This article includes tantalizing glimpses from the recently discovered cache of letters from survivors of The Charge of the Light Brigade. A book containing the full texts and fresh analysis will be published later this year. Ignore the silly journalistic comments like ‘glorious defeat’ – what a silly phrase - and scroll through for the quotes from the men who were there. Some of these are immensely moving. I also like the comical turns of phrase used to describe the leaders. One correspondent describes Lord Lucan as having “as much brains as my boot” and another calls the Earl of Cardigan “the greatest old woman in the army”. There are numerous other wonderful quotes, many written just hours after the battle. They breathe life back into these long dead heroes. For a moment, we can once again hear their voices and imagine their faces. Most importantly it helps us to remember that momentous events in history are experienced by real, individual people. Some of the letters also give great insights into the reality of fighting with a sword in that war. One hussar, describing his retreat from the valley, writes, “I galloped on, parrying with the determination of one who would not lose his life, breaking the lances of the cowards who attacked us in the proportion of three or four to one, occasionally catching one a slap with the sword across his teeth, and giving another the point in his arm or breast.” Stirring stuff. telegraph.co.uk/history/10776275/New-accounts-emerge-of-Charge-of-the-Light-Brigade.html
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:54:52 +0000
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