This, Your Grace will observe, is the Lieutenant General’s own admission. The result of his inattention to the first order was, that it never occurred to him that the second was connected with, and a repetition of the first. He viewed it only as a positive order to attack at all hazards (the word “attack” be it observed was not made use of in General Airy’s note). An unseen enemy, whose position, numbers and composition he was wholly unacquainted with, and whom, in consequence of a previous order, he had taken no steps whatever to watch. I undoubtedly had no intention that he should make such an attack—there was nothing in the instructions to require it; and therefore I conceive I was fully justified in stating to Your Grace what was the exact truth, that the charge arose from the misconception of the order for the advance which Lord Lucan considered obliged him to attack at all hazards. I wish I could say with his lordship that, having decided against his conviction to make the movement, he did all he could to render it as little perilous as possible. This, indeed, is far from being the case in my judgment. He was told that the Horse Artillery might accompany the cavalry. He did not bring it up. He was informed that the French cavalry was on the left. He did not invite their co-operation. He had the whole of the heavy cavalry at his disposal. He mentions having brought up only two regiments in support, and he omits all other precautions, either from want of due consideration, or from the supposition that the unseen enemy was not in such great force as he apprehended, notwithstanding that he was warned of it by Lord Cardigan, after the latter had received the order to attack. I am much concerned, My Lord Duke, to have to submit these observations to Your Grace. I entertain no wish to disparage the Earl of Lucan in your opinion, or to cast a slur upon professional reputation; but having been accused by his lordship of having stated of him what was unmentioned in my dispatch, I have felt obliged to enter into the subject, and trouble Your Grace at more length than I could have wished, in vindication of a report of Your Grace in which I had strictly confined myself to that which I knew to be true and had indulged in no observations whatever, or in any expression which could be viewed either as harsh or in any way grating to the feelings of his lordship. I have etc. (Signed) RAGLAN. * * * * * [Picture: The Gun that Lieutenant Jarvis and myself captured] SWORN STATEMENT FOR VICTORIA CROSS IN SUPREME COURT, UNITED STATES. * * * * * To Lord Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief.