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

148 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE1846. number of waggons (125), and the necessity ofgiving a support to the guns, Major Gibson wasonly able to form an advance and rear baggageguard,and could not detach any men along theline of waggons. The advance-guard consisted ofCaptain Wright's company, a half troop of the7th Dragoon Guards, and one gun the ; rear-guardof Captain Rawstorne's company, one gun, andsome troopers. After proceeding about a mile,shots issued from the kloof bythe side of theroad. Lieutenant Stokes, R.E., ran the gun upto a point some 300 yards in advance, and rakedthe kloof with shell. When half the waggonshad passed, the Kaffirs made a dash uponone ofthem, firing at the drivers and some of theofficers' servants, who were obliged to fly,thentook out the oxen and wheeled the waggon acrossthe river. An overpowering force then rusheddown from the hills in alldirections, keeping upan incessant fire, which was returned by the 7thDragoon Guards and the 91st with great spirit.The gun was also served with much skill ;butowing to the Kaffirs' superiority in numbers,Major Gibson, to prevent his men being cut off,was obliged to retire to Burn's Hill, where heagain put his men in position.A short time