Where were the soldiers going in "The Charge of the Light Brigade"?

This poem is actually based on historical events, and its subject matter is the charge of British soldiers into enemy territory in southern Crimea during the Crimean War. Literally, the British soldiers were going towards Russian forces that had been taking their guns. However, the author emphasizes a more metaphorical and significant setting in the poem; this setting is one he describes as the "valley of Death." When the author says that six hundred men were headed towards this valley, he means to say that many of the soldiers are marching towards certain death during this dangerous military action. Besides this dark description detailing where many of the soldiers are tragically headed, the author also gives other metaphorical descriptions that pertain to these men's fatal destination; this can be seen when he hints that many of the fighters are riding towards the "jaws of Death" and the "mouth of hell."