142 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA CHAT. I. which at first had been placed some way in real of the main body, the distance was shortened in the course of the advance down the slope ; and after the halt of the main column, the supporting force so closed down upon it as virtually to de- stroy the separation between the two bodies, and to mer^e them in one cumbrous mass. Lord J.ncan. Hia order to the 4th Dragoon Guards. His alleged direction to another regiment. The seven squadrons of which we just spoke constituted the forces now preparing to act in support, which Lord Lucan, by his personal directions, might still endeavour to wield. He was on the ground from which the Greys had advanced when beginning their attack. Already he had despatched an order directing Colonel Hodge to charge with the 4th Dragoon Guards,* and he states that by voice and by gesture — for at the moment he had no aide-de-camp at hand — he tried to enforce the instant advance of a regiment on his left rear; but he adds that nevertheless that regiment remained obstinately
- And unless Lord Lucan's memory deceives him, the order
was to charge the enemy's column on its right flank. I should have so stated it in the text, if it were not that the officer (not Colonel Hodge) who received the order describes it as merely this:— 'Lord Lucan desires him' (Colonel Hodge) 'to charge
- at once with the 4th Dragoon Guards.' I think, however,
that Lord Lucan's impression of what he said is probably quite accurate ; and, indeed, it would seem that his version of the order which he gave may be reconciled with this account of the terms in which it was delivered, because, as we shall see, the position which had been already taken up by the regiment made it obvious without words that the column, if attacked by the 4th Dragoon Guards, must be attacked in flank. See jiosL page 145.
