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

9 1ST AEGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 245the two Argyllshire corps of the reserve forces 1869were drawn up on the quay at Inverary toescortthe colours from the steamer to the castle, wherethey arrived on the 15th of October.Itmaybe as well to record here the end ofthese colours, which were destroyed in a fire atInverary Castle, on the 12th of October, 1877.The Marquis of Lome wrote on the occasion to thecolonel of the regiment, Lieutenant- Colonel Kirk,"Alas! for the old Flags, all we can hope to recoverare the metal leaf-shaped heads of the staff, andthey are perhaps melted.Besides the colours, allthe arms used by our people in 1745 are gone."On the llth of November Colonel Gordonretired from the regiment, handingover thecommand to Major Sprot. His farewell order isdated, "Ellon Castle, Ellon, 29th January, 1870,"and is as follows :"H.R.H. having been pleased to grant compliancewith the request preferred by ColonelBertie Gordon, to be permittedto retire on thehalf-pay of the army, ColonelGordon bids farewellto the noble regiment in which he has servedfor more than seven and thirty years, and in whichhe has held command ever since April, 1855." Colonel Gordon's services in the 91st High-