049j.valeyofdeath.html

THE CHARGE INTO 'THE VALLEY OF DEATH'

      The landscape shown in the photo is where the 'Charge of the Light Brigade' took place in the previous October. This photograph is contemporary with the battle and was commissioned by the British Government which sought to record the events of the conflict in this manner. This was the first time that the infant art of photography was so used.
      The first part of the battle of Balaklava is described in Item 49c; it and the following is from 'Military Operations of the Crimean War' by Michael Hargreave Mawson, OMRS and CWRS:--
      "Another strong force of Russian cavalry was moving towards British forces, this time the Heavy Cavalry Brigade was the focus of its attention. General Sir James Yorke Scarlett led the men of the Heavy Brigade in a gallant uphill charge, and drove the Cossacks off.
      "Whilst these actions were taking place, the Russians were calmly removing the British guns from the redoubts along the Causeway Heights which had been abandoned by the Turks, and Lord Raglan was desperately sending orders to his Light Cavalry Brigade and to his infantry to take action to prevent this. Finally, one of his orders was acted upon, and the Charge of the Light Brigade (in completely the wrong direction) began.
      "From Raglan's viewpoint on the Sapoune Ridge it was possible to watch the vainglorious disaster unfold. Over 650 men charged; well over a hundred of them died within the next few minutes.
      "As the Light Brigade went in, Raglan's infantry finally arrived on the battlefield, but their only success was the recapture of the westernmost redoubts on the Causeway Heights. The British had lost possession of a considerable amount of ground, including the majority of their forward defences, as well as the only metalled road in the area."
      The photographs of the Sebastopol area are from his Grace, the Duke of Atholl's collection at Blair Castle, Perthshire.