons WILL II the leader
for even instant appears to DO uncertain OF purpose
and was guess OF nclning TO any default except