eight in the
morning
Heavy columns of the enemy now appeared in sight , cavalry and infantry , with numerous artillery crowning the eastern hills . A portion occupied the redoubts abandoned by the Turks , and the attitude of the Russians was so menacing that it seemed unlikely we could stay their onward progress . For the moment no troops could be interposed but the British cavalry -- the two brigades , Light and Heavy -- which had their encampment in the plain , and had been under arms , commanded by Lord Lucan , since daybreak . `` We must have up the First and Fourth Divisions , '' Lord Raglan had said , when he arrived on the battle-field soon after eight in the morning ; at first he had treated the news of the Russian advance lightly . Many such moves had been reported on previous days , and all had ended in nothing . `` Let the Duke of Cambridge and Sir George Cathcart have their orders at once . We must trust to the cavalry till the infantry come up .