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

154 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE1846. Thorn, and Sergeants Snodgrass and Clarke, ofthe 91st.The head-quarters of the reserve battalionremained at Block Drift until July, 1847. Onthe 12th of May, 1846, it was attacked by theKaffirs, who were repulsed with the loss of achief and sixty men killed, whilst the 91st hadone man mortally wounded. The followingisthe official report by Major Campbell, who wasin command of the 91st at the post:"Block Drift, May 13th, 1846. I have thehonour to acquaint you, for the information of hishonour the colonel commanding, that yesterday,about 2 p.m., a bodyof 150 mounted Kaffirswas seen approaching the cattle-slaughter guard(twelve men of the 91st Regiment), which wason theabout 400 yards above Fort Thompsonslope of the hill, and immediately commencedfiring upon them. Considering this to be onlya ruse on the part of the Kaffirs to draw the forceout of the building, I merely sent a party consistingof one officer and twenty men, to supportthe cattle-guard, who were retiring on the camp,and got the rest of the men and the gun intoposition.I then opened a fire with the gun, andafter a few discharges, which seem to have been