On the 27^th of July 1880 Major Blackwood was the senior ranking artillery officer with General Burrow's force at Maiwand when they were attacked by a large well organized force of Ghazis. Major Blackwood was wounded by a bullet through the thigh, but stayed with his battery until the order to retire was issued. He was unable to mount his horse so he retired to the defense of a garden with a remnant of the 66^th Regiment of Foot. Major Blackwood died during this defense when the small remnant of the 66^th was surrounded and overrun in the latter stages of the battle by thousands of Ghazis. Notes on the Battle of Maiwand.