Major-General Sir James Yorke Scarlett KCB GCB (February 1, 1799 - December 6, 1871) was a British military commander and war hero known for the Charge of the Heavy Brigade during the Crimean War.
Biography[]
Scarlett was the second son of James Scarlett, the first Baron Abinger of Surrey, and his first wife. He was educated at Cambridge University, one of the two greatest universities in Britain. After completing his education, Scarlett enlisted in the army in 1818 as a low-ranking commissioned officer in the 18th Hussars.
By 1830, Scarlett had become a major in the 5th Dragoon Guards regiment under the grossly incompetent Colonel John Slade. During the Peninsular War, Slade was described as "nearly useless" and "damned stupid", resulting in his dismissal in 1840. Scarlett, who by now had married coal heiress Charlotte Anne Hargreaves, was appointed to replace him. He held this position for almost fourteen years, however in 1854 he was close to retirement as he had seen little active service.
In April 1854, however, he was appointed Brigadier General of the cavalry's Heavy Brigade and sent to the Crimea to fight the Russians. This resulted in Scarlett's serving in the Battle of Balaclava, in which the Earl of Cardigan would lead the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade.
At Balaclava, Scarlett was ordered by Lord Raglan to support Field Marshal Colin Campbell in his defence of the base. Scarlett advanced over towards the camp, only to see 2000 Russian cavalry coming towards him down a hill. He quickly organised 300 men at the base of the hill in parade formation and charged up the hill towards the 2000 Russians in an unheard-of move. Scarlett and his men charged into the centre of the Russian troops, followed by the rest of the Heavy Brigade. Against all the odds, the Russians were routed and driven back. Cardigan had observed the action with his Lights from a short distance away, and had he used his initiative and chosen this moment to finish what Scarlett had started, the Charge of the Light Brigade might well have been remembered as a success.
Later, when Cardigan finally led his men into the valley, the Earl of Lucan, Scarlett and the Heavies waited in reserve. Scarlett had started to advance in the hope of salvaging something from the disaster when Lucan, fearing the complete loss of the Light Brigade, sounded the retreat.
For leading the Heavy Brigade that day, Scarlett was promoted to Major-General and made KCB and GCB in 1855. Following the Peace of Paris, Scarlett commanded the cavalry at Aldershot until 1857, was Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth and General Officer Commanding South West District from 1857 to 1860 and then Adjutant-General to the Forces from 1860 to 1865. He was then made commander of the Aldershot Division, a post he held until his retirement in 1870.
Scarlett died in Burnley, Lancashire in 1871.