+Source.+--_Memoirs of the War carried on in Scotland and Ireland,
1689-1691_, by Major-General Hugh Mackay, Commander-in-Chief of His
Majesty's forces. _With an appendix of original papers_, p. 50.
(Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1833.)
Being come up to the advanced party he[2] saw some small parties of the
enemy, the matter of a short mile, marching slowly along the foot of a
hill which lay towards Blair, marching towards us; whereupon he sent
orders to Balfour to march up to him in all haste with the foot. But
presently upon that order, having discovered some bodies of them
marching down an high hill, within a quarter of a mile to the place
where he stood, when the gross[3] of their body appeared, fearing that
they should take possession of an eminence just above the ground where
our forces halted on, of a steep and difficult ascent, full of trees and
shrubs, and within a carbine shot of the place whereon we stood, whereby
they could undoubtedly force us with their fire in confusion over the
river, he galloped back in all haste to the forces, and having made
every battalion form by a Quart de Conversion to the right upon the
ground they stood, made them march each before his face up the hill, by
which means he prevented that inconveniency, and got a ground fair
enough to receive the enemy, but not to attack them, there being, within
a short musket shot to it, another eminence before our front, as we
stood when we were up the lowest hill, near the river, whereof Dundee
had already got possession before we could be well up, and had his back
to a very high hill, which is the ordinary maxim of Highlanders, who
never fight against regular forces upon anything of equal terms, without
a sure retreat at their back, particularly if their enemies be provided
of horse; and to be sure of their escape, in case of a repulse, they
attack bare footed, without any clothing but their shirts, and a little
Highland doublet, whereby they are certain to outrun any foot, and will
not readily engage where horse can follow the chase any distance....
Shortly thereafter, and about half an hour before sunset, they began to
move down the hill.
The General had already commanded the officers, commanding battalions,
to begin their firing at the distance of 100 paces by platoons, to
discourage the approaching Highlanders, meeting with continual fire:
That part of their forces which stood opposite to Hastings, who had the
right of all, before the Generals', Levin's and Kenmore's regiments,
came down briskly together with their horse, and notwithstanding of a
brisk fire, particularly from the General's own battalion, whereby many
of the chief gentlemen of the name of Macdonald, who attacked it, were
killed, pushed their point, after they had fired their light pieces at
some distance, which made little or no execution, with sword in hand,
tho' in great confusion, which is their usual way. Which when the
General observed, he called to the Lord Belhaven to march up with the
first troop of horse, ordering him to flank to the left hand the enemy,
the fire being then past on all hands, and coming to handy strokes if
our men had stood, appointing the second troop to do the same to the
right; but scarcely had Belhaven got them without the front of the line,
where they had orders to wheel for the flank, tho' their very appearance
made the enemy turn away from the place where they saw the horse coming
up, but contrary to orders, they began to pass, not knowing whereat, and
presently turned about, as did also Kenmore's and the half of Levin's
battalion.
The General, observing the horse come to a stand, and firing in
confusion, and the foot beginning to fall away from him, thinking
happily that the horse would be picked to follow his example, and in all
cases to disengage himself out of the crowd of Highlanders which came
down just upon the place where he was calling to the officers of the
horse to follow him, spurr'd his horse through the enemy, (where no body
nevertheless followed him, but one of his servants, whose horse was shot
in passing).... Having passed through the crowd of attacking
Highlanders, he turned about to see how matters stood, and found that
all his left had given way, and got down the hill which was behind our
line, ranged a little above the brow thereof, so that in the twinkling
of an eye in a manner, our men, as well as the enemy, were out of sight,
being got down pall mall to the river where our baggage stood....
The enemy lost on the field six for our one, the fire to our right
having been continued and brisk, whereby not only Dundee, with several
gentlemen of quality of the countys of Angus and Perth, but also many of
the best gentlemen among the Highlanders, particularly of the Macdonalds
of the Isles and Glengarie, were killed, coming down the hill upon
Hastings, the General, and Levin's regiments, which made the best fire
and all the execution....
The General having got the small rests of his forces safely over the
river, and seeing no disposition, so far as he could discern, of the
enemy to pursue him, he bethought himself which way he had best retire;
and notwithstanding of the contrary advice of all the officers who would
have him to descend the plain country of Athole to Dunkeld and Perth, he
resolved rather to march into the Highlands three or four miles, and
then over to Strath Tay and along the foot of the hills, over the Castle
of Drummond, where he had a garrison, to Stirling, whither he resolved
to make all the speed possible, to fall upon some present measures.