The Heavy Brigade’s camp was situated between the 5th redoubt and the Vineyard on the slope of the Causeway heights in the south valley. The camp lying in a very exposed position, Lord Lucan ordered it to be removed in great haste to the south side of the vineyard for safety. At the same time the Light Brigade took up position at the top end of the South Valley about five hundred yards from the vineyard. The first line consisted of the 17th Lancers on the right, the 13th Light Dragoons and the 8th Hussars completed it, and remained mounted commanded by Lord Cardigan. The second line were the 4th Light Dragoons and 11th Hussars commanded by Lord Paget—they were dismounted. Lord Cardigan was ordered to watch the enemy and attack anything but columns of Infantry. No one could see the enemy and the enemy could not see the Cavalry Division, and not a single picket or sentry was posted to give warning. The Heavy Brigade was allowed to go to the back of the Vineyard to hunt up their camp equipments, while parts of regiments began to water their horses. The Horse Artillery being in some hidden place I never saw them again after clear daylight. Lord Lucan being absent from his command made things worse at this critical time. Lord Raglan and staff, and a French General and staff assembled on the height at the top end of the two valleys which had to be ascended to get to Sebastopol. Both commanders-in-chief could observe all the movements of the Russian Army, their Infantry massing and a large column of cavalry marching up the valley of death. Lord Raglan could see the Light Brigade part dismounted, yet he could not see the Heavy Brigade, most of them being back of the Vineyard. He sent one of his staff officers to inform Lord Lucan that a large force of Russian Cavalry was advancing up the North Valley, but he could not be found with his Division. General Scarlett assumed command in Lucan’s absence, and sent staff officers to hunt up the Regiments. General Scarlett tried to assemble his Brigade at the east end of the vineyard, the Light Brigade camp standing in front of those he assembled. The Russian General had military sense enough to advance a line of mounted skirmishers half a mile in advance of his main body up the North Valley. Neither Lucan, Cardigan, nor Scarlett knew anything of this force marching up the North Valley till informed by the commander-in-chief’s aide-de-camp. When the Russian skirmishers arrived near the top of the North Valley, about 30 rode over the Causeway height and came within thirty yards of the Light Brigade position. A Russian officer who was directing that part of the line of Russian skirmishers was killed, sword in hand, in front of the 13th Light Dragoons by one of their officers. Lord Cardigan did not trouble himself to go or send one of his staff officers 30 yards—had he done so he would have seen the Russian column marching up the valley. The Russian General found out