Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/328

 306 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. chap, his voice, he shouted out to his Dragoons, ' If you __! ' don't front, my boys, we are done ! ' Lord Anglesea used to say that ' cavalry are ' the bravest fellows in the world in advance ; but ' that when once they get into a scrape, and have ' their backs turned to the enemy, it is a difficult ' matter to stop and rally them.' If Lord George was perchance one of those who had heard this saying from the lips of his father, he could hardly have been without some misgiving. For once, however, the saying did not hold good. The men of the two regiments who at this moment remained together were only, as was computed, about 70 in number, and not, as a body, in a good state of order ; but nevertheless, at the word of command, they came to a halt, and began to front towards the enemy. It was at this time that the young Lieutenant Jolliffe did opportune service. Facing boldly towards the newly fronting troopers in de- spite of the numbers advancing against him from behind, he held up his sword for a rally, and so well used his voice as to be able to cause numbers of the 4th Light Dragoon men who were strag- gling and bewildered to understand what had to be done, and at once form up with their comrades, its effect At the sight of the front thus presented to them, the Russians were instantly checked ; and it is believed that our troops saved themselves from a crushing disaster by their ready obedience to Lord George Paget's appeal. But during the very moments that were occu- pied by this operation of fronting towards the