Two Letters from Balaclava- Part1

 

Today our informant is Captain Temple Godman (That really was his name) of the 5^th Dragoon Guards.  Captain Godman wrote letters to his father and his brother about the Heavy Brigade action at Balaclava. 

To Balaclava then, with Scarlett's Heavy Cavalry Brigade.  

What has Captain Godman to say?  His letter to his Father is more restrained than the one to his brother.  Naturally, I think. 

Both letters are very informative.  I’m going to break things up to tell the story as there are some much overlooked points

“At this time a large mass of cavalry came over the hill in front of our camp, and would in a few minutes have been in our lines, and have cut down the few men left, when we got the order.”

These being a Russian Brigade of Light Cavalry (Hussars and Cossacks). We should note that the Russian cavalry have come very close to the British Camp.  This influenced how the action was fought.

This was a to be a contest between Heavy Cavalry and Light Cavalry.  The significance of that will become apparent in the part 2 of this series of articles.  Here I will add that my understanding of what Godman tells us was greatly enhanced by my reading of Captain Nolan's book.

The British were deployed in two lines.  The first line comprised of the Scots Greys and half of the Inniskilling Dragoons.  The second of the 5^th dragoons and the remainder of the Inniskilling Dragoons. 

" The Greys and half the Inniskillings charged first, but they were so close to our old camp, we (the first line) could not get up any pace to the charge, so they met nearly at a walk."

Note what Godman is telling us here.  Scarlett's first line went in at a nearly a walk. There was insufficient distance to allow them to build up charge speed.

The Russian front line  on the other hand elected to receive Scarlett's line at the halt.  Normally, they would have used there carbines in that situation.  However there may not have been time.  Both bodies of men were very close together.  Precluding, I think, steady aimed fire.  Here is Godman again.

"The enemy seemed quite astonished and drew into a walk and then a halt."

The two sides clashed, but you will notice, without either charging the other.  

Here we must recall Captain Nolan. He noted that if a charge does not succeed in scattering the enemy individual combats must take place.  This is precisely what happened.

"As soon as they met, all I saw was swords in the air in every direction, the pistols going off, and everyone hacking away right and left. In a moment the Greys were surrounded and hemmed completely in; there they were fighting back to back in the middle, the great bearskin caps high above the enemy."

Recall, Godman is well placed to observe this from the second and as yet uncommitted British line.

Here we should ask how were the British surrounded?  Let us look at the numbers.

"Their (the enemy’s) front must have been composed of three regiments, and a very strong column in their rear, in all I suppose about 1,500 or 2,000, while we were not more than 800," 

I'll note here in a letter to his brother he writes the Russian Cavalry were supposed to be 2000 strong.  Perhaps his initial 1500 was the truer figure.  Either way the British were considerably outnumbered.

The first British line must have been around 400 strong. The Russian front was in line supported by "a very strong column in their rear".  

Depending on the variable in Godman's estimate initially Scarlett was either facing around 700 cavalry or 1,000.  In either case the British were outnumbered and likely outflanked. This allowed the Russian front line to envelop their British equivalents.

So far, the British Front line has engaged only the Russian one.  Scarlett's second line and the Russian supporting column are not yet engaged. Yet, Cavalry actions are swift moving.

Godman once more.

 "This was the work of a moment; as soon as we saw it, the 5th advanced and in they charged, yelling and shouting as hard as they could split, the row was tremendous, and for about five minutes neither would give way, and their column was so deep we could not cut through it."

Note the key difference.  The second British line had space to charge.  The Russian cavalry column could not.  Its charge path was blocked by the backs of its own front line.

 At length the Russians who being in column could not bring their numerical advantage to bear turned and ran for it.  

Or if you like, withdrew from a position of tactical disadvantage.  Light Cavalry were not encouraged to fight in column.  They required space to shine.

 "At length they turned and well they might, and the whole ran as hard as they could pelt back up the hill, our men after them all broken up, and cutting them down right and left."

This reads like a ferocious combat.  For those involved no doubt it was. However casualties, as we shall see, seem relatively light.  Even for the Russians who got the worst of it.

First, I want to bring something to your attention.

" We pursued about 300 yards, and then called off with much difficulty," Godman again, to his Father.  

That distance is a short one for a cavalry pursuit.  

In a letter to his brother he says.

"It took some little time to get the men to fall in again, they were all mixed up together of course, all the regiments in one mass."

And furthermore to the brother.

"Having called off and formed again, a matter of some trouble for all the regiments were mixed." 

However, difficulty or not, Scarlett was able to put his men back in good order.  As we shall later see this is significant.

Now, to the grim question of casualties. 

Those of the British were according to Godman very light.  He notes 7 dead for the whole Brigade.  Recall these are private letters and the writer has little incentive to falsify. He notes.

"I am happy to say our brigade lost but seven men dead, but had a considerable number wounded, some mortally."

For the Russian dead Godman says.

"There must have been some forty or fifty of the enemy dead, besides wounded, for I went over the ground today to look at it.  "

Taking the higher figure, 57 men lost their lives during the fighting. 

To put that loss into context here is Godman again during the same battle post the cavalry fight.

"Our Brigade came in also just then for a heavy fire and the Greys alone lost forty killed and wounded, all for nothing. The Russians still have possession of the two forts and have spiked the guns of the other."

Industrial Warfare had arrived with a vengeance.  One strike by the Russian artillery could eclipse the gallantry of clashing cavalry in a moment.

Next time, I want to look at the nature of the fighting and why the British inflicted so many more casualties than the Russians.  Once more Captain Godman will be our informant.