Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/42

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20 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. CHAP. I. Lord Rag- lan's appeal to the good feelings of Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan. ' Balaclava, Sept. 28, 1854. ' I have perused this correspondence with the • deepest regret, and I am bound to express my 1 conviction that the Earl of Cardigan would have ' done better if he had abstained from making the ' representation which he has thought fit to sub- 1 mit to my decision. • I consider him wrong in every one of the ' instances cited. A general of division may ' interfere little or much with the duties of a ' general of brigade, as he may think proper or 1 see fit. His judgments may be right or wrong, ' but the general of brigade should bear this in 1 mind, that the lieutenant-general is the senior ' officer, and that all his orders and suggestions ' claim obedience and attention.' Lord Eaglan, however, determined to try whether it were possible that words of entreaty from himself, addressed alike to Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan, might either allay the animosity existing between them, or render it less embar- rassing to the public service ; and accordingly, in the same paper, he addressed to both these Generals the following appeal : ' The Earl of ' Lucan and the Earl of Cardigan are nearly con- ' nected. They are both gentlemen of high ' honour and of elevated position in the country, ' independently of their military rank. They ' must permit me, as the Commander of the ' Forces, and, I may say, the friend of both, ear- ' nestly to recommend to them to communicate ' frankly with each other, and to come to such