Crimean War

The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between the Russian Empire and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom, and Sardinia-Piedmont for control of the Crimean peninsula, and in particular Russia's main naval base in the Black Sea, Sevastopol.

Quotes

• C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre.
  • It is magnificent, but it is not war.
  • French General Pierre Bosquet, on the charge of the British Light Brigade at Balaclava, 25 October 1854; reported by Cecil Woodham-Smith, The Reason Why (1953), ch. 12

• As far as it engendered excitement the finest run in Leicestershire could hardly bear comparison.
  • British General Lord George Paget, The Light Cavalry Brigade in the Crimea (1881), ch. 5

• Half a league, half a league,
    Half a league onward,
  All in the valley of Death
    Rode the six hundred.
  • Alfred Tennyson, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), st. 1

• “Forward, the Light Brigade!”
  Was there a man dismayed?
  Not though the soldier knew
    Someone had blundered.
  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.
  • Alfred Tennyson, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), st. 2

• Cannon to right of them,
  Cannon to left of them,
  Cannon in front of them
    Volleyed and thundered; ...
  Into the jaws of Death,
  Into the mouth of Hell,
    Rode the six hundred.
  • Alfred Tennyson, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), st. 3

• When can their glory fade?
  O the wild charge they made!
    All the world wondered.
  Honour the charge they made!
  Honour the Light Brigade,
    Noble six hundred!
  • Alfred Tennyson, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), st. 6