Chapter II: Foreword

BY A SURVIVOR OF THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.

It is many a long year now since the misty October morning when with my regiment, the 17th Lancers, I rode up that fatal valley where so many of my gallant comrades fell. Yet, as I read Mr Lynn’s description of the charge, I seemed to see and hear it all again: my comrades’ faces grim and set, the fine figure of Lord Cardigan leading us, poor Captain Nolan wildly trying to direct us out of the course we were following, the rattle of rifle-fire, the crash of the shells, the blazing of the guns all round us, the constant gaps in the ranks as man and horse went down, the ever-increasing speed till we were in amongst the Russian gunners and avenging those who had fallen.

I shivered again when I read of the awful storm of November and of the miseries of the road to Balaclava. My heart beat with pride at the tale of Inkermann, so well is the story told.

Many of the characters in the story I recognise--Jack Blair, Sergeant Barrymore, Sergeant Linham, Captain Norreys, Pearson, Brandon, and so on. I knew them under different names in the old regiment, but they were the same men.

If any boy is interested in what we did, what we suffered, and what part in the Crimean war my regiment played, let him read _Blair of Balaclava_. As a survivor of the Light Brigade I can truly say that had Mr Lynn soldiered with me and ridden by my side in the charge he could not have given a truer account of our doings in the Crimea in 1854 and 1855.

(Signed) JAMES MUSTARD,
_late 17th Lancers_.

* * * * *

SERGEANT JAMES MUSTARD, the writer of the fore-going letter, was born in St James’s, Piccadilly, on January 13th, 1829.

Coming of a family of soldiers, a love for the profession of arms was born in him, and he joined the 3rd Light Dragoons, in London, on May 1st, 1850. Two years later he transferred, at Canterbury, to the 17th Lancers.

He went out to the East with his regiment in April 1854, was present at the affair of the Bulganak and the battle of the Alma. He rode in the front rank of the ‘Immortal Six Hundred,’ going down the valley immediately behind Lord Cardigan and his orderly trumpeter, Brittain of the 17th Lancers, who died of his wounds received in the charge. He reached the guns in safety, and, after using his lance with good effect against the Russian gunners and the cavalry formed behind them, started, with a little group of his own regiment and the 8th Hussars, on the return ride. He had a personal encounter with a Polish Lancer, whom he worsted; then continuing on his way, went to the assistance of Trumpeter Landfried of the 17th, who came safely out of the fray.

Sergeant Mustard had received a severe wound; but owing to the intense excitement became aware of the fact only by accident. To describe this event the writer quotes the sergeant’s own words: ‘We were coming back along the valley when a chum of the 13th Light Dragoons, named Hetridge, rode up to me. “Jim,” he said, “lend me your sword, for I’ve lost mine in the fight.” I still held my lance, though the shaft had been chipped by a bullet. I turned to draw my sword to hand it to Hetridge, when, to my amazement, I found I had neither sword, scabbard, nor belt. A canister-shot had caught me on the left hip, and cut away sword, belt, overalls, and pants, and laid bare a great red patch of bleeding flesh. Another inch would have smashed my hip and killed me.’

After lying all night on the ground, and helping to shift camp twice, Sergeant Mustard was next day sent to Scutari hospital, where he spent the next four months.

He served till the end of the war; and, returning with his regiment, was stationed in Ireland till the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny. Going to India, he served in Sir William Gordon’s squadron in the pursuit and capture of Tantia Topee. He was again wounded, and had his horse shot under him. Among his officers at that date were Lieut.-General Sir D. C. Drury Lowe, G.C.B., and Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., G.C.B., both then regimental officers in the 17th Lancers.

Sergeant Mustard, after being master-tailor of his regiment, retired from the service in 1865, being the possessor of the Crimean medal with three clasps, the Turkish medal, and the Indian Mutiny medal with one clasp.

The old veteran is still hale and hearty, though the only survivor of the rank and file of his regiment who rode in the charge. The kindly face and upright, soldierly figure, with the glittering medals on his breast, are well known in the suburb where he has lived, greatly respected, ever since he left the service.

His grandfather and two uncles fought at Waterloo in the 71st Light Infantry, and two of his brothers served for many years in the 22nd Regiment.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A SCRIMMAGE IN THE OFFICE 1

II. ROBBERS ON THE HIGHWAY 11

III. THE ‘DEATH OR GLORY BOYS’ 18

IV. JACK BECOMES A LANCER 23

V. A BARRACK-ROOM SQUABBLE 30

VI. JACK MAKES A RESOLVE 38

VII. SERGEANT LINHAM INSTRUCTS 43

VIII. BANDSMAN NAPPER IS TAUGHT A LESSON 55

IX. JACK MAKES GOOD PROGRESS 60

X. THE REVIEW 71

XI. JACK RECEIVES VISITORS 76

XII. THE ROUTE ARRIVES 81

XIII. EASTWARD HO! 85

XIV. AN ADVENTURE AT VARNA AND ITS SEQUEL 92

XV. JACK MEETS AN OLD FRIEND 99

XVI. AN ADVENTURE IN BULGARIA 106

XVII. NAPPER PLAYS HIS LAST CARD 111

XVIII. A WELCOME MOVE 116

XIX. THE FIRST BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY 120

XX. CAUGHT IN A TRAP 127

XXI. SERGEANT LINHAM TAKES COMMAND 137

XXII. A BRILLIANT LITTLE AFFAIR 144

XXIII. JACK SHOWS HIS METTLE 151

XXIV. THE PASSAGE OF THE ALMA 164

XXV. THE WINNING OF THE HEIGHTS 175

XXVI. JACK RECEIVES HIS FIRST STEP 186

XXVII. LARRY AND JACK MAKE A DISCOVERY 191

XXVIII. LARRY WINS DISTINCTION 198

XXIX. THE BEGINNING OF THE SIEGE 204

XXX. A NIGHT ON VEDETTE DUTY 212

XXXI. ‘THE THIN RED LINE’ 216

XXXII. WELL DONE, HEAVIES! 224

XXXIII. ‘INTO THE JAWS OF HELL’ 233

XXXIV. A NIGHT ON THE BATTLEFIELD 253

XXXV. THE CAVES OF INKERMANN 267

XXXVI. ‘THE SOLDIERS’ BATTLE’ 277

XXXVII. MISERIES ACCUMULATE 294

XXXVIII. WAR IN GRIM EARNEST 302

XXXIX. IN THE HANDS OF THE COSSACKS 308

XL. A FRIEND IN NEED 314

XLI. THE CHÂTEAU PAULOFF 322

XLII. TREACHERY AT WORK 333

XLIII. A DREARY MARCH 339

XLIV. THE RESCUE 346

XLV. THE BATTLE OF THE TCHERNAYA 361

XLVI. THE STORMING OF THE REDAN 367

XLVII. HOMEWARD BOUND 374

XLVIII. ‘FOR VALOUR!’ 387

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Jack jerked out a note or two as they literally raced along _Frontispiece_

Dragged the little boy right from under the iron-shod hoofs 74

Pearson caught the cowardly Russian just between the shoulder-blades 162

‘Howly Moses, look there to yer left!’ cried Larry 194

Jack having as much as he could do to keep up with his brutal captors 313

The two heroes were seized, seated shoulder high 360

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BLAIR OF BALACLAVA.