THE BALACLAVA CHARGE. WAS THERE A BLUNDER—HOW NOLAN DIED—A MYSTERY CLEARED.

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 312, 14 May 1874, Page 3

THE BALACLAVA CHARGE. WAS THERE A BLUNDER — HOW NOLAN DIED — A MYSTERY CLEARED.

At last we have an historical blunder 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 msaning of an order which he earned into authorisation 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 of the battlefield and the position of the forces, says : — As it was, matters stood thus, when Nolan left Raglan , bearing the ' fourth order.' The Russians were clustered on two hills, the English and French cavalry stood looking on ; Lucan was in his usual nervous irritable stale, when the gallop of a horse was heard. A tall, slender young officer, with a trim figure and black moustache, was coming down a steep descent at full speed, with a white envelope, which was stuck in his belt, and every eye was on him in a moment. It was Captain Nolan, in his scarlet shell-jacket, a little foi age cap set on one side of hi 9 dark curls, his face full of joy and earnestness. An audible murmur went through the ranks. ' Orders como ! Nolans the boy that'll show us the way to move.' For Nolan was well know n and universally liked. In another moment he had dashed up and saluted ; then handed his letter to Lord Lucan. The cavalry general tore it open with the nervous ha«te characteristic of every movement of his lordship. When he rend it over his countenance chanced. Then his lordship broke out in something of this style: — ' Why, good heavens, sir, what can he mean ? With the little force at our command wo can barely hold our own, much less advance. It is perfectly suicidal. How could wo advance ?' Nolans eyes began to blaze. He had just come from high ground, whence the whole Russian position could be seen at a glance. Knowing that his order contemplated tho doubling back of the Russian columns and saving the guns in the redoubts, he was impatient of the pragmatical objection of this captious old man. In a stern distinct tone ho spoke to Lord Lucan : — ' Lord Raglan's orders are that the cavalry should attack immediately.' ' Attack, sir ?' said Lucan angrily. ' Attack what ? What guns, sir ?' Nolan Ihrew back his head indignantly, and pointed to the Causeway Ridge, where the Russians were v busily at work trying to haul away the captured guns. The group was standing at tho right of the entrance of the north valley. ' There, my lord, is your enemy, ho said, ' and there are your guns.' The captain forgot that he was talking to an excited and impracticable man. Wrong-headed Lucan chose to fancy that he pointed to tho end of the valley, and with all the obstinacy of his nature ho kept to the error. ' Very well, sir, very well,' he said angrily. ' The orders shall be obeyed. I wash my hands of it.' He wheeled his horse and trotted on to where Cardigan aat in front of his brilliant lines gnawing his grey moustache and chafing over his inactivity. Then said long-headed Lucan :—: — ' Lord Cardigan, you will attack tho Russians in the valley.' The Earl dropped his sword in salute. ' Certainly, my lord ; but allow me to point out to you that there is a battery in front, battery on each flank, and the ground is covered with Russian riflemen.' ' I can't help it,' said Lucan, snappishly, ' it is Lord Raglan's positive orders 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 brigade will advance,' he said quietly. Meanwhile Nolan, after his sharp passag e of arms with the division commander, had ridden off to the Light Brigade, whero he was cheerfully talking to his sworn comrade *nd friend, Captain Morris of the 17th Lancers. Novr that he had maintained his position ns mouthpiece to the com-mander-in-chief against the impudent faultfinding Lucan he felt happy. His beloved cavalry was to be launched at lust on this glorious mission against the Causeway Ridge, and already d'AUonville was preparing to assault the other flank of the Russians. Who can wonder that enthusiastic Nolan told Morris that ho wns going to see the brigade through the charge ? It i was his privilege to do so, and his heart beat high with hope. Little did he know of the extent of pig-headed stupidity natural to the two members of the English aristocracy who respectively commanded and lost that charge. A clear sharp voice was soon heard 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 tho left of the light brigade as the eharp voice cried : — ' Light Brigade, forward — trot — march ! ' In a moment the front line was away, steady as if on parade, at a rapid trot, following an erect gentleman, mounted on a chesnut thoroughbred, and wearing tight scarlet trousers, and a blue fur-trimmed jacket, the front a perlect maze of gold. The erect gentleman was as slender in figure, as alert in gesture, as a boy of twenty, and yet that man was fifty-seven years old, and the Earl of Cardigan himself. But hardly had they started when Nolan uttered a cry of astonishment and rage. ' Good God ! are the fools going to charge down tho valley ' ' be shouted. Then, setting spurs to his horse, ho dashed out of his place and galloped madly across tho front, waving his sword. ' Where are you going, my lord ? ' he shouted. ' That is not Lord Raglan's order ! Change front to the right ! This ! Tins way ! The batteries of the ridge ! ' Lord Cardigan was as hot-tempered in hia way as Lord Lucun The audacity of an officer presuming to cross hia front was enough. For that officer to address his brigade was an additional insult. He spoke not % word, but pointed forward with his sword. Nolans words were lost in the the thunder of hoofs, and all that was seen was his figure rrobsing the front and wildly with gesticulating, pointing to Causeway Ridge. Then the Russian batteries opened. There was a flash, a boom, a second flash in the air, u little cloud of whito smoke, and a loud spang and the first shell burst in the face of the trotting line. Poor Nolan threw up his arms with a terrible shriek and fell baekm his saddle stone dead, struck through the heart. With a low groan of rage tho rushing horsemen quickened their pace and dashed on at a wild gallop into the t alley of (leatn. 'lhi tec-ill of JJulucluva nori&hcd with Nolan.