A group of approximately 600 British cavalry soldiers participating in the Battle of Balaclava. Armed only with sabers, they are highly disciplined and prioritize their military duty over their personal safety. They follow orders without question, acting as a unified front during the charge despite facing overwhelming artillery.

The poetic voice recounting the military action and its consequences. The speaker operates with hindsight, observing the bravery of the soldiers while knowing the tragic nature of the miscommunication that sends them into heavy fire. The speaker views the men with immense sympathy and urges the public to remember their deeds.

The opposing military forces attempting to capture the port of Balaclava. They occupy the heights on three sides of the valley, equipped with cannons and musketry that severely outmatch the British cavalry's sabers. They form the physical barrier that the brigade attempts to break through.

The authoritative military figure within the poem who dictates the charge. Initially named as Nolan in an early draft, the figure is later reduced to an anonymous pronoun to reflect the hazy chain of command that causes the military blunder. The commander issues the order that sends the brigade into the valley.

A British officer tasked with delivering instructions to the cavalry commanders. His role in communicating the order contributes to the fatal confusion regarding which guns the cavalry should retrieve. He is an essential link in the miscommunication chain.

The overall British commander during the conflict. Concerned about the enemy claiming abandoned weapons on a ridge, he initiates the order that ultimately results in the disastrous charge. His distance from the front lines requires him to rely on messengers.

A British cavalry commander at Balaclava. He struggles to interpret the specific target of the issued orders, sending the troops into a heavily defended valley instead of the intended ridge. He acts on the flawed information delivered to him.

A cavalry commander who shares responsibility for the misdirected assault. He leads the soldiers into the valley against heavily armed enemy forces. He commands the men directly into the line of fire based on the misunderstood directive.