212 THE BATTLE OF RALACLAVA. chap. Then, without further question or parley, Lord _ Cardigan tacitly signified his respectful submis- sion to orders, and began that great act of military obedience which is enshrined in the memory of his fellow-countrymen. He turned quietly to his people and said : ' The brigade will advance ! ' Before the two Generals parted, Lord Lucan announced to Lord Cardigan his determination to narrow the front of the Brigade by with- drawing the 11th Hussars from the first line, and causing it to act in support. Unless Lord Lucan' s memory deceives him, he also enjoined Lord Cardigan 'to advance very steadily and ' quietly,' and to ' keep his men well in hand.' * It has been judged, that although the observa- tion ventured by Lord Cardigan in answer to Lord Lucan's first words of instruction had some- what the character of a remonstrance, it ptill was amply warranted by the occasion ; and tills, as I gather, was the opinion entertained by the Commander-in-Chief. When Lord Raglan gave the tenor of the remonstrance in a private letter addressed to the Duke of Newcastle, he prefaced the statement by saying that Lord Cardigan was ' as brave as a lion.' -f- Indeed, it would seem cording to Lord Cardigan, Lord Lucan said, ' I cannot help ' that ; it is Lord Raglan's positive orders that the Light ' Brigade attacks immediately.'
- I have not ventured to put the statement in an absolutely
positive form, because Lord Cardigan, I believe, has no recollec- tion of having received this direction. t Letter dated the 28th of October 1854. See this letter in the Appendix.
