The Charge of the Light Brigade in Historical art print by Chris Collingwood.  The Light Brigade painting showing the 17th Lancers, "Death or Glory Boys".

The Light Brigade were being kept in reserve, after the successful charge of the heavy brigade, but the slow advance of the British Infantry to take advantage of the heavy brigades success had given the Russian forces time to take away Artillery pieces from captured redoubts.  Raglan, after seeing this ordered the light brigade "to advance rapidly to the front, follow the enemy and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. This message taken by Captain Nolan, to Lord Lucan, the cavalry Commander.  One of the Officers of raglan's Staff, urged Lucan, who could only see the main Russian Artillery  Position at the head of a valley. Lord Lucan rode over to Cardigan and ordered him to attack these guns.   So the Light Brigade charged these Russian guns, and not the guns being taken away by Russian forces from the redoubts.  The Carnage was great, from the 673 men who started the charge, 113 men were killed and many others wounded. The Light Brigade was made up of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, 8th and 11th Hussars and the 17th Lancers. A Spectating French Officer  General Pierre Bosquet proclaimed "It is magnificent but it is not war".