Year: 1875

ade " were furnished the Daily Graphic
by officer Charles II. Mckenzie, now on
the New York police, but the modest
possessor of testimonials for gallant con-
duct in the British army at the relief of
Lucknow and throughout the Crimean
and British-Indian wars:


In the charge of the Light Brigade
Mckenzie rode in the second troop, CEN
ter squadron, rear rank. The half q
league over which the Light Brigade
passed was rolling country, no part Of
which, however. veg so much depressed
as to be sheltered from the iron hail of
the Russian batteries. The entire force
Of light cavalry at hand were ordered to
the charge The French lay to the right,
and it was expected that a troop of
French cavalry at least equal in number
would be ready to Join in the assault.
But they had not received orders and
did not come. Some one had blum
dered."


Behind the guns the Russian infantry
was drawn up six ranks in depth and
numbering along the line in all 10000
men, and behind this strong line was a
very large force of Cossack cavalry.
From the moment the bugle sounded for
the charge, Mckenzie says that, like
those who rode with him, he knew moth
ing except that he was galloping in q
cloud of dust and smoke toward the
enemy. The Earl of Cardigan, who
commanded the brigade, Mckenzie says,
was far in advance Of his men, encour-
aging them by his voice as well ms by his
example, although, with every intelli-
gent man in his command, he must have
known by this time at least that the
charge was perfect madness. Scarcely
pause was made at the guns. The
gunners were cut down or overrun in
their flight Then the foremost horses
were driven forward against the Russian
infantry. Mckenzie says they were
brave men, and appeared to scorn to
fall in squares against such handful OF
the enemy. 1t was afterward reported
that squares were formed, but he says
that he saw none. The force Of the
charge broke through the six lines with
out pause. The bayopeted horses fell
forward with the impetus they had
gained, and their weight made way for
those that followed. Those in the center
ofthe brigade had only dead and wounded
men and horses to ride over. The six
ranks had been broken through like
shocks of corn. Then came the unex-
pected hand to hand contest with Cos
sack cavalry. This was a terrible mo
ment. 1t was expected at the very least
that after the Russian line had been bro
ken through there would be opportunity
to form, although under fire. A coun-
ter-charge of cavalry on their weakened
and disordered mass was the climax of
their misfortunes. In this bloody melee
Mckenzie received sabre stroke on the
left side of his head which cut through
his tough shake and made deep cash,
the scar of which is plainly visible, after
the lapse of twenty-one years. He says
he knows he gave the Cossack one stroke
in return, but whether it was fatal or not
he could not tell. The next moment he
was carried on by his horse. HI struck
where he could, and was compelled to
guard himself on all sides. 1t was a
wild maze Of struggling horses and hos
tile riders. The Cossacks fought bravely
and had the advantage of superior num-
bers. The English had found themselves
attacked before the last of the troop had
passed through the gap in the RussiaK
lines. II might have been a minute or
five minutes that they were thus engaged
Then they heard the bugle sound for
retreat. Hitherto the guns had been
silent, but as the shattered column broke
again through the center OF the semicir-
cular battery the guns at either end be-
gan to open upon it. The slaughter was
terrific in retreat as well as in the ad-
vance.


1t is history that of the 600 who rode
in the charge only 1893 returned. There
was indeed q terrible bunder. Lord
Raglan, who commanded the English
army, denied that he gave the order.
Lord Luoan, who commanded the cav
airy, said he received the order from
Captain Nolan, of Lord Raglan's staff
Captain Nolan, the only man who could
dispute either, fell among the first in the
charge. Mckenzie says that he saw that
gallant officer riding far in advance of
the brigade by the side of the Earl of
Cardigan. Captain Nolan had written
book on tactics, in which he had main
tanned that light cavalry, if well led,
could ride down any branch of the SER
vice. 1t was his duty after having deliv-
cred an order TO report Immediately to
the officer who gave it. The fact that he
did not do this, but rode in the charge,
inclines Mckenzie to believe that, hav.
ing perceived possibly some evidence OF
disorder in the Russian line, and think
ing that the guns were not well sup.
ported, be vas carried away by desire
to exhibit to the world the truth Of his