The Real Charge of the Light Brigade
A story of the Crimean War
The Charge of the Light Brigade is a famous poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It describes an ill fated cavalry charge by British soldiers during the Crimean War. The charge took place during a battle few have ever heard of and even fewer know the details of but the poem describes actual events that unfolded in a valley outside of Sevastopol.
The cavalry charge was real and so were the unneeded casualties that inspired Tennyson to write his famous poem. A failure of communication, bad orders and pettiness led to one of the most disastrous military maneuvers in British history.
On October 25th, 1854, the Light Brigade was ordered to charge an untenable position which led to an unmitigated disaster. This is the story, featuring the words, of the men who fought there on that fateful day.
The Battle of Balaclava
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred. —Alfred, Lord Tennyson
