THE BALACLAVA TROOPERS.
['o THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.] Sni,—If your article on the Balaclava Charge was written, as to the last part, from a real desire for information, I will try to give you the answer that you ask for. Without pretending to strict accuracy, I should be inclined to think that the majority of the Balaclara Six Hundred had five years' service at least, and thence up to twenty-three years, whilst barely five per cent. had less than one year, and for the following reasons. The Cavalry was practically on the twenty-four-years' system, the twelve-years having only begun in 1848. Allowing for a few free discharges after fourteen years, and some purchased, this would give a yearly average of five re- cruits per cent. The regiments ordered to Turkey in 1854 left be- hind their unbroken horses and imdrilled men, getting trained horses and men from other corps ; only one small draft joined us (17th Lancers) before leaving Turkey for the Crimea. I was a subaltern in the regiment, but not present at the Charge, being in Scutari hospital. I need not dwell on the great difference between a system which drives out all men except sergeants after four years' service, and one which allows a few to leave after twelve years, as formerly, or eight, as now. No one who has ever hunted with the Heytbrop will deny that youths of eighteen ride as boldly as men of thirty, but they cannot stand a long and sickly campaign so well as men of full strength and more mature years. Special correspondents harped on this string all through the winter of 1854-55; perhaps the events of 1870-71 may have changed their views, though I fail to see anything wonderful in 500,000 Germans wearing out 300,000 French. The Duke of Wellington never commanded 50,000 native-born British on any one field of battle, from Vimieira to Waterloo. — I am, Sir,
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