Balaclava 1854: The Charge of the Light Brigade (Praeger Illustrated Military History) [Hardcover]

John Sweetman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275986276 | ISBN-13: 978-0275986278 | Publication Date: February 2005

The port of Balaclava was crucial in maintaining the supply lines for the Allied siege of Sevastapol. The Russian attack on it on 25th October 1854 therefore posed a major threat to the survival of the Allied cause. The battle took place in four stages, first of which was the successful Russian attack on the redoubts of Balaclava. This was followed by the action of "the thin red line" in which an assortment of about 700 British troops, some invalids, were abandoned by their Turkish allies and forced to successfully resist the attack of four squadrons of Russian cavalry. The subsequent charge of the Heavy Brigade which neutralised the threat to nearby Kadikoi was followed by the most famous part of the battle: the charge of the Light Brigade. Immortalised by Tennyson's poem, this action was not so much glorious as a major example of military ineptitude. Divisions at the top of the British command structure, and confusion in the transmission of orders prompted Lord Cardigan and the men of the Light Brigade to attack the Don Battery which was protected by infantry and more artillery on its flanks. John Sweetman looks at these events and analyses their collective significance in the outcome of the Battle of Balaclava.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

John Sweetman, former head of Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst ,and long-suffering supporter of Portsmouth F.C., is the author of numerous books and articles about the Crimean War including a biography of Lord Raglan. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (February 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275986276
• ISBN-13: 978-0275986278
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,616,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on the Light Brigade's Charge, March 5, 2009

By 

Mike Dillemuth (Virginia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Balaclava 1854: The Charge of the Light Brigade (Campaign) (Paperback)

This is one of the early books in the Osprey Campaign series. Any reader familiar with this series will quickly notice the changes that have occurred over the years. These changes aside, the book is extremely well written. The author, John Sweetman, provides a very clear and concise narrative of the entire battle.

This book is well organized and easy to read. The Battle of Balaclava consisted of four phases: The Fall of the Redoubts, The Defense of Kadikoi by the Thin Red Line, the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, and the Charge of the Light Brigade. Each phase is clearly described in individual chapters. No matter where the reader stops, he or she will find this book easy to pick up from where they left off.

It contains both standard and 3 dimensional maps. Of note is that the maps are clear and uncluttered. They convey only the elements needed to understand that particular phase of the battle. The book also has order of battle charts for both the Allies and Russians. These organization charts are a simple but extremely effective reference for the reader.

The author included a large number of photos and contemporary drawings of the battle. These images also include portraits of the various officers. These photos and drawings are then supplemented by several full color graphics of individual soldiers in their battle dress uniforms.

Although the book's chronology is succinct, it nicely covers the entire war. Of particular value is that it breaks down the battle itself. Each of the four phases is separately identified with the specific time frame during which it occurred.

The final chapter covers the recriminations and political fall out of the battle. In particular, it covers the destruction of the Light Brigade. The author gives a good analysis of why things happened the way they did. Of particular note is how personality clashes between Major General Lucan, Major General Cardigan, and Captain Nolan led to miscommunication. This then caused the unnecessary charge down the North Valley. The book ends with a discussion on war gaming the battle.

Bottom line: this book is extremely well written and easy to read. The text is supported by an excellent collection of photos and graphics. The reader cannot help but to walk away with a much clearer understanding of this battle and the ill-fated charge of the Light Brigade.