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

276 HISTORICAL EECORDS OF THE1879. Shah and Boddicea, with one gatling gun and two24-pounder rocket-tubes, and one battalion Natalnative contingent ; the whole force being underthe immediate command of Lord Chelmsford.The orders were to proceed without tents, and inthe lightest possible marching order, men to carryseventy rounds of ammunition, and thirty roundsper man to be carried on pack-mules,two ofwhich mules followed in rear of each company,with 1500 rounds in canvas waterproof bags.Camp was struck on the 28th, and spare baggageand camp equipment were stacked in some tentsprotected by Forts Pearson and Tenedos, whiletwenty weaklybehind to form a guard.men were ordered to be leftThe troops had a very bad time of it duringthe following night, as it rained like it knowshow todo in Zululand, and having no tents, andin fact nothing but a waterproof sheet per manto cover them, the ingenuityexercised as to how he should keepof each man washimself comparativelydry ; as a matter of fact, it wasimpossible to manage this last detail, and inconsequence a most miserable night was spent.The following morning, at 6 a.m., the 91ststarted as advanced-guard to the force. Progress