THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA 109 1 The line will advance at a walk ! ' and, the chap. trumpet successively sounding the orders which follow, the force is brought on to its final task through the stages of ' Trot!' 'Gallop!' ' Charge!' * Now, Scarlett well knew how much all de- pended upon striking at the enemy's masses whilst yet they stood halted ; f and, so far as concerned his own orders, he was hardly in the humour for travelling through all the anterior the order he 28.VG his stages. He turned to his trumpeter and said at trumpeter, once, ' Sound the charge ! ' Whilst the notes were still pealing, and before Scarlett's they could take full effect upon the squadrons behind him, Scarlett moved forward at a trot ; and although the impediments of the camping- ground made it necessary for a rider in this the first part of the onset to pick his way with some care, yet the horse Scarlett rode was a horse of such stride and power, that his rate of advance was not slow, even over the obstructed ground ; and, as soon as the clear field which was at length gained enabled the leader to get into a gallop, the distance between him and his squadrons was swiftly increased. In a few moments, he was so ms distant far in advance of them that Elliot judged it right squadrons to call the attention of the chief to the position of his squadrons. Those squadrons were by this
- The walk, I believe, is often, if not indeed generally,
omitted ; but the other three stages are de rbgle. t According to the impression of Lord Lucan — differing in that respect from those who took part in the execution of the charge — the Russian column by this time had resumed its advance down the hill.
