564 A RECOLLECTION OF BALAKLAVA. 
After the retreat of the Russian Cavalry there was a considerable 
lull in the battle, during which the Light Brigade moved into the 
Outer Plain and finally formed across it in two lines, “1” Troop being 
posted on the right of the leading one. The Heavy Brigade lay to the 
right rear of the “ Lights” and had to its right front No. 4 Redoubt. 
Whilst awaiting in this position the arrival of infantry from the front 
Captain Nolan arrived on the field bringing from Lord Raglan the 
order the intention of which has provoked so much discussion. Its 
closing words were “Troop of Horse Artillery may accompany.” This 
order was not communicated to Captain Shakespear till the Light 
Brigade was already in motion and slipping away to the front at ever 
increasing speed. hough uninformed as to what he was expected to do, 
an inherent spirit of obedience at once prompted execution of the order. 
But it becoming momentarily more and more apparent as the troop 
trotted steadily forward that before it could render any efficient service 
the fire which it was encountering would in all probability entirely 
cripple it, the word was given to go about and it retired to a position 
not far from the Heavy Brigade. This judicious decision of Captain 
Shakespear was rewarded by the subsequent commendation of the 
General Commanding Royal Artillery in the Crimea. 
It is difficult to form any idea of the precise hour at which the 
different events of the day took place. The several breathless scenes 
seemed to the participators in them to have occupied a time pro- 
portionate to the magnitude of their importance and when the action 
came to an end the day seemed verging to its close and yet in reality 
it was but a little past noon. From this hour till nightfall the troops 
remained in the proximity of the northern end of the Causeway, when 
fires having been lighted so as to mislead the enemy as to its 
occupation during the night, the whole force retired to the neighbour- 
hood of Kadikoi. The troop reached its camp to find that during the 
day it had been plundered by the lustful soldiery of Turkey; all 
eatables had disappeared but the Moslem spared the fluids forbidden 
by Allah. Of drink there was enough and to spare, both for officers 
and men, but a hungry day was succeeded by a hungry and restless 
night. 
TEE 
