The Balaclava Brigade

French cavalry is on your left. The authorities agree this was an unfortunate choice. Nolan, a mercurial professional cavalry officer, who had begun his career in an Austrian hussar regiment, entertained a contempt for Lucan and was constantly irked by the failure to use the cavalry decisively. The text made little sense to Lucan, as the preparations for the removal of the guns from the redoubts could not be seen from the valley floor. Lucan asked Nolan which enemy and which guns Raglan was referring to.

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There are your guns, My Lord. Lucan was irked at being the butt of criticism for the inaction of the cavalry and was disinclined to have further discussion with the insolent Nolan. Lucan rode over to Cardigan and directed him to charge the Russian cavalry and guns at the end of the North Valley. After a brief remonstration, Cardigan ordered his brigade to mount and led it forward into the valley. The staff could see the Russians positioned on the Fedioukine Hills, to the north side of the North Valley, with infantry, cavalry and guns, the original force of Russian cavalry attacked by the Heavy Brigade at the end of the North Valley, behind the battery of eight guns and, on the Causeway Heights on the south side of the valley, Russian infantry, cavalry and guns in the redoubts abandoned by the Turks.

All these troops were ready to fire on the Light Brigade as it charged down the North Valley. It was soon after 11am that the Light Brigade set off behind Lord Cardigan. The 13 th Light Dragoons held the right flank of the first line with the 17 th Lancers on the left. In the third line were the 8 th Hussars and the 4 th Light Dragoons. Lord Lucan followed with the Heavy Brigade, but a short distance into the advance, as the scale of fire became apparent, Lucan halted the brigade and left the Light Brigade to continue down the valley alone.

Captain Nolan joined the ranks of the 17 th Lancers, the officer commanding, Captain Morris, being a friend. It is thought Nolan realised the brigade was intended to ascend the Causeway Heights, not to attack down the valley and that a grave mistake was being made. Nolan rode across in front of Cardigan waving his sword.

As he did so, he was struck and killed by a shell splinter, one of the first casualties. The distance the Light Brigade had to cover to reach the guns was a mile and a quarter. Advancing at a trot, the brigade came under fire within a few minutes; shell fire, cannon balls and rifle fire from the flanking Russian forces striking down riders and horses. After five minutes, the brigade came within range of the eight guns at the end of the valley. These guns had a much easier target, firing at the brigade line, around yards in width, rather than at its flank.

Casualties spiralled, causing the regiments to increase their pace, until the lines were at the gallop and order was being lost. By the time the brigade reached the guns, half of its complement were casualties. Reaching the end of the valley, the Light Brigade plunged into the Russian gun line and cut down those of the crews that had not fled.

The 13 th Light Dragoons, with the right-hand squadron of the 17 th Lancers, struck the Russian battery directly. The left squadron of the 17 th passed the battery and attacked Russian cavalry behind. The 11 th Hussars also passed the battery and attacked the cavalry beyond, driving them back and pursuing them as far as the aqueduct. They were, in turn, pursued for some distance by a force of Russian cavalry and Cossacks. The charge complete, the Light Brigade returned by the route it had come. The men did this singly or in small groups, other than two larger parties; one led by Colonel Shewell, formed of 70 men of the 8 th Hussars and the 17 th Lancers; the other, led by Lord George Paget, of 4 th Light Dragoons and 11 th Hussars.

Each of these bodies was opposed by Russian cavalry, who emerged from the hills on either side of the valley and which they charged and dispersed. This they did with great success and a loss of only 38 casualties. Their charge relieved the British cavalrymen of the fire from the north side of the valley as they returned from the Russian battery.

Lord Cardigan, having ridden through the battery, found himself alone, turned and rode back down the valley. He was one of the first to reach British lines, where he met Sir George Cathcart.

Charge of the Light Brigade - Wikipedia

On its return, the Light Brigade had a mounted strength of officers and men from an original strength of The 13 th Light Dragoons mustered 10 mounted men. Although the First and Fourth British Infantry Divisions were now in the valley and ready to begin an assault on the Causeway Heights along the Woronzoff Road, no further action was taken. The Russians were left in control of the Heights and the road.

The infantry divisions returned to their camps outside Sevastopol. The Heavy Brigade suffered 92 casualties 9 killed in the battle, some of whom were hit at the beginning of the charge down the North Valley. Victoria Crosses awarded to the regiments at Balaclava: Soldiers of the 13th Light Dragoons: British Casualties killed, wounded and missing: Follow-up to the Battle of Balaclava: Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

Light Cavalry charge at Balaklava Wood engraving from a contemporary English newspaper. The Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava', , Battle at Balaklava, Crimean War, Russia, 25 October , with lines of the cavalry advancing straight into a line of cannon fire. Sold in London Ausction Room yesterday, was the famous bugle that sounded yhe Charge for the Light Brigade in and sent the gallant into the Valley of Death at the Battle of Balaclava.

To actor Laurence Harvey and theatrical agent Peter Pritchard, who ere making a film about the Charge of the Light Brigade, although the bugle, which is rather battered, will not appear on the screen. Wood engraving, 19th century. The publisher is listed as '', the form of composition is 'strophic with chorus', the instrumentation is 'piano and voice', the first line reads 'Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward', and the illustration artist is listed as 'A. The port of Balaclava lay outside the main Allied perimeter and had to be provided with a defensive system of its own. Redoubts upon the Causeway Heights offered Balaclava its first line of defence: The redoubts housed a total of nine naval guns, all pounders from HMS Diamond: Redoubts 5 and 6 the two at the western end of the Causeway Heights , were still unfinished and without any guns.

The inner line of defence of the British base was supplied by the 93rd Highlanders and a Royal Artillery field battery stationed at the village of Kadikoi to the north of Balaclava. In addition to these defences Raglan could call upon the 1, men of Lord Lucan 's Cavalry Division camped on the western end of the South Valley, along with a troop of Royal Horse Artillery. The total force available for the immediate defence of the British base at Balaclava numbered around 4, men, supported by 26 guns. As the Allied siege guns bombarded Sevastopol the Russian reserves were moving to the Crimea.

The Russians sought to relieve Sevastopol from bombardment by marching newly arrived reinforcements from the Danubian front. The vulnerability of Balaclava was well known to both sides. Undertaking the siege operations around Sevastopol whilst securing the Allies' eastern flank was stretching the resources of Raglan's dwindling forces — British casualties at the Alma had been high, and many were still suffering from the cholera epidemic; others simply fell sick from exhaustion.

With the arrival of further Russian reinforcements, Menshikov's total force in theatre including 12 Division numbered around 65, The first move by the Russians came on the early morning of 18 October , when Lieutenant Colonel Rakovitch moved against the village of Chorgun with three infantry battalions, Cossacks and four guns. To the Russian commanders, and, belatedly, to the Royal Engineers , the redoubts were recognised to be too far forward of the inner defensive line of Balaclava to be adequately defended and supported by the British.

Russian reconnaissance reports had also indicated that these outer defences were occupied by a mixture of Tunisians , raw recruits and militia , and not of the same calibre of men that had defeated them on the Danube at the beginning of the war. To Liprandi and his generals it seemed a swift strike against the redoubts was certain of success.

By 23 October Liprandi had gathered 16, men, known as the 'Detachment of Chorgun', comprising 17 battalions, 30 squadrons and 64 guns. The left column, commanded by Major General Gribbe, was to advance across the Chernaya River and towards the village of Kamara. The centre column, under Major General Semyakin, was divided into two wings: Semyakin himself, commanding the left wing, was to lead his troops south from Chorgun before moving against Canrobert's Hill and No.

Meanwhile, the right column, under Colonel Skyuderi, was to advance across the Chernaya via the Tractir Bridge before moving south through the Fedyukhin Heights and across the North Valley to attack No. The attacks were to be supported by Lieutenant General Ryzhov's cavalry. A further force, numbering 4, men and 14 guns under Major General Zhabokritsky, protected Liprandi's right from Allied interference.

Once the redoubts had been captured, Zhabokritsky was to occupy the Fedioukine Heights. In total including Zhabokritsky's force and a reserve held back at the Tractir Bridge Liprandi had at his disposal around 25, men and 78 guns — not enough to threaten the siege lines, but more than enough to compromise the defences at Balaclava whose loss to the Allies would be tremendous.

Charge of the Light Brigade

Recent intelligence received by the British had indicated a major Russian attack was imminent. After a considerable number of false alarms the previous week, however, Raglan failed to act, believing that they were needlessly exhausting his men who were turned out on every report. The village of Kamara was the most easterly picket for Allied soldiers, providing a useful observation point for Lucan's vedettes.

In the dark dawn, a squadron of Russian Cossacks, followed by a host of uhlans , rode slowly towards the village.

Battle of Balaclava

These troops were the leading elements of Gribbe's force. First to discover that the Russians had moved up under cover of dark was the duty field officer of the day, Captain Alexander Low of the 4th Light Dragoons. The picket in Kamara had not seen the advancing Cossacks there is some suggestion that they were sleeping , and it was only through Low's timely arrival and his shouts that they managed to escape and make their way to the nearest redoubt on the Causeway Heights.

Immediately, Gribbe positioned his ten guns on the slopes to the west of Kamara, leaving his gunners with a clear view of No.

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In accordance with his usual practice Lucan had gone forward at daybreak to inspect the redoubts and outposts, accompanied by his staff: As they approached Canrobert's Hill, two signal flags were observed, signifying the approach of the Russians. Paget, commanding officer of the 4th Light Dragoons and commanding officer of the Light Brigade in Cardigan's absence , later recalled the moment when they realized something was wrong:.

Hardly were the words out of McMahon's mouth, when bang went a cannon from the redoubt in question, fired on the advancing masses of the enemy. The Ottoman guns from No. Charteris arrived at around The two men agreed that this was not another Russian feint, but an attack in force with the intention of taking the British base. Campbell prepared his 93rd Highlanders to meet the enemy, whilst Lucan returned to the cavalry. Realizing his show of strength had little impact, however, Lucan led the Heavies back to their original position alongside the Light Brigade.

The Ottoman forces were left to face the full force of the Russian assault almost alone. While Gribbe's artillery continued to shell No. Although the Heavy Brigade had pulled back, the British did send forward their available artillery to assist the Ottoman forces on the Causeway Heights. Captain George Maude's troop of horse artillery, I Troop, unlimbered its four 6-pounder and two pounder guns between redoubts 2 and 3, [39] whilst Captain Barker's battery, W Battery, of the Royal Artillery, moved out of Balaclava and took its position on Maude's left.

However, the artillery duel was a very one sided affair. The heavier Russian guns some pounders , particularly No. Their place taken by two guns from Barker's battery. As the British artillery fire slackened, Semyakin prepared to storm No. In his first report of the action for The Times , William Russell wrote that the Turks 'received a few shots and then bolted', but afterwards admitted that he had not been a witness to the start of the battle, confessing, 'Our treatment of the Turks was unfair … ignorant as we were that the Turkish in No.

The remaining redoubts were now in danger of falling into the hands of the oncoming Russians.

The Ottoman forces in these positions, having already watched their compatriots flee the first redoubt and realizing that the British were not coming to their aid, retreated towards Balaclava, pursued by the Cossacks who had little trouble dispatching any stray or isolated men. The few British NCOs could do nothing but spike the guns , rendering them unusable. Canrobert had been informed of the Russian attack at about Bosquet, having been aroused by the sound of the cannon, had ordered the 2nd Brigade of the French 1st Division under General Vinoy to march towards Balaclava in support of the British.

Additionally, the 1st Brigade under General Espinasse began to move, along with the divisional artillery and the Chasseurs d'Afrique. The French 3rd Division was put on alert, and the horse artillery of the reserve harnessed. The 1st Division got away promptly, but when Raglan's staff officer informed Cathcart that the Russians were marching on Balaclava, he at first refused to comply, complaining that his men had only just finished their shift in the trenches before Sevastopol. In the end he did move, but the delay brought his division down 40 minutes after the Duke's.

The Russians appeared to have the intentions and the means to capture the British base in a much shorter time.

Unwilling at this point to risk his cavalry without infantry support as he had done throughout the whole campaign , Raglan issued his first order to the Cavalry Division at The new position placed the Light Brigade near, but to one side, of the mouth of the North Valley; the Heavy Brigade sat on their right. However, 30 minutes after issuing his first order, Raglan now changed his mind and issued his second order at There was no evidence that the Turks formed up alongside the Highlanders were wavering, but Raglan thought they were, or might soon do so.

Although this order meant he had to divide his cavalry — thus reducing the effectiveness of each part — Lucan complied, and ordered General Scarlett to lead four regiments back to where they had just come from. Liprandi now brought forward Ryzhov's cavalry to press home his advantage. Ryzhov's force consisted of eight squadrons of the 11th Kiev Hussars, six of the 12th Ingermanland Hussars, three of the 53rd Don Cossack Regiment, and the 1st Ural Cossacks, totalling between 2, and 3, men sources vary , and 16 guns. When level with the empty No. Ryzhov detached men of the Ingermanland Hussars to turn and head straight for the Allied infantry position.

Sir Colin Campbell , commander of the Highland Brigade and thus the 93rd Highlanders, brought his men forward from behind the hillock that had sheltered them from the Russian artillery.

With only Balaclava and the Black Sea to their backs, he rode quickly along the line expressing his determination to resist — "Men, remember there is no retreat from here. You must die where you stand. Needs be we'll do that. The Russians dash at the Highlanders. The ground flies beneath their horses' feet; gathering speed at every stride, they dash on towards that thin red streak topped with a line of steel. The British delivered their first volley at long range and failed to fell a single Russian. This caused the Russians to swerve to their left, which Campbell took as an attempt to turn his right.

He sternly checked an inclination to charge with the bayonet, and instead threw forward the 93rd's right-hand, grenadier company, under Captain Ross. Barely five minutes after it had begun the Ingermanland Hussars were in retreat, and heading towards the Causeway Heights: Although outnumbering the British by two or three to one and having the advantage of the high ground, the Russians seemed shaken by the unexpected presence of Scarlett's cavalry.

Scarlett, notoriously short-sighted, remained unaware that the Russians were there. However, once he had negotiated a vineyard and the sprawling tented camp of the Light Brigade, he was notified by his ADC , Lieutenant Elliot, of the proximity of the Russian cavalry on their left flank.

Had the Russians charged at this moment they would have caught Scarlett's men completely disorganised, yet Ryzhov let the chance slip. So impatient was he to attack that he ordered his duty trumpeter, Trumpet Major Joy, to sound the charge — but nothing happened. An attempt to attack before his men were in perfect alignment was contrary to every precept that the officers had learnt back in England, and it was only when the dressing had been completed to his satisfaction did Scarlett order his trumpeter, Trumpet Major Monks, to sound the charge.