Balaclava (Crime an War)

Fought October 25, 1854, between 30,000 Ru ians under Prince Me ntsc hi koff, and the British under Lord Raglan. The Ru ians, having driven the Turks from their redoubts at Kadikoi, entered the valley of Balaclava, where they were encountered and driven back by the Heavy Cavalry Brigade under General Scarlett. Later in the day, acting under a mistaken order, Lord Cardigan at the head of the Light Brigade, charged the Ru ian guns at the head of the valley, and captured their batteries. Being, however, shelled from all sides, he was compelled to retire with heavy lo . Of this famous feat of arms, General Peli ier is reported to have said, "C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre." Another feature of this singular battle was the repulse by the Highland Brigade, in line, of a charge of the Ru ian cavalry. The British lo es were small, except in the case of the Light Brigade, whose casualties amounted to 272 out of 673 who took part in the charge.