Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/231

 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 209 prepared lines of lire, having always before them c f [ A P. for a goal — which some of the survivors might 1_ touch — the front of a Eussian battery, and the whole strength of Eyjoffs squadrons.* Towards this valley, as we saw, Lord Lucan thought Nolan was pointing when he uttered his taunt- ing apostrophe. So Lord Lucan now proceeded to obey what he judged to be the meaning of the 'fourth order,' as illustrated by the aide-de-camp's words and gesture. Believing that it had really become his duty to send a force down the North Valley, he selected Lord Cardigan and the Light Brigade as the man and the men who must first be offered up in obedience to the supposed commands of Lord Kaglan. At a trot and alone, he rode off to the ground in front of the 13th Light Dragoons, where Lord Cardigan sat in his saddle. Lord Lucau now personally imparted his resolve Lord • T*p Lucan's to Lord Cardigan. There is some dmerence order to between the impressions that were formed of Cardigan, this interview by Lord Lucan on the one hand and Lord Cardigan on the other; Lord Lucan believing that with the ' fourth order ' in his hand he imparted its contents, or at all events the main tenor of it, to Lord Cardigan, and directed him ' to advance/ without in terms enjoining an 'attack;' whilst Lord Cardigan's statement is that Jeropkine's Lancers, and the other small hodies of horsemen which stood posted apart, were not under General Ryjoff, the officer commanding the bulk of the Russian cavalry. VOL. V. O
 * This statement is not too extensive ; for the G squadrons of