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

282 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE1879.Ekowe, and had been regularly communicatedwith by means of the heliograph,received ordersto hold his forcein readiness to evacuate his fortthe day after the arrival of the relieving force.The garrison at Ekowe had been a witness of theaction of the 2nd of April, as the fort stands onhills which overlook the plain over which LordChelmsford's column had marched, and the battlefieldwas at the foot of the hill. The march ofthe relieving column commenced at daybreak, andat half-past six the rear-guard had moved off.When the sun had got up, the daybecame excessivelyhot, and the march, especiallyfor the rearguard,was most tedious, numerous halts havingto be made to allow the waggons to be gotthrough the marshy places on the road. To showhow the column straggled, the advance-guard,arrived at Ekowewhich was formed by the 60th,at half-past six, while the rear-guard did notarrive until midnight. The 91st only got theirdinners at 1 o'clock in the morning. The menon this occasion marched splendidly, when it istaken into consideration that theyhad beenseventeen hours and a half on the move, yetwhen they passed the fort, headed by their pipers,there was not one man out of the ranks.