Balaclava 1854: The Charge of the Light Brigade (Campaign, 6)

This is one of the early books in the Osprey Campaign series. Any reader familiar with this series will quickly notice the changes that have occurred over the years. These changes aside, the book is extremely well written. The author, John Sweetman, provides a very clear and concise narrative of the entire battle. This book is well organized and easy to read. The Battle of Balaclava consisted of four phases: The Fall of the Redoubts, The Defense of Kadikoi by the Thin Red Line, the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, and the Charge of the Light Brigade. Each phase is clearly described in individual chapters. No matter where the reader stops, he or she will find this book easy to pick up from where they left off. It contains both standard and 3 dimensional maps. Of note is that the maps are clear and uncluttered. They convey only the elements needed to understand that particular phase of the battle. The book also has order of battle charts for both the Allies and Russians. These organization charts are a simple but extremely effective reference for the reader. The author included a large number of photos and contemporary drawings of the battle. These images also include portraits of the various officers. These photos and drawings are then supplemented by several full color graphics of individual soldiers in their battle dress uniforms. Although the book's chronology is succinct, it nicely covers the entire war. Of particular value is that it breaks down the battle itself. Each of the four phases is separately identified with the specific time frame during which it occurred. The final chapter covers the recriminations and political fall out of the battle. In particular, it covers the destruction of the Light Brigade. The author gives a good analysis of why things happened the way they did. Of particular note is how personality clashes between Major General Lucan, Major General Cardigan, and Captain Nolan led to miscommunication. This then caused the unnecessary charge down the North Valley. The book ends with a discussion on war gaming the battle. Bottom line: this book is extremely well written and easy to read. The text is supported by an excellent collection of photos and graphics. The reader cannot help but to walk away with a much clearer understanding of this battle and the ill-fated charge of the Light Brigade.