Half a League Onward

October 25, 1854

Half a League, half a league

Half a league onward

All in the Valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

At some point in middle school, I had to memorize Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade.” Although I’ve lost the ability to recite it word-for-word, lines sometimes come back to me, frequently scattered and always out of context.

I was unaware of the context; without it, the poem had an almost mythical quality. It confused me, but I was fascinated by the rhythm and flow of the words.

It may have felt mythical, but Tennyson’s lines are based on an event that took place on what is one of the most fought-over pieces of European land.

In 1854, Russian forces invaded a tiny peninsula that almost looks like its own island. Jutting out from the northern end of the Black sea, Crimea is the key to controlling this pivotal meeting point of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Originally the war was between the Ottoman and Russian empires, but it intrigued Britain and France, who were both concerned about Russia’s rapid expansion and imperial ambitions. The two Western nations decided to join forces with the Ottoman Empire, despite the move's unpopularity.

The first confrontation between the Western and Eastern forces occurred in late September of 1854, and although the West won, the French hesitated to press their victory without more established naval support.

A month later, on October 25, the two armies faced one another in the battle of Balaklava.

After a successful heavy cavalry charge at about 9:30 a.m., Lord Raglan issued an ill-fated order: “…advance rapidly to the front, follow the enemy.” His goal was to prevent the Russian guns from moving into a more dangerous position.

Problematically, Raglan was some distance from the battlefield, and by the time his order reached the field, it was: “advance rapidly.”

Although he thought it was an absurd request, the commander of the Light Brigade obediently led a charge into the valley surrounded on three sides by Russian guns. The Russians did what any self-respecting army would do, they opened fire.

In under 20 minutes, the charge was over, the Brigade was almost entirely obliterated.

It may have been a disaster, but Tennyson’s poem proved so inspiring that it rallied British support for the war at home and gave the army the support it needed to win the Crimean War.

Today the Battle of Balaklava and the Crimean war are relegated to a few footnotes and a paragraph or two in the middle of dense history books - and, of course, Tennyson’s poem.

Ironically, while the Battle is an excellent example of bad communication, Tennyson’s poem is a lesson in inspiring reporting. Lord Raglan’s order may have been poorly worded and conveyed - Tennyson’s command to his countrymen remains immortal.

O the wild charge they made!

All the world wondered.

Honor the Charge they made!

Honor the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred.