The Charge of the Heavy Brigade,
during the Battle of
Balaclava, the Crimean War, in military art prints showing the Charge of the Heavy Brigade
made up of the Scots Greys and the Inniskillings in the first line and the
second line of the heavy brigade was made up of the 4th Royal Irish, 5th
Dragoon Guards and the 1st Dragoons. These superb military art
prints published by Cranston Fine Arts. are only available direct
from our websites
Scots Greys During the Battle of Balaclava
Across
the valley of Balaclava there stretched a chain of hillocks four in
number, upon which the Turks had constructed redoubts armed with a few
heavy ship's guns. With the object of attacking our position, the Russians
detached a strong body of horse, together with some guns and several
battalions of infantry. These troops, at about seven in the morning,
attacked the redoubts, and in spite of the efforts of some of our
artillery and cavalry, succeeded in storming and carrying one after the
other, the Turks bolting like hares towards the Highlanders' position. A
little later a strong body of Russian infantry moved down to the valley,
preparatory to an attack in force, their front covered by a line of
artillery. The second redoubt fell; again was seen the spectacle of
Cossack chasing Moslem; and then the third little fort was attacked.
The
Highlanders, meanwhile, were drawn up at a distance of about half a mile
from the Russians, who halting to enable the rear squadrons to close up,
prepared to charge and annihilate the gallant 93rd. Brave old Colin
Campbell never altered their formation, but received that tremendous
onslaught in line, to use the world famous phrase "with that thin red
line tipped with steel". The Russians were simply mown down, and the
survivors fled. Another body of Russian cavalry, pursuing the flying
Turks, surged up to the ridge which concealed our cavalry. The Heavy
Brigade was drawn up in two lines. The first consisted of the Scots Greys
with the Inniskillings; the second was composed of the 4th Royal Irish,
5th Dragoon Guards, and 1st Dragoons. As the Heavies were moving from
their position in order to cover the approaches, the enemy's cavalry came
after them over the ridge. Lord Lucan saw the danger, galloped after his
men, wheeled them round, and ordered them to advance. The first Russian
line was composed evidently of some corps d'elite, clothed in a gorgeous
light blue uniform glistening with silver. A large body of Lancers came up
behind them, and the rear was brought up by a body of Dragoons in grey.
The
trumpets of the Heavies rang out successively the advance, the trot, and
the charge. Like a thunderbolt the Greys and Inniskillings went straight
at the centre of the enemy. Wheeling slightly to the left the Greys swept
on with a tremendous force and loud shouts. On they went, gathering force
and pace at every stride. There came a terrific crash as the opposing
forces met. Through and through their ranks the gallant Heavies charged.
By sheer weight and strength and indomitable courage the stalwart troops
and their weighty grey horses pierced rank after rank, until they were
again seen far among the rearmost squadrons of the Russians. The rest of
the Heavies followed on in no less gallant a manner, until the whole mass
was writhing beneath the irresistible onslaught of our men.
In
the midst of the sanguinary struggle the tall, stalwart form of the
adjutant of the Greys, Lieutenant Miller, was seen standing in his
stirrups, and yelling with all his strength - "Rally - the
Greys!". All those who were able fought their way towards him
panting, wounded and covered with dust and blood, and cleared a space
round him. As many of the regiment as could be collected were formed up,
and once more charged. Just then a squadron of the Inniskillings dashed in
on the left of the Russians. The Charge of the Heavy Brigade was over. The
encounter was won. Again the unflinching Dragoons were victorious, and
more than ever entitled to the motto "Nulli Secundus."
Fine
old Sir Colin Campbell rode up later on, and uncovering cried :
"Greys! Gallant Greys! I am sixty-one years old, and if I were young
again I should be proud to sever in your ranks!"
The
enthusiasm of the troops who witnessed this glorious charge of the Heavies
was unbounded. Officers and men raised their caps and shouted and cheered
as the effects of the charge was apparent in the rout of the Russians
which ensued. Lord Raglan, who with his staff, occupied a commanding
position on a ridge, overlooking the scene of the struggle, sent one of
his aides-de-camp to General Scarlett who had led the charge with
unfaltering courage. "His Lordship bids me say, Sir," said that
officer, "that the charge was admirably executed."
The
Russian cavalry retired in much confusion after this heavy blow, while
shot after shot from the batteries plunged through their disordered ranks.
After the charge the Heavy Brigade moved up to the neck of the valley just
about the time the Light Cavalry had been ordered to charge the Russian
guns. The Greys who, together with their old Waterloo comrades the Royals,
were in the first line, where exposed to a tremendous crossfire from the
guns and from the musketry of the Russian infantry who had then occupied
in force the captured redoubts, but they escaped fairly well.
Despite
the tremendous fighting, the loss of the Greys was very slight. Their
total casualties were two men and 14 horses killed, and four officers,
five sergeants and 48 men wounded. Sergeant-Major Grieve when he rescued
an officer who was in imminent danger of being killed in the melee. He was
cut off and surrounded by the enemy, when Grieve caught sight of him.
Charging up to the spot, the Sergeant-Major cut down one Russian, and
disabled and dispersed the others. For this conspicuous bravery Grieve was
one of the proud band of 62 sailors and soldiers paraded before Her
Majesty on June 26th 1857, in Hyde Park, when the most highly prized
decoration in the British Army, the Victoria Cross, was pinned to his
breast by the Queen's own hand. Another non-commissioned officer of the
regiment also signally distinguished himself on that historic occasion,
and for his bravery received the much coveted Victoria Cross. Sergeant
Ramage first of all saved the life of a wounded comrade; then he rescued
another from no less than seven Russians, whom he dispersed; and wound up
the day dismounting in the valley and taking a Russian prisoner, whom he
brought off in triumph. Excerpt from the Navy and Army Illustrated January 15th
1897 by G F Bacon
