A History of the Coldstream Guards, from 1815 to 1895Ross, J. (John)
History
A History of the Coldstream Guards, from 1815 to 1895
Ross, J. (John)
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901; Great Britain. Army. Coldstream Guards
Balaklava was covered by two defensive lines, the outer and the inner.
The outer line, more than two miles in length, running along the
Causeway Heights and near the Woronzoff road, had the support of a few
small earthworks, “mere scratches with the spade, a donkey might have
been ridden into some of them,” armed with only nine 12-pounder guns in
all, and occupied by about two battalions of Turks. The inner line, near
Kadikeui, was 3000 yards in rear, and was held by the 93rd Regiment, a
few invalids, the Marines, and the rest of the Turks. The Russians,
advancing in force at dawn on the 25th, brought 30 guns (some of them of
heavy calibre) against the earthworks on the Causeway Heights,—which
were isolated, entirely unsupported, and commanded by neighbouring
ground,—and captured two of them on the right of the line, after a
stubborn resistance; a third soon after fell into their hands. They then
pushed forward their cavalry, of which four squadrons reconnoitred
towards Kadikeui; the latter came within range of the 93rd, drawn up in
line, who received them with a volley, and with such determination that
they quickly wheeled about and fled to the rear. The rest, a solid
column, nearly 3000 strong, supported by 32 guns, moving in somewhat the
same direction, came suddenly close to the British Heavy cavalry
brigade, who, without the slightest hesitation, charged, and in a few
moments routed them, and sent them back in confusion, past the front of
the Light brigade. Unfortunately Lord Cardigan did not fall upon the
flying mass and complete their discomfiture; so they got away down the
valley that lay between the Fediukhine and Causeway heights, both of
which were held by the enemy’s infantry and artillery, and took up a
position about a mile and a quarter away, behind some Russian guns. And
now “some one blundered,” and the Light brigade made their famous
charge, over this dangerous ground, flanked on each side by well-posted
artillery, straight into the guns and the cavalry at the end of the
valley. The story of this gallant deed is well known. The Russian
gunners and cavalry were swept away, and forced to retreat before the
impetuous onslaught of our weak squadrons, but the brigade was broken,
and indeed destroyed. It numbered 670 sabres at the commencement of the
action, and at the conclusion its mounted strength was only 195. The
enemy was quite unable to cut off the retreat of the remnants of our
light horse, as they rode back after their desperate expedition, very
few prisoners were taken, and the French, making a spirited and
successful charge upon the Fediukhine Heights, prevented the Russians
from harassing our men from that quarter, as they emerged from the
deadly and unequal conflict.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account