Historical records of the 91st Argyllshire ... - waughfamily.ca

9 1ST ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 105ning again to rise, and the captain was appre-1842.hensive that his ship might go to pieces beforesunset.It became necessary, in consequence,that themen should abandon their knapsacks, as they notonly filled a greater spacein the surf-boat thancould be spared, but took a long time to handover the ship'sside. Officers were also orderednot to take more than each could carry on hisarm. The disembarkation of the men went onregularly but slowly from 11 a.m. until 3.30p.m., the boat being able to hold only thirty menat a time. At 3.30 the last boat-load left theship'sside. It contained those of the officersand crew who had remained to the lastCaptainGordon of the 91st, Lieutenant Black, R.N.,agent of transports, the sergeant-major of thereserve battalion of the 91st, and one or twonon-commissioned officers who had requestedpermission to remain.Nearly 700 souls thus completed their disembarkationafter a night of great peril,andthrough a raging surf,without the occurrence ofa single casualty. Among them were manywomen and children, and several sick men, twoof whom were supposed to be dying. Although