The 17th had instantly followed his direction and gone “three’s right.” The 13th had gone straight on instead of checking, as they should have done to respond to our movements. They were perhaps 25 or 30 yards in front of us when Nolan fell. At that juncture I heard Sergeant-Major J. Nunnerley, of the 1st Squadron—now living at Ormskirk, Lancashire—shout in a loud voice, “17th Lancers, (Three’s Left) or Front forward!” (I belonged to the second Squadron). We went three’s left, the right flank of the second squadron lapping the left flank of the first one-fourth its front or more, so that the two flanks became merged together. At that instant, the Russian Artillery in position across the valley, fired a volley into the 17th, which seemed to paralyse it, killing and wounding a number of officers and men. It seemed to me a troop of horses fell, myself and horse being knocked down with them. I remounted and followed the shattered line. All this time I never saw Lord Cardigan at all. Kinglake’s account of him as such a conspicuous figure on his white-legged horse, riding in front of his command and constantly checking the speed by orders to “keep steady,” does not agree with my observation, although he is said to have been just in front of our regiment. From the time I saw him ride ahead and to one side of his command to reconnoitre, I never saw him again till we had passed the Russian guns. He probably joined some portion of the 13th Dragoons as they came up with him, but that regiment scattered completely, going down into skirmish line, having lost their base, the 17th Lancers. No squad of it held together to pass the guns or to return. In the tremendous uproar and confusion of such cannonading it was impossible to have any very distinct impression. I observed everything clearly up to the moment the volley burst in our ranks and knocked me down. After that I simply scrambled on my horse and rode on pell-mell, and I believe Lord Cardigan did the same. The smoke prevented anyone from seeing any distance and the noise from hearing, so I never heard an officer’s voice from the time Nolan fell. It was the order of the brave Nunnerley that brought us to front forward as stated, and I heard no further orders after that. The Russian gunners were well drilled. There was none of that crackling sound I have often heard in the American War and other places, where one gun goes a little ahead and the others follow, having the effect of a bunch of fire-crackers popping in quick succession.