<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Casualties and losses </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 110 killed 161 wounded </Td> <Td> Unknown </Td> </Tr> <P> The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War . Lord Raglan, overall commander of the British forces, had intended to send the Light Brigade to prevent the Russians from removing captured guns from overrun Turkish positions, a task well - suited to light cavalry . </P> <P> However, there was miscommunication in the chain of command, and the Light Brigade was instead sent on a frontal assault against a different artillery battery, one well - prepared with excellent fields of defensive fire . They reached the battery under withering direct fire and scattered some of the gunners, but they were forced to retreat immediately . Thus, the assault ended with very high British casualties and no decisive gains . </P>

When did the charge of the light brigade happen