THE BALAKLAVA CHARGE.

Evening Star, Issue 3511, 25 May 1874, Page 3

THE BALAKLAVA CHARGE.

WAS THERE A BLUNDER ? HOW NOLAN DIED —A MYSTERY CL RAH ED. At last we have an historical blunder gracefully corrected, and a handsome defence of a brave soldier, whose name has been under a cloud. It has been popularly decided that Captain Louis Nolan, of Lord Raglan's staff, being an impetuous soldier, purposely misconstrued the actual meaning of an order which he carried, into authorization of the senseless sacrifice of the Light Brigade, and that his only excuse was that he was the first, man killed in the charge. Launce Poyntz, in the ‘Galaxy,’after reviewing the topography «f the battle-field and position p£ the forces, says. ; As it was, matters stoodthai? when Nolan' left Raglan, bearing- the . V fourth order.?’ The Russians; were, clustered on two hills, the English and French cavalry stood lookin 8 Ph >. Lucan was in his usual nervous irritable state, when the gallop, of-, a horse was heard. A tall, slender, young officer, with a trim figure and a black-, moustache, was seen coming down' a steep'descent at full speed, with a white envelope, which stuck in his bolt, and every, eye was on.him in a moment. It was . Captain Nolan, in his scarlet shell-jacket, a little forage pap set on one side of his dark'curls,' his face full of joy and earnestness. : Ah audible murmur went through the ranks. _ “ Orders come ! Nolan’s the boy that’ll ; show us the way to more.” For Nolan was ' well known and universally liked. 1 fn another moment he had dashed up and saluted; then banded his - letter to Lord Luokn. The, cavalry general tore it open with the nervous baste characteristic of every movement of his lordship. - When he: read it over his countenance changed. Then ’ his lordship broke out in something of this style r— ■ “ Why, good heavens, sir, what can he mean ? With the little force at our command we can .barely hold our own,'much less advance., It is perfect suicidal. How could we advance?” ; Nolan’s ajeS,began to blaze. He had just come from high ground whehce the wholeRussian ; position, could. he .seen at a. glance.! Knowing that his order contemplated the i doubling back of the Russian columns and saving the guns in the redoubts, he wag im : patient of the pragmatical objection of this captious old man. In a stern distinct tone; be spoke tp Loxd Lucan Lord RaglanV orders are that the cavajry should attack immediately.” . V. Attack, sir ?” cried Lucan angrily. “ Attack what ? What guns, sir ? ” Nolan threw back his head indignantly, and pointed to the Causeway Ridge, where, the Russians were busily at work trying to haul away the captured guns. The group was standing at the right of the entrance of the north valley. i< here, my Lord, is your enemy,” be said, ’ ‘and there are your guns.” The captain forgot that he was talking to' an excited and impracticable man. Wrongheaded Lucan chose to fancy that he pointed to the end of the valley, and with all the obstinacy of his nature he kept to the error. .“Very well,sir, very well,” he said, anmy hands of it.” E He wheeled his horse and trotted oh to where Cardigan sat in front of his brilliant' lines gnawing his grey moustaches and chafing over, his inactivity. , Then said wrong-headed Lucan ; “ Lord Cardigan, you will attack the Russians in the valley.” 1 be Earl dropped his sword in salute. ‘‘ Certainly, my Lord; but allow me to point out to you that there is a battery in front, abattery oh-each flank, and the ground' is covered with Russian riflemen.” - ■ : . ~ .** ? °®. n it is.’Lord Raglan’s positive order that the Light Brigade is to attack the enemy. We ! have no choice but to obey.” Then Cardigan bowed, his head. “Very well, my Lord,” was all he said.Then turning to, his staff, “ The bagade will advance,” he said quietly. •Meanwhile Nolan, after his .sharp, passage of arms with the division commander, had ridden off to the Light Brigade, where he was cheerfully talking to his sworn comrade and friend, Captain Moms, of the 17fch Lancers, Now that he had , made his position as mouth-piece of the commander-in-chief against the; impudent fault-finding of Lucan, he felt happy. His beloved cavalry was to be launched at on this glorious mission above the Causeway Ridge, and already D’Allonvil.'e was preparing to assault the flank of the Russians. - .Who can wonder that the enthusiastic Nolan told Morris that he was going to see the brigade through the charge? Jt was his privilege to do so, and his heart boat high -with hope. Little did he know of the extent , of pig-headed stupidity natural jto the two members of the English aristocracy who respectively commanded and lost that charge. A clear sharp voice was ® ( ? on in. front of the brigade, now formed in three lines.'. Lord Lucan-rode away to the “ Heavies,” and Nolan galloped around to the rear of the left of the light brigade as the sharp voice cried : “ Light brigade,, forward— trot—march !” In a moment the front line was away, steady as if on parade, at a rapid trot, followmg an erect gentleman, mounted on a chestnut thoroughbred, and wearing tight' scarlet tfousera,' and a blue fur-trimmed jacket, the front a perfect maze of gold. The erect gentleman was slender in figure, as alert in gesture, as a boy of twentv, and yet that man was fifty-seven 5 ears old, and the Earl of Cardigan himself. But hardly had they started when Nolan littered a cry of astonishment and rage. ‘ ‘ Good God ! are the fools going to charge . down the valley ?” he shouted. ' Then, setting spurs to his horse, he dashed put of bis place, and galloped madly across the front, waving bis sword. “Where are you going, my lord ?” he shouted, “ That is not Lord Raglan’s order ! Charge front to the right! This way ! This way ! The batteries on the ridge I” Lord Cardigan was as hot-tempered in his way- as Lord Lucan. The audacity of an officer presuming to cross his front was enough. For that officer to address his brigade was an additional insult. He spoke not a word, but pointed forward with his sword. Nolan’a words were lost in the thunder of hoofs, and all that was seen was his figure crossing the front, and wild with gesticulating, pointing to Causeway Ridge. Then the Russian batteries opened. There was a flash, a boom, a second flash in the air, a little cloud of white smoke and a loud spang, and the first shell burst in the faces of the trotting line, Poor Nolan threw

np bis arms with a terrible shriek, and fell back into his saddle stone dead, struck through the heart. With a low groan of j rage the rushing horsemen quickened their pace and dashed on at a wild gallop into the “ valley of death.” The secret of Balaklava perished with Mol an.