Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/383

 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 361 of the Brigadier under such circumstances? In CHAP. 1 such a desperate meUe to remain to be taken _ ' prisoner, or was it his duty to retire ? ' * When Lord Cardigan declares that at the time counter . . statement* ot his retiring he nowhere saw the supports, he places himself in antagonism to a great body of sworn testimony.-j- Is it, can it be true that Lord Cardigan in his rhe definite question retreat met a part of his supports then moving timsraiaed. down towards the battery, and that in the face of their continued advance he pursued his way towards the rear, past the left of the 4th Light Dragoons ? I acknowledge the apparent weight and the general consistency of the evidence which has been adduced in support of an affirmative answer to this question, and I believe in the good faith of the witnesses. I also acknowledge that, sup- posing the supports to have reached the guns before Lord Cardigan retreated, it is hard to understand how he could have ridden back through the battery without becoming cognisant of the obstinate and boisterous combat which was there maintained for some time by the 4th Light Dragoons. But, on the other hand, there t The affidavits here referred to in Cardigan v. Calthorpe were not regarded as being strictly relevant to the exact question then at issue, and Lord Cardigan, I believe, had no opportunity of adducing evidence in contradiction of them. The effect of the litigation was to raise the question .stated in the text, but uot to solve it. J This was the main question raised by the testimony ad- duced on behalf of Colonel Calthorpe.
 * Another paper furnished to me by Lord Cardigan.