Year: 1868




they had obtained decisive intelligence that the hus-
SLAMS would attack in force. Lord Raglan neglected.
the warning having found himself once Deioro
deceived, and made no preparations Tor the aI'ach'
The full purpose Of the Russian attack has never
been known, but it is presumed they meant, IL sue
cessful in dealing with the outer line of detenSes 10
drive the English from the town and tort oi baia-
clava. Their troops of all arms numbered 29,OO0
mon. With slight resistance they drove the Turks
who fought bravely but were Overwhelmingly out
numbered-from their redoubts, and occupied three
of them Lord Lucan made no effort to give an
effective support to the troops thus assailed but
with 1900 horsemen in hand looked quietly on while
Russians were capturing English guns and slaughter
ing English allies. At a in the morning the huS-
SLAMS were in possession Of so much OF the detehses
and the Causeway Hights as they chose to occupy
The First and Fourth Divisions of English infantry
on the plateau of the ChersOnese had been put III
motion but could not be expected to arrive DeIoIc
lOl. Lord Lucans Cavalry were drawn up In the
South Valley, waiting the further movements Oh the
enemy The first period of the battle had come 10 an
end Had the Russian Commander seizedthe occasion
to push on his forces there was nothing between MN
and the town of Balaclaya but 400 men of the sd
Uiphlandcrs defending the gorge of Kadik6i. But
he failed 10 divine the meaning of the movement, ana
for some hours the contest slept.


An hour or two later a body of Russian cavalry,
reckoned AT 900 sabers began to up the North
Valley. -Four squadrOns turned aside to attack
Campbelps Highlanders, but were easily stopped
The main body pushed on till they were actually
within the precincts of the English camp OF that
morning yet they continued to be concealed from
observation by the character of the ground The OBJ
ject of Gen. Lprandi, the Russian Commander, in
sending forward this great force OF cavalry has not
been explained but it was this movement which
presently and with a startling suddenness Occa-
stoned the charge of the Heavy Brigade under Scar
lett-the first of the two great cavalry charges OF
Balaclava.


Before the flight of the Turks, Gen. Scarlett had
been ordered by Lord Raglan to move down with
eight sGuadrons to support thom. Hs was In the act
of executing this ORDER when for the hrst time ne
became aware of the presence of an enemy close
upon him.


"Gen. Scarlett with Elliot his aide-decamp was on
the left of the column formed by the second squadron of
the Inniskillings aud Scots Greys Intent upon the
special duty which had just been assigned TO his squad
rOns by Lord Ragans last order he was Reeny bending
his sight in the direction Of the Highland battalion
which defended the approaches of KadkO, when Elliot
glance toward the ridge on his left and saw It's top
fretted with ances Another moment and the skyline
was broken by evident squadrOns OF horse Elliot young
as he was had yet been Injured to war and be quickly
was able himself not only that powerful masses
of Russian cavalry gathered and gathering, on the
ridge but that they on;ed toward the South Valley and
we're looking almost at right angles upon the flank
of marching column OF course, the aide-de-canp
Instantly directed the eyes Of his chief 20 the summit OF
the ridge his left For moment SeaTlet could hardly
accent Fiots concuson in the next instant he
cognized the full purpOrt of what had happened. and
perceived that he marching across the front OF
great Of Russian cavalry, which looked down upon
the flank Of his column from distance of but few hund-
red yards and might be expected of to charge
down init This, then, the occasion which fortune
had profered to the Russian cavalry.


"scarletts resolve instantaneous and his plan sim
pie He TO form line to his left and to charge
with all six Of his squadrons Accordingly he faced his
horses head toward the flank Of the column and called
out, Are you right in frOntr The was, Yes
SlrP Then Scarlet gave the word Of command Left
wheel into lneP


"The troops nearest to Scarlet were those which
formed the lefthand column-that b the second squad
Of the Innisklngs which in front, and the two
squadrOns Of the Greys which brought up the rear
Those squadrons the force which constituted
'Scarletts three hundred"


Beside there were the 5th Dragon Guards, and
the first squadron of the Inniskillings preparing to
align with the "Three Hundred" The 4th Dragon
Guards and the Royals were approaching. so that
there were seven squadTOns-500 or coo men-who
might take part in the fight in addition to the force
about to charge under Scarlett. The Russians were
estimated at $500. Mr.. Kingake makes some deduc-
tious, puts them at 1000, and says


$50 the column had taken all the ground that
was thought be needed 1t frOnted more TO the
English Then presently at the sound OF the trumpet
this huge Of horsemen, deepcharged with the
weight Of It's thousands began TO descend the hillside


"Making straight for the ground where our scanty
three hundred ranging and being presently brought
10 the trot at we'll governed speed swelling
broader and broader each instant yet disclosing its
depths and more In OF its aspects the descend
ing of this thicket Of horsemen like what may be
imagined Of sunden yet natural displacement OF the
earths surface for to those who gazed from afar the
dusy they moving showed acreage rather than
numbers.


"An this while the string Of the 800 red-coas were
forming scarets slender first line in the valley beneath
and they seemed be playing parade. At the moment
speak Of the troop officers Of the Greys st facing
their men; and their drn rules, 1t seems, had declared
that they must continue do till the major Of the
regiment should length bring them round by giving
the order Eyes rightP Not yet would the Greys con-
sen: to disturbed their ceremonies by the descend
ing column


at was with seeming confidence that scarlet sat eye
ing the approach OF the Russian while the three
souadrons ranging behind him went composedy with
the work dressing and redresng their front yet the
moment seemed when, from the great depth OF the
column and the incline OF the ground the front ranks Of
the Russians would less to dread from their foe than
from the weight Of their troops behind them; and
unless the descent OF the column should be presently
stayed even the enemy himself Though by chance his
foremost squadrons shoud fate might hardly have any
choice left but to sweeping down like torrent,
and overwhem all mortal resistance.


"But before the moment had come when the enemy,
whether liking 1t or not would find himself condemned
TO charge home he began, 1t seemed, to falter He
sIaekened the pace He stll slaekened-his trumpets
were sounding-he slackened and came to a halt"


This halt gave to the English their one chance of
succAesful attack.