The defence of the country surrounding Balaclava had been entrusted to the Turks, who in a series of actions on the banks of the Danube had shown that they could fight well behind stone walls. Some redoubts had been thrown up on the neighbouring heights, and these were armed with ships' guns, lent by us to the Turks. In Balaclava itself was one battalion--the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders)--and the command of the place had been entrusted to one of the few veterans of the army who had seen modern war. Sir Colin Campbell had served under Wellington in the Peninsula, and had earned mention in more than one despatch when still a subaltern. For his conduct at Barrosa and at San Sebastian, at both of which actions he was wounded, he was promoted to a company in the 60th Rifles. In the China War he had commanded the 98th, and was made an Aide-de-Camp to the Queen. In the Punjab Campaign he had added to his reputation by his masterly handling of a brigade in the hard-fought battles of Chillianwallah and Goojerat, and he had earned still higher laurels when in command of the troops at Peshawur in the early days of our occupation of the Punjab frontier. On the early morning of October 25 the Russians, who had no very great opinion of the Turkish troops, made a determined attack on Balaclava. The valley leading down to the sea is cut in two by a low range of hills, and down these two valleys they advanced. The Turks, after one or two rounds, incontinently abandoned the redoubts, and fled in haste to the refuge of the town. Sir Colin moved up the 93rd Highlanders, and awaited the advance of the Russian cavalry division. He had a firm faith in the new weapon with which his troops were armed, and a still firmer belief in his Highlanders. On swept the Russians, and, as they came within range, a volley from the 93rd at 600 yards emptied many saddles, but did not stop the advance; then, as the dense Russian columns neared the "thin red streak, tipped with steel," a second volley, at 150 yards, rang out, and as the smoke cleared away the Russians were seen moving to the rear. Now was the opportunity for our cavalry, and the Heavies were not slow in taking advantage of it. Scarlett moved forward his brigade in two lines, the Greys and Inniskillings leading, with the 5th and 4th Dragoon Guards on the right and left flanks respectively, and the Royal Dragoons in support, the total strength being some 750 men. As Russell graphically wrote, while the Russians fell back, Scarlett charged into them. "By sheer steel and courage the Inniskillings and Scots were winning their desperate way right through the enemy's squadrons, and already grey horse and red coat had disappeared right at the rear of the mass, when the Royals, 4th Dragoon Guards, and 5th Dragoon Guards rushed at the remnants of the first line of the enemy, and went through it like pasteboard. In less than five minutes after they met our Dragoons the Russians were flying at full speed from a foe not half