Afghan Wars; Crimean War, 1853-1856; Egypt -- History -- British occupation, 1882-1936; India -- History -- Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858
Soon after the commencement of the battle, Lord Raglan, General
Canrobert, and their staffs, arrived, and took up a position on
the edge of the Sebastopol plateau overlooking the plain, and thus
gained a complete panoramic view of the scene below. Lord Raglan,
on perceiving the defeat of the Turks in the outlying forts, at once
ordered the First Division under the Duke of Cambridge, and the Fourth
under Sir George Cathcart, to proceed from the front to strengthen
the force at Balaclava. The enemy, having somewhat easily gained an
important advantage by the capture of the Turkish position, after a
short delay made a further movement towards the inner line of defence,
and a large mass of Russian cavalry advanced rapidly and with great
boldness across the plain. One portion approached the 93rd, who
were in line in front of Kadikoi, but, being received with perfect
steadiness by the Highlanders, they did not follow up the attack. The
main body bore down towards the English Heavy Cavalry under General
Scarlett, who, however, wheeled into line as the Russians approached,
and charged straight into them. Having been sent with an order to
Brandling's C Battery of Horse Artillery, it so happened that I was at
the moment only a few hundred yards distant, and witnessed the whole
affair. For a few minutes it seemed as if our cavalry, owing to the
great superiority of the enemy's numbers (estimated at three to one),
were almost surrounded. Then small bodies of red-coats could be seen
vigorously fighting and in close personal combat with the Russians. At
length the latter gave way, their retreat being hastened by the fire
of two batteries of Horse Artillery. Lord Raglan in his despatch said
that the charge was one of the most successful he had ever witnessed.
It was made at an opportune moment, and completely checked the enemy's
movements, their infantry remaining at a distance, partially concealed
behind the captured Turkish forts. A pause now ensued.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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