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

9 1ST ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 11double purpose of procuring- supplies and arming 1795.the colonists.On an island lying in the entranceto the bay he landed his sick, and began toconstruct fortfications. Here he learned thatsuccess was hopeless unless the French fleetjoined him quickly for none of the colonists;came to his assistance, nor could he obtain thosestores, of food, of which he was so greatly in need.On the 5th of August, 1796, information reachedCape Town that a Dutch fleet had left Europe,and might be expected at any moment. Onreceipt of this intelligence, Admiral Elphinstone,who was then in Simon's Bay, put to sea with afleet, consisting of the Monarch, 74 ; Tremendous,74 ; America, 64 ;Ruby, 64 ; Stately, 64 ; Trident,64 ;Jupiter, 50 ; Crescent, 36 ; Moselle, 20 ;Sphinx, 20 ; Rattlesnake, 16 ;and Echo, 16. Aftercruising about some days without seeing theenemy, the British admiral put back to Simon'sBay, and was informed where the Dutch fleetwas. He again set sail on the 14th, and on the17th arrived at Saldanha Bay. The garrison ofCape Town at this time consisted of the 28thLight Dragoons, a corps of artillery, and thebattalion companies of the 78th, 84th, 95th, and98th Regiments of foot ;the grenadiers of these