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To: EternalVigilance
On that note, and just because I have a few minutes:

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

2.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

3.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

4.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

5.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

6.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.


6 posted on 03/01/2016 7:14:34 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

A foreshadowing of things to come in America...


7 posted on 03/01/2016 7:26:26 AM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: FreedomPoster; EternalVigilance
Tennyson: "Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;"

The charge came from mistaken orders, sending the light cavalry to the wrong place.
It resulted in the loss of 40% of the attacking force, about 270 men.

At Gettysburg, General Lee ordered attacks on foot against troops dug into high ground.
That resulted in the loss of 37% of Lee's force, about 28,000 men.


11 posted on 03/01/2016 1:34:28 PM PST by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
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