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

9 1ST ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 175marched towards Fort Cox, under Colonel Somerset,for the purpose of opening a communicationwith the commander of the forces, who wassurrounded by the enemy, and of throwing in asupply of cattle for the troops.The officers of the regiment who went withthis party were Captain Campbell, LieutenantsMelvin and Borthwick, and Adjutant Grordon.When nearing the Yellow Woods Eiver, theKaffirs opened a heavy fire uponcompaniesthis force. Twowere then thrown out in extendedorder, and advanced tillthe hill which surmounts thethey reached the base ofUmnassie, where aformidable force of the enemy had taken up aposition behind the rocks which skirt the summitof the hill.It was then found necessary to retire,the Kaffirs endeavouringto outflank and cut offthe retreat. A reinforcement of 100 men wassent from Fort Hare under Ensign Squirl ofthe 91st, to the assistance of the patrol, whichenabled it to return to the fort after a severestruggle, in which Lieutenant Melvin, Lieutenantand Adjutant Gordon, and twenty menwere killed, and Lieutenant Borthwick, twosergeants, and sixteen men were wounded, two ofthe latter dying of their wounds.The wounds in