Crimean texts
War Department, Jan. 27, 1855
My Lord — I have to acknowledge your Lordship’s Despatch dated the 16th of December, enclosing the Copy of a Letter addressed to you by Lieutenant-General the Earl of Lucan, and submitting to me Observations upon its Contents.
Upon the receipt of that Despatch I felt that the Public Service and the general Discipline of the Army must be greatly prejudiced by any Misunderstanding between your Lordships as the General commanding Her Majesty’s Forces in the Field, and the Lieutenant Commanding the Division of Cavalry; but, desiring to be fortified in all Matters of this Nature by the Opinions of the General commanding in Chief, I submitted without Delay, your Lordship’s Despatch and the Letter of the Earl of Lucan for the Consideration of General the Viscount Hardinge.
I have the Honour of enclosing, for your Lordship’s Guidance, an Extract from the Reply which I have this day received from Lord Hardinge, and which has been submitted to and approved by the Queen.
I have therefore to instruct your Lordship to communicate this Decision to the Earl of Lucan, and to inform his Lordship that he should resign the Command of the Cavalry Division and return to England.
In performing this painful Duty, I purposely abstain from any Comments upon the Correspondence submitted to me; but I must observe that, apart from any Consideration of the Merits of the Question raised by Lord Lucan, the Position in which he has now placed himself towards your Lordship renders his Withdrawal from the Army under your Command in all respects advisable.
I have, &c
NEWCASTLE
Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, GCB, &c