ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the “Charge of the Light Brigade” during the Battle of Balaklava. Inadequate redoubts on the Causeway Heights, manned by Ottoman troops and British gunners, were quickly over-run by a very strong Russian force intent on destroying the British supply base in the Crimea. Their probing attacks were beaten off by British infantry and cavalry. Thereafter, the Russians prepared to remove the captured British guns in the redoubts. Lord Raglan, the British Commanding General, insisted – against the tactically sound advice of the French General Canrobert – that those guns must be recovered and sent the British Cavalry commanders a verbal order to retake them. That order, carried by Captain Louis Nolan, was refused. At Raglan's insistence on an immediate attack, Airey then wrote out an order to the Cavalry and gave Nolan verbal instructions. Nolan passed the verbal and written orders to Lucan, who did not demand further instructions. The Light Brigade moved off due east and Nolan attempted to divert it to the south but was killed by shellfire. The Light Brigade took serious losses and failed to retake the British guns. Camp rumour laid the heaviest blame on Nolan, although Raglan was the primary cause of the disaster.
