Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/156

 134 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. CHAP, from the memory, for Elliot remained in his i. saddle, and it is hard to say how he could have been saved if the effect of the blow had been so disabling as to prevent him from using his sword- arm. It is true he was much hacked, having re- ceived altogether in this fight no less than four- teen sabre-cuts, but he lived nevertheless, — nay lived, I observe, to be returned as 'slightly ' wounded/ and to find that his name, though most warmly and persistently recommended by Scarlett, was kept out of the public despatches.* Lucan conceived it to be his duty to suppress Scarlett's de- spatch recommending Elliot's services for official recognition, and to name only one of the cavalry aides-de-camp as amongst those who had ' entitled themselves to the notice of the Coin- ' ruander of the Forces ; ' but — and now comes what to the uninitiated must seem almost incredible — the aide-de-camp whom Lord Lucan honoured with this distinction, in exclusion of Elliot and in defiance of Scarlett's despatch, was an officer (Lord Lucan's first aide-de-camp) who, as it happened, had not had an opportunity of being in any one of the cavalry charges. When I first became acquainted with this monstrous inversion, I believed that I could not do otherwise than ascribe it to Lord Lucan, and I resolved to comment upon his decision in the way which so gross a misfeasance would deserve if it were the act of a free agent. I suspend my determination in this re- spect, because further inquiry has led me to apprehend that, if Lord Lucan had named the right man instead of the wrong one, lie would have been regarded as outraging the custom of the service beyond all the measure of what, any one not holding supreme command could be expected to attempt. Supposing that be so, Lord Lucan, of course, cannol fairly be charged with more blame than other men of equal authority who con- tinue a vicious practice without protesting against it; but it he, on this ground, is to be absolved, what is to be said of an army system which compels such a falsification? Well, what in such case would have to be said is this: that the military reputation of England is at the mercy of a Trade- Union, whict
 * This resulted from a decision of Lord Lucan's. Lord