In addition to the Cavalry Division Sir Colin Campbell commanded about eight hundred Highlanders (Scotch Infantry), and in camp near Balaclava we had also some sailors and marines stationed on the heights near the harbour and a British frigate was moored so that her broadside could protect it. There were in addition about twelve hundred irregular Turkish Infantry commanded by Rustem Pasha, stationed in three redoubts, armed with seven old British ship guns, a little more than a mile from the supplies. There were also three other redoubts thrown up to form a chain on the ridge of the Causeway Heights leading to Sebastopol. The last three were not mounted with guns. All these precautions were taken by Lord Raglan in case the Russians should make a descent on Balaclava in force, which they did before daybreak on the 25th of October, 1854. THE ATTACK. Lord Lucan knew that the Russians were in strong force near his pickets, and yet he did not strengthen them or patrol the small front he had to protect, while his cavalry pickets knew nothing of the Russian advance until the Turks opened fire, they just saved themselves from capture or annihilation by being better mounted than the enemy. The Turkish General seemed to have understood his duty better than either Lord Lucan or Sir Colin Campbell, for he advanced his pickets, sent out patrols, and hoisted ensigns in his three redoubts to signal to the British that the Russians were advancing. Lord Lucan and Sir Colin Campbell and staffs and others riding near the Turkish redoubts before daybreak observed ensigns flying on their parapets and asked one another what it meant, thus exposing their ignorance, but they did not take the trouble to find out the meaning of it, and no one can learn from any history thus far published how long these ensigns had been flying. They had very likely been flying all night. Had Sir Colin Campbell but thrown out a Corporal’s guard to watch the redoubts it might have been the means of getting re-enforcements down from Sebastopol before daylight and preventing us from losing the guns and redoubts and the annihilation of the Light Brigade, and the loss of the only road for supplies. Lord Lucan with his attendant staff went riding round till break of day, when the Turks opened fire, being the first to find the Russians and the first to attack them. Lord Paget was with Lord Lucan’s staff and when the Turks opened fire he galloped to the Light Brigade and took command in the absence of Lord Cardigan, who was on board his private yacht then lying in Balaclava Harbour. The British forces, as was the custom, turned out every morning about two hours before daylight, and on this eventful morning the men of the Cavalry Division were standing to their horses for nearly two hours, shivering in the cold fog.