222 CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GUNS AND CAVALRY. 
on this day, to have had a readiness, resolution, and coolness in action 
such as mark him out as a man endowed with something akin to genius 
for war. I don’t want to spatter him with indiscriminate praise, as one 
wise after the event might possible do. Some of you who study art 
will remember how when Turner was informed of the subtleties and 
meanings, which most people failed to appreciate, that Ruskin had dis- 
covered in his pictures, he laughed and said, “ Ruskin sees a good deal 
more in them than ever I put there!” Brandling similarly may have 
acted as much by good luck as good guidance; but it is fair at any 
rate to give him credit for the latter. And he saw that since the 
order for him had been given the situation had materially altered. ‘The 
Russian column was now moving on and seconds were precious. He 
saw at once that he could not possibly reach the position suggested 
in time tobeof any use. Therefore without any hesitation or delay he 
shouted “‘ No, I cannot get there in time,” or words to that effect, and 
he drove straight on this way by the rear of the Dragoons. Now I say 
he acted then with the independence that a Horse Artilleryman should 
show, and he decided moreover most judiciously. Because in order to 
get the fullest effect, both from fire and shock, it is best to strike the 
hostile cavalry on the flank furthest from the guns. The enemy, if he 
then faces your onset, exposes a flank to the artillery, which is able to 
fire upon him not only up to the very moment of collision, but is able 
to pursue him with shells as he retreats. Now there were two squadrons 
of the Royals and two of the 4th Dragoon Guards which might fall on 
the Russian right. Therefore when Brandling went where he did, he 
seized a position from whence his fire was not likely to be masked, from 
whence he might hope to assail most effectively his objective during the 
combat, and from whence he might pursue it most vigorously with fire 
should it fall back towards its base. But above all, and that was the 
consideration we may be sure which most influenced him, he went 
where he could most quickly get into action (applause). 
So he drove along with his left shoulder turned to the backs of our 
Dragoons. But all the time watching closely, mark you, the state of 
the situation. When in rear of our line (somewhere about here) he 
saw the huge column rolling on down the slope, and he noted what 
might look something like hesitation and delay in our first line, for the 
1st squadron of the Greys was advancing alone to the attack. It seemed 
to him that in all probability the mere inertia of the Russian mass would 
bear our men back. He determined therefore to go somewhat to the 
rear so as to cover our retreat. So he called out “ sub-divisions right 
wheel,” but he himself remained where he was with his eyes turned on 
the impending collision. Thus he saw the devoted charge of the Ist 
squadron, and the rest of the three hundred moving off too, and their 
inroad into the enemy’s ranks. He saw from the way the Russians bore 
themselves at that supreme moment that they were not going to ride us 
down, and then he determined to throw his lot in decisively, not to avert 
defeat, but to achieve victory (applause). He shouted ‘‘ sub-divisions left 
wheel,” and brought his troop up on the right rear of our squadrons. 
But ere he could get in a round his front was masked by the first 
squadron of the Inniskillings which now crossed him to dash in on the 
