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

9 1ST AEGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 117former, 500 strong, being mounted. Dispositions 1345.were made to attack the camp,troops of the 7th Dragoonbut when theGuards and thecompany of the Cape Rifles pushed forwards,the Boers fled in all directions, after offering avery slight resistance.The detachment remainedencamped until the 30th of June, when it wasordered to Grahamstown to rejoin head-quarters.That town at this time was a very smallplace,containing a population, including the military,of about 2000. It lies in a valley encircled bylow hills, and watered bylittle streams whichrun into the Cowrie River. It was built in theform of an irregular square, with one broad mainstreet,from either side of which several smallerstreets branched off at right angles.The garrison consistedof the head-quarters ofthe 27th and 91st Regiments and Cape Corps,under the command of Colonel Somerset (afterwardscommander-in-chief at Bombay), and therewas also a company of sappers. The 27th occupiedthe Drostdie Barracks, and the 9 1st the oldthatch-roofed barracks at Fort England, whichlie above the town, the remainder of the troopsbeing in the new barracks.On the 25th of November new colours were