This book revolves around an event known as 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. It was a failed
military action involving the British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces
during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan had intended
to send the Light Brigade to prevent the Russians from removing captured guns from overrun
Turkish positions a task for which the light cavalry were well-suited. However there was
miscommunication in the chain of command and the Light Brigade was instead sent on a frontal
assault against a different artillery battery one well-prepared with excellent fields of
defensive fire. The Light Brigade reached the battery under withering direct fire and scattered
some of the gunners but they were forced to retreat immediately and the assault ended with
very high British casualties and no decisive gains.
