While these five groups were going on fighting as best they could, scattering the Russian Cavalry, the General ordered out the Jeropkine Lancers—fresh troops who had not been engaged in the attack on the Heavy Brigade two hours before. These Lancers took their position between the guns across the valley, apparently cutting off the retreat of all the Light Brigade by forming across their rear. The officers commanding the different groups now realised that they were unsupported and in great danger. There was a hasty effort to join forces to make the best of their way back. Lord Paget, happening to be near the 11th Hussars, ordered Colonel Douglas to join his command. He refused at first, but seeing himself cut off did so, and a wordy controversy as to who was technically in command takes up many pages in Paget’s book. Probably, at the time, neither gave thought to anything but getting out of the trap. Colonel Mayow and Sergeant-Major O’Hara joined with the 8th Hussars, making two groups fighting and charging the Russian Lancers. Some squads of the Light Brigade had not time to wheel about, but just time to go three’s about, and charge with rear rank in front to prevent the Russian Cavalry from charging their flanks. Not all the Brigade had fallen into these larger groups which first cut their way out. After the remnants of these groups had escaped the Jeropkine Lancers, six squadrons strong were formed in line to prevent the stragglers from escaping. The Brigade of Hussars seeing the Lancers marching down the valley and only a few scattered enemy, halted, wheeled about, and marched up the valley. It was just at this time and between these two bodies that I rallied my little squad. It is a singular thing that every authority on the Charge of the Light Brigade gives a different number of killed and wounded, but they substantially agree as to the number 198 which reported mounted after the engagement. Lord Cardigan gives 195. James Cope, 17th Lancers, McGregor, 4th Light Dragoons, and myself reported after the roll was called. I am only certain of the figures for my own regiment. The 17th Lancers went into the engagement 145 and came out 45 mounted. Every officer of my squadron was killed or wounded. We lost 13 prisoners, only one of them unwounded, and he was dismounted, his horse having been killed. Of these only 3 lived to return to the English ranks, two of them from my squad—Weightman and Marshall. Weightman, who is still living as a retired officer, had thirteen wounds, and Marshall nine wounds. THE CAUSE OF THE CHARGE. [Picture: Lord Lucan (on horse)] THE phrase “Someone had blundered” is familiar to every one, but the condition of affairs which precipitated the blunder are not known and have never been stated in history.