242 mm5 of the Ibunting^fielb 



Bar, and the stately judicial ceremony was at an 

 end. 



It is only fair to Lord Cardigan to say that, bitter as 

 the feeling of the officers of his regiment was against 

 him, he was immensely popular among the privates. 

 And even his deadliest enemy was compelled to ac- 

 knowledge, that, though his ideas of duty and discipline 

 might be harsh, mistaken and arbitrary, he was yet at 

 heart a man of the kindliest and most generous 

 disposition. There were, even among the officers who 

 detested him, some who were indebted to him for 

 gracious assistance and consideration in their private 

 affairs, but, as all his acts of charity and kindness were 

 done in secret, the public knew nothing of them. He 

 was a man who hated ostentation. His anonymous 

 gifts in public and private charity were munificent, 

 but he resolutely refused to let his name be published 

 in connection with any charitable donation. 



It was not until he was fifty-seven years of age that 

 Lord Cardigan had an opportunity of seeing active 

 service. When war was declared against Russia in 1853, 

 and the Allies decided upon the invasion of the Crimea, 

 Lord Lucan was placed in command of the cavalry, with 

 Lord Cardigan under him as commander of the Light 

 Brigade. Neither of them had ever ' smelt powder,' and 

 there was much savage grumbling in military circles at 

 the appointment of two elderly men, with no experience 

 of war, to such important commands, when there were 

 plenty of dashing officers, who had distinguished them- 

 selves in a score of Asiatic campaigns, from whom far 

 more competent leaders might have been chosen. But, 

 of course, red tape and interest were predominant, and 

 public spirit went to the wall. 



