Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/130

 108 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. chap, chief; for when a strong body of horse is hurled — - — at full pace towards the foe, it commonly happens that either the attack or the resistance gives way before the moment of impact ; but in this rare example of a slow, yet resolute, charge of three hundred, directed uphill against broad and deep masses of squadrons which reckoned their strength by thousands, it seemed nearly certain from the first that the General leading it must come, and come almost singly, into actual bodily contact with a host of adversaries, and remain for a time engulfed in it because the enemy's front ranks were so barred against all retreat by the squadrons behind them, that there could be no hope of put- ting the body to flight by the mere approach of our squadrons. At this time, the distance between the Eussians and General Scarlett is believed to have been about 400 yards. Scarlett's deviation from the accustomed practice : For the better understanding of what presently followed, it is well to know that when a brigadier is directing a movement which must be executed by only a portion of his force, the notes of the brigade trumpet do not instantly and directly take effect upon the troops ; because the order of the brigadier, in the case supposed, must be repeated by the regimental officers. It will also be useful to remember that squadrons in general are not moved from a halt to a charge by a single word of command. When the process is gone through with full deliberation, the first order is this: —