Charge Of The Light Brigade

1.Commander of the Light Brigade, Earl of Cardigan did not attack as he believed his order from Lucan required him to hold position, thus the golden opportunity was missed
2.Liprandi had infantry and artillery on the Causeway Height as well Zhabokritsky men and guns on the Fedyukhin Height
3.Raglan issued Lucan a confusung order to attack 2 fronts with infantry support.
4.The infantry did not arrived, Raglan deployed the Light Brigade to cover the North Valley and the Heavy Brigade to protect the South Valley.
5.Raglan order the cavalry to attack on 1045 a.m

"I wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front, follow the enemy carrying away the guns. Horse artillery may accompany, French cavalry in your left. Immediate?"

6.However, Lucan was confused by the order that dispatcher, Cpt Nolan insolently stated that Raglan desired an attack and indiscriminately pointing up the North Valley towards Ryzhov's guns rather than Causeway Height.
7.Cardigan questioned the orderas they were artillery and enemy forces on 3 sides.
8.Lucan replied

"But Lord Raglan will have it, we have no choice but to obey.."

9.Mounting up,some 673 men from the Light Brigade consisted of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, 18th and 11th Hussars and also the 17th Lancers under the overall command of Earl of Cardigan moved off down the valley as Raglan able to see the Russian watching in horror.
10.Charging forward, the Light Brigade was hammered by the Russian artillery losing nearly half its strong before reached Ryzhov's forward guns.
11.Its realized that the charge was aimed at the wrong target and there is an attempt to stop or turn the brigade before the charge.
12.In their left, the French's 4th Chasseurs D'Afrique regiment swept along Fedyukhin Height to drive the Russians from their position.
13.It was succesfully done by the French and provided cover for the remaining elements of the Light Brigade as they will use it to withdraw later.
14.Battling around the guns, the Light Brigade drove off some Russian cavalry, but was compelled to retreat when they realizedthat no support was coming.
15.Surrounded, the survivor fought their back up the valley under fire and later retreating.
16.The Heavy Brigade consisted of the 4th Royal Irish, Scots Grey, 5th Dragoons Guards and the 6th Inniskillens Dragoons entered the mouth of the valley but did not advance further.
17.Lucan saw no point in having a second brigade move down and that he was to render assistance to Light Brigade.
18.Earl of Cardigan survived the battle.He led the charge from the front, under heavy shelling, never looking back, did not see what was happening to the troops behind him, having reached the Russians, took part in the fight and then returned alone up the the valley without bothering to rally.
19.The aftermath was disastrous for the Light Brigade, from 673 men, 110 killed(less than 17%), 129 wounded, 32 taken prisoners and the brigade was about to reduce to 195 men only..375 horses was killed.
20.Marechal Pierre Bosquet commented the charge

"C'est magnifique, mais ce'nest pas laguere, c'est de la follie"
("It is magnificent, but it is not war, it is madness")

21.The Russian commander believed that the British must have been drunk before the charge.
22.The British cavalry reputation was enhanched after the charge..
"The reputation of the British Cavalry was significantly enhanced as a result of charge, though the same can't be said for their commander.