![]() The stupidity of the action and its reckless bravery, prompted Marshal Pierre Bosquet to state "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre." Initially the Russian commanders believed the British soldiers must have been drunk and it measurably improved the reputation of British cavalry during the rest of the conflict. The brigade had lost 118 men killed and 127 wounded, 362 horses were killed. When the Light Brigade was regrouped there were only 195 men still with horses. ![]() The French cavalry, the Chasseurs d'Afrique was more effective, they broke the Russian line on the Fediukhine Heights and later covered the remains of the Light Brigade as they withdrew. Lucan failed to provide any support for Cardigan and may have been motivated by personal emnity with his brother-in-law - the troops of the Heavy Brigade entered the mouth of the valley but did not advance further. The brigade reached the end of the valley and forced the Russian forces from the redoubt but suffered heavy casualties and were soon forced back. It appears that the order was interpreted to refer to the mass of Russian guns in a redoubt at the end of the valley, around a mile away. The Russian forces, under Pavel Liprandi, on the sides of the valley and at the end included over fifty artillery pieces and around 20 battalions of infantry. In response to the order Cardigan led 673 (or 661) cavalry men straight into the valley made between the Fediukhine Heights and the Causeway Heights. Immediate." The order was drafted by Brigadier Airey and was carried by Captain Lewis Nolan, who may have carried further oral instructions, but he was killed during the charge so that is conjecture. Lucan was delivered an order from the army commmander Lord Raglan stating that "Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front and to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. together with the Heavy Brigade (the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Scots Greys) it was the main British cavalry force at the battle, overall command of the cavalry was with the Earl of Lucan. It was commanded by Major General the Earl of Cardigan. Made up of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, and the 8th and 11th Hussars. The charge was made by the Light Brigade of the British cavalry. ![]() It is the subject of a famous poem entitled "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Tennyson. The Charge of the Light Brigade was an ill-advised cavalry charge which occurred during the Battle of Balaclava on Octoduring the Crimean War.
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