The Cause of the Charge of Balaclava

by Thomas Morley

I am only certain of the figures for my own regiment. The 17th Lancers went into the engagement 145 and came out 45 mounted. Every officer of my squadron was killed or wounded. We lost 13 prisoners, only one of them unwounded, and he was dismounted, his horse having been killed. Of these only 3 lived to return to the English ranks, two of them from my squad—Weightman and Marshall. Weightman, who is still living as a retired officer, had thirteen wounds, and Marshall nine wounds.

THE CAUSE OF THE CHARGE.

The phrase “Someone had blundered” is familiar to every one, but the condition of affairs which precipitated the blunder are not known and have never been stated in history.

After the Heavy Brigade made their glorious charge, the Light Brigade was placed in the North valley by order of Lord Raglan, Lords Lucan and Cardigan being absent congratulating the Heavy Brigade officers. Both Commanders-in-chief and Staffs had assembled at the top of Sebastopol Heights and were watching the Russian Army. They decided to force a general engagement and recapture the guns and heights the Turks had lost. The Russian General could see the allied armies—the French massing on the heights of Sebastopol and the British Infantry and Artillery marching down both valleys. The Russians, recognising the uselessness of trying to take Balaclava, ordered their army on the Causeway Heights to retreat and abandon the captured guns. Lord Raglan sent General Airey, Quarter-master General, to give Lord Lucan instructions to which he paid no attention. The third order was, “The Cavalry to advance and take advantage of any opportunity to recover the heights; they will be supported by Infantry which has been ordered to advance on two fronts.” Now the trouble commenced. Lord Lucan could see that Lord Raglan intended the whole cavalry to advance in one body, but he could not give the word of command for his two brigades to move together, not knowing the drill in vogue. Again, how could he ask the cavalry to advance with the Artillery without ammunition? How far could he advance against the Russian Artillery? It would be simple slaughter to charge. Lord Lucan had invaded the Crimea without any supply for his cannon. He admits that he did not leave the forts till he had used all his ammunition, and that was before daylight. He was then only one mile from Balaclava Harbour, the only place for supply, and he could have sent his ammunition wagons for it. His artillery being only six-pounders—the smallest in the Crimea—it was impossible to draw or borrow it. So the humbug went on, and instead of him informing Lord Raglan he had no supply of ammunition in the Crimea—which was his first duty to his Queen and country—he prepared the Heavy Brigade to support infantry at the top of the South valley, quite reversing the third order.

The two commanders-in-chief had their infantry ready for the general engagement; the French infantry massed on the top of Sebastopol heights to support the English; and the French Cavalry was ordered to report to General Lord Lucan, the English Cavalry commander. The Duke of Cambridge had his division on top of Sebastopol heights the first and could see the Russian army retreating on the Causeway heights and abandoning the captured cannon. The Duke waited some time for Lord Lucan to get a move upon his command, then marched his troops down the heights of Sebastopol to the South valley, seeing no signs of the cavalry advancing, ordered his infantry and artillery in line of battle and marched them towards the Causeway heights. I am of the opinion—and always have been—that if Lord Lucan had continued his humbug for ten minutes longer, the Duke of Cambridge would have attacked the retreating Russians on the Causeway heights.

The Commander-in-Chief, worn out with Lord Lucan’s delay of nearly 40 minutes, despatched the fourth and last order, viz., “Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. Troop of Horse Artillery may accompany. French Cavalry on your left. Immediate.” Captain Nolan was selected specially to see this order carried out, being one of the best cavalry officers in the British Army. When the order was given he started and galloped down the steep heights to the South valley to Lord Lucan, saluted him and gave him the order. I suppose he read it, but knowing what took place after, I rather doubt it. Lord Lucan says after he read the order he said to Captain Nolan, “Attack! Sir! Attack what? What guns, sir?” and he states also that Captain Nolan, pointing, said, “There, my Lord, is your enemy, and there are your guns.” Captain Nolan did not tell him to attack and he had no proof to show he did.

Lord Lucan left the largest part of his command in the South valley prepared to support infantry he had never seen. The first thing he did was to inform Lord Cardigan that Lord Raglan had ordered the Light Brigade to charge the guns, telling a lie in the Commander-in-Chief’s name. Lord Lucan then ordered Colonel Douglass to fall back and support the 17th Lancers, and none of the Regimental Commanders or Lord Cardigan were informed of the alteration, although just going into the most deadly charge ever made. Captain Nolan placed himself in front of the 13th Light Dragoons. Seeing one-third of the cavalry going down the valley to be sacrificed, they having to charge one mile and a half, leaving army and supports, and the commander of the Brigade away, Captain Nolan rode in front of the 17th Lancers, the regiment that gave the speed and direction, taking Lord Cardigan’s place. He knew the enemy were on the Causeway Heights retreating and abandoning the captured guns, not more than half a mile from the Light Brigade, and no danger to the Brigade to get where Lord Raglan intended. Captain Nolan knew the guns we were going to charge were sent to that position to cover the Russians’ retreat from the Causeway heights. After Captain Nolan had galloped about forty or fifty yards in the front and centre of the 17th Lancers (he did not know that the 11th Hussars were ordered to fall back) he gave the word of command “Threes right,” waving his sword and turning to his left. At the same moment the Russians opened fire and a piece of shell struck him in the breast near his heart. Had he not have turned he would have been struck in the back or possibly have been missed altogether. When he gave that word of command he intended the whole attacking line to move by it. Though killed his body still remained in the saddle, the horse, seeing the opening on the right, turned sharply in that direction and flung the corpse to the ground.

The dress worn in the charge by the 17th Lancers, October 25th, 1854.