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

140 HISTORICAL RECORDS OP THE1842. horses for his party, and conveyances for hisprisoners, as he might require.Captain Gordon'soffer was accepted. He had not the slightesttrace or information of the track of a singledeserter to guidehis course over the districtsthrough which his purpose might lead his patrol.When taking leave of his commanding officerbefore riding off, Major Ducat (theofficer thenin command) said to him, " Gordon, if you donot bring them back, we are a ruined battalion !The patrol was absent from head-quarters foreight days, during which time Captain Gordonrode over 600 miles ;and when on the evening"of the 16th of November his tired partyrode intothe barracks of Cape Town just before sunset,after a ride of eighty miles in thirteen hours,sixteen of the men who had recently desertedwere lodged in the regimental guard-room as theresult of his exertions. Two more deserters,hearing that Captain Gordon was out, had comein of their own accord. The desertions in thereserve battalion ceased from that date.1843. The reserve battalion embarked on the 22ndof February, 1843, for Algoa Bay,and sailed onthe 27th, anchoring there on the 4th and disembarkingat Port Elizabeth on the 5th of March.