Front matter
K-lf
. ..
-
Chapter I
The task of selecting generals of cavalry for a campaign, The test of actual service in the field, Great advantage enjoyed by England in this respect, Her brilliant list of war-service officers, Choice made by the Government, Lord Lucan, .
Lord Cardigan,
Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan regarded conjointly, Lord Cardigan's attitude of antagonism to Lord Lucan Lord Cardigan's complaint in writing, Lord Raglan's severe answer, Lord Raglan's appeal to the good feelings of "Lord Lucan and Lord
Cardigan, . ."
Inquiry as to the causes which rendered it possible for the Govern
ment to do as it did, General Scarlett,
PAGE
1 1
2 2 2 3 11 14 18 18 18
20 23
CHAPTER II. The isolated position of the forces defending Balaclava
Increasing strength and boldness of the Russians in the valley of the
Tchernaya, The Balaclava position, The town,
The inner line of defence, The plain of Balaclava, Conception of the outer line of defence, The works constituting the outer line of defence, Slight nature of the works, Armament of the works,
27 28 28 29 31 33 35 36 36
VOL. IV.
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE II.— continued.
PAGE
The Kamara Height left in possession of the enemy, . . 37
Extent and remoteness of the outer line, . . . . 37
The force immediately available for supporting the Turks, . . 38
Sir Colin Campbell's confidence in the maintenance of the position, . 38
This necessarily communicated to Lord Raglan, ... 39
Uncertainty as to the sources of Campbell's confidence, . . 39
Inherent weakness of the outer line, ..... 40
Collateral arrangements which tended to increase the probability of
MentschikofT 's purpose of assailing the defences of Balaclava, . 41 The forces collected for this enterprise, . . .41
The object of the contemplated attack, .... 43
Distribution of the Russian force into three distinct bodies, and the
duties assigned to each, . . . ... .43
24th October. — Information of the enemy's march obtained by the
Turks the day before the battle, .... 44
The way in which the information was dealt with, ... 45 The morning of the 25th October. — Tidings of the impending attack
upon the Turkish redoubts, ..... 45
CHAPTEE III.
25th October. — The hour before daybreak, .... 46 Advance of Lord Lucan and his Staff in the direction of Canrobert's
Hill, . . ' .JS
Break of day. Two flags seen flying from the fort on Canrobert's
Hill, 46
The import of this, ....... 46
Lord George Paget, in the absence of Lord Cardigan, takes upon
himself to mount the Light Brigade, .... 47
Orders from Lord Lucan for the immediate advance of the cavalry, 47
Vigilance evinced on this occasion by the Turks, ... 47
The English soldier's want of vigilance, .... 48
The outlying picket, . . . . . . .50
The enemy's advance perceived by Lord Lucan and Sir Colin Campbell, 50
Intelligence sent off to Lord Raglan, .... 50
Lord Lucan's disposition of the cavalry and horse-artillery, . . 50
Lord Lucan's ' demonstrations ' with his cavalry, ... 50
The enemy pursuing his design, ..... 51
The advance of General Gribbe from the direction of Baidar, . 52 He seizes Kamara, and establishes a battery, which opens fire at close
range on the Redoubt No. 1, . . . .52
CONTENTS. vii CHAPTEE ILL— continued.
PAGE
Advance of the central column under General Semiakine, . . 53
Of Levoutsky's force, ....... 53
Of Colonel Scudery's column, ..... 53
Of the Russian cavalry, and the batteries it escorted, . . 53
The emergency in which Lord Lucan had to act, . . . 53
His decision, ........ 54
The Russians were suffered to establish their batteries against Can-
robert's Hill and the No. 2 Redoubt, .... 55 Fire answered to by the Turks, and (without much effect) by our
troop of horse-artillery, ...... 55
Captain Maude wounded, . . . . . .55
The troop of horse-artillery sent out of fire by Lord Lucan, . . 5G
The fort on Canrobert's Hill silenced by overwhelming fire, . 56
Continued resistance of the Turks, . . . . .56
Dispositions made by General Semiakine for storming Canrobert's ■
HilL . . 56
The work stormed, . . . . . . .57
Overwhelming strength of the Russians in point of numbers, . 57
Close fighting between the Turks and the Russians, :i . . 58
The fort at length carried, . . . . . .58
Abandonment by the Turks of the three next redoubts, . . 59
Their flight under fire of artillery, and pursued in some places by
The enemy entering four of the redoubts and establishing himself in
three of them, 60 Fresh disposition of our cavalry, ..... 61 Observations upon the first period of the battle, ... 61
CHAPTER IV. The spot on which Lord Raglan placed himself upon being apprised
of the attack, . . . . . . . 65
His dispositions for the succour of Balaclava, and for securing the
forces on the Chersonese against a surprise, - . .65
General Canrobert also on the ridge, ..... 68
His dispositions, . . . . . . 68
Apparent difference of opinion between the French and the English
Commanders, . . . . . . .68
The new disposition which Lord Raglan made of our cavalry division, 69 Approaching concentration on the west of the Causeway Heights of
forces with which the Allies proposed to engage Liprandi, . 69 Isolation of Balaclava, . . . . 70
Position of Liprandi's infantry at this time, . . . .70
The Odessa regiment became the index of the enemy's changing viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV '.—continued.
PAGE
Position of the Kussian cavalry, .....
Jabrokritsky's force, . . .
All these Kussian forces secure for the time against the attack of infantry, ...
The period of licence thus enjoyed by Liprandi,
The forces now threatening Balaclava, ....
Their strength, .......
The forces that could be forthwith opposed to them,
JLJi^JJ tLilW.± o ILL LUiinilaLlUU LU <X UO uCbxU 11 U 111 o vj 1 Z/ 111 ^ L11C L*OL/CloHJJJ 5 • l o
The design with which this was resorted to, .
The advance of the Russian cavalry, .....
Campbell's arrangements for defending the approach by Kadikoi,
Campbell withdrew his men to the foot of the hillock, and caused them to lie down, ......
Detached body of Russian horse advancing towards the gorge of
Kadikoi, .... .
Campbell's soldiers again crown the hillock," ....
Flight of the Turks, .......
Position of Campbell after the flight of the Turks, .
His determination to impart to the 93d the gravity of the occasion,
His words to the men, ......
Their answer to his appeal, ......
Continued advance of the four Russian squadrons,
Campbell wielding his 93d, ......
The fire from their line, ......
Its effect, .......
The altered movement of the assailing squadrons,
Campbell's counter-manceuvre, .....
Its effect. Retreat of the horsemen, .....
Feebleness of the charge undertaken by these Russian squadrons,
The real nature of the trial sustained by the Queen's troops formed iin nn flip billnplr
The new foe encountered bv the Turks in their flight,
CHAPTER VI. Want of arrangements for an effective look-out
Advance of the main body of the Russian cavalry, .
Its change of direction, ......
Its sudden discovery of a great opportunity, ....
S4
CONTENTS.
ix
CHAPTEE VI.— continued.
PAGE
The march of the eight squadrons of Heavy Dragoons which had been
sent under Scarlett towards the approaches of Kadikoi, . . 84
Cause which induced Scarlett to dispense with precautions, . . 85
The order of march, ....... 86
The ground which had been reached by the 2d squadron of the In-
niskillings and the Greys at the time now in question, . . 86
And by Scarlett, ....... 87
Sudden appearance of the enemy's cavalry on the flank of Scarlett's
Scarlett's resolve, ....... 87
The order he gave, . . . . . .88
' Scarlett's three hundred,' ...... 88
Ground taken to the right, . . . . . 88
The 4th Dragoon Guards and the Royals approaching, . . 89
Scarlett's dilemma, ....... 89
His decision, ........ 90
Lord Lucan. The part taken by him after hearing of the advance of
the Eussian cavalry, . . . . . . .90
Meeting between Lord Lucan and General Scarlett, ... 92 The communications between them, . . . 92
Lord Lucan's part in the attack, ..... 93
Positions of the six squadrons at the moment anterior to Scarlett's
The numbers of the Russian cavalry confronting Scarlett, . . 94
Deliberate and well-executed manoeuvre of the Russian oavalry, . 95 Its advance down the slope, ...... 95
The Russian cavalry slackening pace, and coming at length to a halt, 96 Surmise as to the cause of the halt, . . . . .96
Deployment effected by the Russians on each flank of their column, 97 Scarlett's task, ....... 98
The great numbers of military spectators who were witnesses of the
Distinctive colours of the uniforms worn by the Russians and the
English dragoons, . . . . 101
The group of four horsemen now collected in front of the Greys, . 102 Scarlett's deviation from the accustomed practice, . „ . 105
The order he gave his trumpeter, . . . . .105
Scarlett's advance, . . . . . . .106
His distance from his squadrons, . . . . .106
The Russian officer in front of the column at the part where Scarlett
was about to assail it, . . . . .107
Scarlett sweeping past the bridle-arm of the Russian officer, and driving into the column, . . . . . .107
General Scarlett in the column, . . . . .108
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.— continued.
PAGE
Elliot's encounter with the Russian officer in front of the column, . 108 The three horsemen riding with Scarlett, .... 109
The ancient friendship between the Scots Greys and the Inniskilling
The distinguishing characteristics of the two regiments, . . 110
The temper of the Greys at this time, . . . .111
Unavoidable slowness of the advance in its earlier moments, . . Ill
Progress of the advance, . . . . . .112
Involuntary extension of our line whilst advancing, . . . 112
The Russian horsemen resorting to firearms, . . . .113
The officers who charged with the Greys, . . . .113
The officers who charged with the 2d squadron of the Inniskillings, 114 Colonel Dalryrnple White at the head of the 2d squadron of the Inniskillings, . . . . . . 114
The charge of the three hundred, . . . . .115
The manoeuvres of the two Russian wings, . . . .135
The circumstances under which they were attempted, . . 136
His order to the 4th Dragoon Guards, • . . . 137
His alleged direction to another regiment, . . . .138
The order in which some of the operations of our supports are about
to be recorded, ....... 139
The melley that was formed in the part of the column attacked by
Change in the bearing of the combatants, . . . .147
Efforts made to rally the Greys, . . . . .148
The order given by Scarlett to Major Conolly, . . . . 150
Hunt's squadron of the Inniskillings, . . . . 150
The officers present with the squadron, .... 150
Captain Hunt, . . . . . . .151
Position of the squadron, . . . . . .151
Major Shute's order, . . . . . .151
The charge of Hunt's squadron of the Inniskillings, . . 151
The breaking of the column, . . . . .154
Retreat of the whole body, ...... 154
Attempts of our dragoons to rally, ..... 155
The pursuit of the enemy by our dragoons, .... 155
Fire of artillery, . . ... . . 155
Results of the fight between the Russian cavalry and Scarlett's Brigade, . . : . . . . 156
CONTENTS.
XI
CHAPTER VI.— continued.
PAGE
The admiration excited by the exploit of Scarlett's Brigade,
The congratulation addressed to General Scarlett by Lord Raglan, .
Comments upon the fight, ......
The time occupied by the fight, .....
Chapter VII
The Light Brigade at the time of Scarlett's engagement,
Its neutrality, . .
Impatience of the brigade, . ' . . . .
And of Lord Cardigan, ......
The surprise with which the neutrality of the Light Brigade was observed, . . . .
The cause which palsied the Light Brigade at the time of Scarlett's engagement, ......
The kind of experience which has a tendency to prevent men from putting sensible constructions on orders,
Incident making the error more signal, ....
By bringing into public contrast the qualifications of Lord Cardigan and Captain Morris, ......
Lord Lucan's message of reproof to Lord Cardigan, .
CHAPTEE VIII.
Lord Raglan's instantaneous perception of the new phase into which the battle had passed, ......
The change that was wrought in the position of the Russians by the defeat of their cavalry, ......
Lord Raglan's purpose, . . . . .
Circumstances under which Lord Raglan determined to appeal to his cavalry, . . . .
The third order
Lord Lucan's construction of it, . . • .
The impatience and anger amongst men of the Headquarter Staff, .
The ' fourth order,' .......
Captain Nolan, .......
CHAPTEE IX.
The position of the Russian army at the time when Nolan reached
Lord Lucan,
Intentions of Liprandi at this period of the action, .
Lord Raglan's perfect apprehension of the state of the battle, xii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE IX.— continued.
PAGE
Two points in the enemy's position available for attack, . . 190
The valley that lay between them, ..... 191
Position of our cavalry at this time, . . . . . 191
Arrival of Nolan with the ' fourth order,' . . . . . 191
The ' fourth order,' . . . . . . .192
Lord Lucan's reception of the order, . . . .194
The altercation between Lord Lucan and Nolan, . . .195
Lord Lucan's determination, ..... 202
Lord Lucan's order to Lord Cardigan, .... 203
CHAPTEE X.
I
Dispositions for the advance of the cavalry down the North Valley, 207 Lord Cardigan and his Staff, . • . . . . . 208
Lord Cardigan's impression as to the nature of the task imposed
" Advance of Lord Cardigan and the Light Brigade, . . . 211
The appearance of Captain Nolan in front of the brigade, . . 211
His probable object, . . . . . . .212
Question as to the degree in which blame justly attached to Nolan, 215
II
Movement on the part of the enemy which shows the exact adaptation of Lord Raglan's written orders to the exigency of the
Gradual awakening of the Russians to the opportunity which our
Light Brigade was offering them, . . . .220
Powerful fire opened upon the advancing brigade from both flanks, 221
Officers acting with the two regiments of the first line, . 1 . 222
Continued advance of the brigade, ..... 223
- Lord Cardigan's rigid way of leading the brigade, . . . 224 Increasing difficulty of restraining the pace in the first line, . 225 State of the first line, ...... 225
- Casualties in Lord Cardigan's personal Staff, . . . 225 Continued advance of Lord Cardigan and his first line, . . 226
III. The advance of the three regiments acting in support, . . 230
Officers present with the 11th Hussars, .... 230
With the 4th Light Dragoons, ..... 230
With the 8th Hussars, ...... 231
The order in which the ' supports ' advanced, . . . 231
CONTENTS.
Xlll
CHAPTER X.— continued.
IV. Page
The near approach* of our first line to the battery, . . . 240
Lord Cardigan's charge into the battery at the head of his first line, 241
V. Small portion of the first line led by Captain Morris which outflanked
the battery, and was immediately confronted by Russian cavalry, 243
Morris's charge, . . . . . . 244
Morris wounded and taken prisoner, .... 246
Other incidents in this part of the field, . . . 248
VI. Continued advance by Lord Cardigan in person, . . . 249
His isolation, ....... 249
His advance towards a large body of Russian cavalry, . . 250
Endeavour to take him prisoner, ..... 251
The movement in retreat by which he disengaged himself from his
Cossack assailants, . . . . . .252
The devotion with which, down to this time, Lord Cardigan had led
his brigade, . . . . . . 252
VII. Lord Cardigan's return through the battery, . . . 253
His predicament, ....... 253
VIII. The Lancers who had charged under Morris, . . . .258
The groups of combatants constituting the main remnants of the first
The group under Captain Jenyns, ..... 259
Group formed of men of the 17th Lancers, .... 259
Mayow's assumption of command over these, . . . 260 Mayow's order to the men, . . . . . .260
Men under O'Hara, ....... 261
Mayow's charge, ....... 261
His advance in pursuit, ...... 261
His halt, . .262
Operations of the forces actively supporting the first line, . . 262
IX. The feelings with which the French saw our Light Cavalry advance
down the North Valley, . . . . . .262
The Chasseurs d'Afrique, ...... 263
XIV
CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE X.— continued.
PAGE
The celebrated 4th regiment of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, . . 263
General Morris, . . . . ... . 264
His determination, . . " . . . . 264
D'Allonville's attack, ....... 265
Moderate extent of the losses sustained byiD'Allonville in proportion
to the service rendered, ...... 267
The brilliancy of this achievement of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, . 267
X. The 11th Hussars
The 4th Light Dragoons,
Their entrance into the battery,
The combat which there followed,
Further advance of Lord George Paget,
The 8th Hussars,
268 270 270 271 273 273
XL
State of the battle at this period, . 275
The retreat of the Eussian Cavalry, ..... 277
The need there was of fresh troops in order to clench the victory, . 278
XII. The question now forced upon his attention, . . . .281
The Greys and the Royals ordered to fall back, . . 282
Severity of the fire which had been sustained by these regiments, . 282 Lord Lucan's conclusion as to the only use that could now be made
of the Heavy Dragoons, . . . . . . 283
The brigade kept halted accordingly, .... 283
General Scarlett and Colonel Beatson, . . . . 283
- The Light Brigade disappearing in the smoke at the foot of the
The full import of Lord Lucan's decision, .... 284
Our Heavy Dragoons at the time when the Light Brigade was out of
sight at the foot of the valley, ..... 285
XIII. The Light Brigade, . . 286
Colonel Mayow and his fifteen lancers, . . . . 286
Their junction with the 8th Hussars, .... 286
Liprandi's battalions on the Causeway Heights, . . . 287 Three squadron's of Jeropkine's Lancers seen forming in rear of the
Colonel Shewell the senior officer in this emergency, . . 288
CONTENTS.
XV CHAPTER X.— continued
PAGE
His charge, ........
JJeieat and night 01 the Russian Lancers, ....
Shewell's retreat, .......
ooi Avi.
Al v .
The 11th Hussars and the 4th Light Dragoons,
Their retreat, . . . . . ...
Approach of the Eussian cavalry in pursuit, ....
Lord George Paget's appeal to his regiment, ....
Its effect, . .
Discovery of a body of Russian cavalry formed up across the line of
Means for meeting the emergency, .....
Position of the interposed force, . . , .
T"f"Q ■fVvpmsi'Hrm finn fj"n"noT*pn"f q^tpti cH~Ti
Its sudden change of front, . .
Advance and sudden halt of the column, ....
The nature of the collision which then occurred,
Continued course of the two retreating regiments,
T.mvl Cr&rivcT(* T*fi cfp+'c; lTinniw jjq "f*n "flip "fn'fp r»f "flip "fivcf* linp
XV.
The escape of Sir George Wombwell, . .
The escape of Captain Morris, .....
Morris and Nolan, .......
A VI.
The remnants of the brigade at this time, ....
Lord Cardigan's address to the men, .....
The first muster of the Light Brigade after the charge,
The killing of the disabled horses, .....
The losses suffered by the brigade, .....
The supposed fate of Captain Lockwood, ....
The small number of prisoners taken by the Russians,
The small amount of loss sustained by our troops after once closing with the enemy, .
AVll.
Who brought the first line out of action ?
And who brought out the supports ? .
XVIII.
Interview between Lord Raglan and Lord Cardigan,
Lord Raglan's opinion of Lord Cardigan's conduct in the charge,
Interview between Lord Raglan and Lord Lucan, . , xvi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.— continued.
XIX.
PACK
General Liprandi's questions respecting the exploit of the Light
XX.
- Duration of the combat called the 'Light Cavalry Charge,' . . 326 Lord Eaglan's privately expressed opinion of the charge, . . 326
General Bosquet's criticism on the charge, . . . .327
CHAPTER XI.
Liprandi's counter-march of the Odessa battalions, . Deliberations of General Canrobert and Lord Raglan, The determination of the Allies, Close of the battle, .....
CHAPTER XII.
I.
The kind of importance which can be attached to the battle of Bala-
Summary of the battle, . . . . . .335
II.
The loss of ground sustained by the Allies, .... 339
The casualties resulting from the battle, .... 340
Trophies taken by the Russians, .... 340
Treatment of the prisoners taken by the enemy, . . . 341
III.
With whom the victory ? . . . . .341
The effect of the battle upon the self-confidence of the Russians, . 342 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER.
LORD CARDIGAN, . . .345
Lord Cardigan's theory as to the duty of a cavalry officer placed in his circumstances, ...... 348
His statements and explanations, ..... 350
His written explanations of the course he took in retiring, . . 350
Counter statements, . . . . . . 351
The definite question thus raised, . . . . .352
The question not yet ripe for decision, .... 353
329 330 332 333
I
CONTENTS.
xvii
APPTCNDTX"
ill X J.J i-> -LJ ll\ .
PAGE
JNo.
T
1."
— Narrative by l)r Ramsay Brush, oi the Scots Greys, respecting the part taken by Colonel Darby Griffith, .
oO/
JNO.
— Explanatory Statements laid before Mr Kinglake by
Lord Lucan, ......
QKCi
IN 0.
— Statement laid before Mr Kinglake by Lord Cardigan, .
IN 0.
TV XV.
IN 0.
— Record of Military Services of General "W. F. Beatson, .
OOO
"NTn
XN U.
VT
O t At
No.
VII.-
— The Strength of the body of Russian Cavalry under
General Ryjoff which engaged General Scarlett's Brigade,
No. VIII.-
—Papers relating to the Recall of Lord Lucan,
No.
IX.-
—The Nature of the Litigation in the Suit of the Earl of
Cardigan v. Lieutenant-Colonel Calthorpe,
ILLUSTEATIONS TO VOLUME IV.
BATTLE OF BALACLAVA.
Plate I. General Plan — Advance of the Russian Cavalry, to face page 78
,, II. Order of march of the six squadrons, sent General Scarlett when approach of Russian Cavalry was observed,
,, III. The Heavy Cavalry Charge,
,, IV. Facsimile of Lord Cardigan's Plan,
,, V. The Light Cavalry Charge,
„ VI. The Light Cavalry Attack, . ,, VII. De Todleben's Plan of the Rout of the Russian Cavalry, .....
,, VIII. The 8th Hussars charging three squadrons of Jeropkine's Lancers, ....
,, IX. 4th Light Dragoons and 11th Lancers retreating across front of Jeropkine's Lancers,
106 164 208 266
278 290
THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA.
The opening of the book is shown; the full text loads in the reader.
Loading the full text…
The end
You’ve reached the end of The Battle of Balaclava.