Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/427

 AI'I'KNDIX. 405 NOTE III. Statement laid before Me Kinglakb by Lord Cardigan. The brigade was suddenly ordered to mount, upon which I sent one of my aides-de-camp to reconnoitre the ground. Lord Lucan then came in front of my brigade and said, ' Lord Cardigan, you will attack the Eussians in the val- ' ley.' I said, • Certainly, my lord,' dropping my sword at the same time ; ' but allow me to point out to you that ' there is a battery in front, a battery on each flank, and ' the ground is covered with Russian riflemen.' Lord Lucan answered : ' I cannot help that ; it is Lord ' Raglan's positive order that the Light Brigade is to attack 'the enemy;' upon which he ordered the 11th Hussars back to support the 17th Lancers. After advancing about eighty yards, a shell fell within reach of my horse's feet, and Captain Nolan, who was riding across the front, re- treated with his arm up through the intervals of the bri- gade. I led straight down to the battery without seeing anybody else in front of me. I had to restrain some of the officers, who got very much excited within eighty yards of the battery by the heavy fire. I led into the battery, a shot being fired from one of the largest guns close by my right leg. I led into the battery and through the Russian gun limber-carriages and ammunition-waggons in the rear. I rode within twenty yards of the line of Russian cavalry. I was attacked by two Cossacks, slightly wounded by their lances, and with difficulty got away from them, they trying to surround me. On arriving at the battery through which I had led, I found no part of the brigade. I rode slowly up the hill, and met General Scarlett. I said to hiin^