The Light Brigade were in exactly the right place, so they would have to lead. They were drawn up in double ranks by squadrons, two per regiment, in two battle lines. In the front, or first line, the 13th Light Dragoons were on the right; Lucan's old regiment, the 17th Lancers were in the centre; and Cardigan's old regiment, the 11th Hussars were on the left. In the second line, known as the support line, were the 8th Hussars on the right, and the 4th Light Dragoons, commanded by Lord Paget. Both support regiments had only one and a half squadrons. The all up total on parade was 664.
Lucan rode over with his entourage and Nolan to Lord Cardigan's position, and announced to him that he would be leading an attack down the North Valley.
"Certainly Sir;" replied Cardigan "but allow me to point out to you that the Russians have a battery in the valley in our front, and batteries and riflemen on each flank."
"I know it" said Lucan "but Lord Raglan will have it. We have no choice but to obey."
A rare face to face exchange between the belligerent brothers-in-law, and even rarer empathy, which didn't last long. According to Lucan 'I then said that I wished him to advance very steadily and quietly and that I would narrow his front by removing the 11th Hussars from the first to the second line. This he strenuously opposed but I moved across his front and directed Colonel Douglas (CO of the 11th) not to advance with the rest of the line, but to form a second line with the 4th Light Dragoons.' Cardigan's version of the exchange merely mentions the redeployment of the 11th, without any opposition on his part. The anxiously watching cavalry ranks bear this out - Cardigan was nodding seriously and was obviously preoccupied. Probably he was hardly listening. His mind would have been racing - how do we make a go of this? Free of Lucan and the staff, he made a beeline for Paget.
