Author Topic: Charge of the Heavy Brigade (Read 1435 times)

Pictors Studio · « **on:** February 09, 2015, 03:19:06 AM »

The charge of the Heavy Brigade of Cavalry on the columns of the enemy was met with some initial success but was ultimately not able to rescue the allied guns they set out to retake.

(Our artist has depicted some of the Russian reserves)

While the men acted bravely and cooly at all times under orders the Russian columns advancing on the Turkish position were too strong for the small force of cavalry, which was abandoned at the height of the action by their brother soldiers in the Light Brigade.

(The British Light Brigade did not support their brothers in the heavy Brigade in their daring attack on a Russian force much stronger than them, here our artist depicts them as they started the battle.)

Through some mischance the order for the men of the Light cavalry brigade to support the men of the Heavy Brigade to turn the Russian right flank failed and the men fell back, forcing the Heavy Brigade to also give up the game.

(The Russians assault the Turks as depicted in this amazing daguerreotype of the action.)

The Light Brigade may have been disheartened early on in the battle when Russian artillery and infantry targeted the squadrons and tore them up quite badly. Out of the 150 men in the 17th Lancers, only 90 of them answered their roll when the action was over.

(An overview of the battlefield as drawn by our artist after a description of events by Captain Ellington)

The Russians managed to advance on the Turks, who reportedly fought bravely before being quickly overwhelmed.

(The Russian advance on the left)

One of the Turkish batteries was able to be withdrawn from the field before the Russians were able to catch it.

(An etching depicting the Russian Cavalry column advancing on the Turkish position)

There was no hesitation in the ranks of the Heavy Brigade and as the Russian cavalry were among the fleeing Turks the Guard Dragoons and the Scots Grays hit them on the fly sending the entire Russian cavalry column spilling backwards through their men. The appearance of the fresh British troopers put the first infantry column that had fought so desperately against the Turks to flight as well.

(An etching of the Heavy Brigade as they begin their charge to relieve the Turks.)

Overall Casualties were light among Her Majesties forces, although our Turkish allies suffered fearfully from the Russian onslought. At the end of the day the Turkish guns, and the field, were in the hands of the enemy.