Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward. All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. In the mid 19th century,and argument broke out between the Russians and the French over who should have access and control over certain holy areas in the Middle East -- particularly Nazareth and Jerusalem.
The situation got worse when the Russians, under Tsar Nicholas I, moved troops into the area in order to "protect" the sacred grounds.
But this area was part of the Turkish Ottoman empire. To add insult to injury, the Russians sunk a small fleet of Turkish boats. The Turks felt obliged to respond.
The British government was also unhappy with this situation. If unchecked, the Russians would assume control of vital trade routes in the Mediterranean.
The French were eager to be allied with the British and began talks about how to stop the Russians. It was decided that each country would send an expeditionary force to the area. They would be joined there by the Turks.
The British and French decided to lay siege to the Russian naval base at Sevastopol on the tip of the Crimean peninsula. They used the harbor at Balaclava as their supply point.
On October 25th, 1854, the Russians made a surprise attack on a strategic position know as the Causeway Heights, which was held by the Turks.
A number of redoubts were constructed there that included artillery.
The Russians drove off the Turks and took possession of the heavy guns.
The British came to the aid of the Turks by what was known as "The Charge of the Heavy Brigade", but the Turks managed to hold onto the Causeway Heights - and they still had the guns.
Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.
The Light Brigade of British cavalry was under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan. Overall command of the British cavalry was Lieutenant General the Earl of Lucan.
The commander of chief of the British forces was Lord Raglan.
Raglan issued an order that Lucan should harass the Russians and take back the captured guns.
Lucan then issues an order for Cardigan to carry out Raglan's directive. Lucan and Cardigan are bitter rivals and dislike each other immensely.
But the order is vague, and it was his understanding that British infantry would soon be arriving to help with the assault. Worse, being where he was in was called the "North Valley", Cardigan was unsure which position Lucan wanted attacked.
Lucan became impatient with Cardigan and sent one of his aides, Captain Nolan, to instruct Cardigan to attack immediately.
The still confused Cardigan asked Nolan which position it was that he wanted attacked.
"There. There's your guns over there" Nolan waved generally to the east.
All Cardigan saw to his front was a line of guns supported by infantry at the other end of the "North Valley".
The guns that Raglin wanted taken were on the Causeway Heights, not the guns that Cardigan was facing across the valley.
There's not to make reply, There's not to wonder why, There's but to do & die, Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred
Cardigan puts his brigade into line and orders the charge. Cardigan is out front.
Meanwhile, Captain Nolan realizes that the Light Brigade is attacking the wrong guns and rides out in front of Cardigan to try and stop the attack.
Captain Nolan is killed by an artillery shell before he can get Cardigan to understand the mistake.
Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them volley'd & thunder'd... Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.
The Light Brigade was decimated on the ride in, but did manage to reach the Russian guns to their front. They were soon forced to retreat after the Russians counterattacked.
On the way back,the brigade suffered more losses.
No guns were captured, and the Light Brigade suffered 278 casualties killed and wounded -- almost half of the brigade. 335 horses were also lost.
The reputation of the British cavalry was significantly enhanced as a result of this charge -- but not so the British commanders.
