The point of a lance through my sword hilt tore the flesh off my middle finger, and this trifling wound was the only injury I received in that immortal fight. Three of the men in my group fell in the charge but I seemed to have more when I got through the lines, other stragglers having rushed through the opening we made or rode round the flanks. We galloped off on our way back, pursued by some of the Cossacks, firing at us, until we came to a square of infantry on rising ground with muskets and fixed bayonets pointing at us. They yelled something in Russian, I suppose calling us to surrender. When they saw that we was not going to surrender, they fired a volley point blank at us and at the shortest range. This was fearfully destructive, and only a few of my little squad were left. Weightman and Marshall together with others of the 17th were captured here, one with 13 wounds and the other with 9, and were prisoners for a year. We found the guns again re-manned and in position again across the valley, and after we had charged through them from the rear they opened fire on us again, as well as the infantry. There were no more of the enemy in front and I told the men to separate. James Cope, 17th Lancers, and George McGregor, 4th Light Dragoons, opened out each side of myself, and we made the best of our way back up the valley. Cope and I reported together to the regiment which had assembled, numbered off, and been complimented by Lord Cardigan before we got there. We were the last squad to return, and the only squad that rallied through the guns. The engagement may be summed up thus: There were five groups which charged into the guns. The first two were 17th Lancers, one group commanded by Colonel Mayow, chief of Lord Cardigan’s staff, the other by Troop Sergeant Major O’Hara. The third group was the 11th Hussars under Colonel Douglas. The fourth group were 4th Light Dragoons, commanded by Lord Paget. The fifth group, 8th Hussars, Colonel Shewell and the last regiment to enter the batteries. These five groups charged the masses of Russian Cavalry that were supporting the artillery, time and time again, driving them some hundred yards down the valley. This seems almost incredible, but it must be recalled that we had no idea of the colossal blunder of which we were victims. Our natural thought of course was that we would be immediately followed and supported by the Heavy Brigade and Infantry, both of which were stationed close in our rear. The French Cavalry we know had moved and I thought they were there with us until I had ridden nearly into a body of Russians, taking them for the French. Of course, the Russians shared our impression that this was the beginning of a general attack, which accounts for their temporary confusion and partial retreat.