[284] This paper is not in Mr. Forbes's own hand, and it appears as
if the subscriber had been obtained to write it in and sign it.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 567.] Upon Tuesday, December 22nd, 1747, I waited
upon Dr. Archibald Cameron's Lady at her lodgings in Edinburgh
when she was pleased to favour me with two papers, exact copies
of which are as follows:--
COPY of the ORDERS given by COLONEL JOHN CAMPBELL to CAPTAIN
CAMPBELL of Knockbowie of the Argyleshire Militia, and which was
taken from the original order found amongst Knockbowie's papers
and baggage, which were seized when the greatest part of his men
were made prisoners at Rannoch by Lord George Murray.
_Nairn House, the 20th February 1746._
Orders for Captain Campbell of Knockbowie. You are to march directly
hence with your own company, Carsaig's, Raschelly's, and Ardmenish's
to the following parts, where you are to dispose of the men as
follows:--
Men
At Blairfetty, 60
At Kenichan, where you are to be yourself, 100
[Sidenote: _fol._ 568.]
At Glendulichan and Cochivile, 60
----
In all 220
----
[Sidenote: 20 Feb.]
It is the Duke of Cumberland's orders you take post according to the
above list.
You are to have the command of the several companies above mentioned.
Such of the rebels as may be found in arms you are to take prisoners,
and if any of them make resistance you are to attack them, provided
their numbers do not exceed yours. And it is his royal highness's
orders that you give them no quarters.
You are to seize upon all kind of provisions that belongs to the
rebels or may be designed for their use.
You are to make your report three times a week to the commanding
officer at Castle Menzies or Blair of Athol.
(_Signed_)
JOHN CAMPBELL.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _fol._ 569.] There is one material circumstance
omitted in the Journal given by Mr. John Cameron, and which
ought to come in after these words,[285] '_so close to their
tents as to hear every word they spoke_.' The material
circumstance omitted is as follows:--
[Sidenote: July.]
When the Prince sent for Donald Cameron of Glenpean, the said Donald
went along with the messenger to the place the Prince had appointed,
and according to the Prince's orders took along with him all the
provisions he had, which was no more than two or three handfulls
of oatmeal and about a pound of butter. And when the messenger had
conducted the said Donald Cameron to the place appointed for meeting
the Prince, by some accident or other the Prince had left that place
and they missed him. Upon which they were very uneasy and resolved
[Sidenote: _fol._ 570.] to go different ways to see to find him out.
And there happening a great fog or mist to come on at that time they
wandered a considerable while in the hill. At last the said Donald
Cameron by mere accident met the Prince, who being in great want of
provisions, the said Donald gave him the oatmeal and butter he had,
of which he ate very heartily, and which subsisted the Prince and
other three persons who were with him for four days. As the lines of
the regular troops were then all formed with a design to surround
the Prince, he advised with the said Donald Cameron if there was any
possibility of getting through the lines and in what manner. Upon
this the said Donald replied that it was a most hazardous attempt
and next to an impossibility, as the sentries were all placed so
close that they were each of them within speech of the other. But the
Prince being determined to penetrate through the [Sidenote: _fol._
571.] lines at all hazards, having nothing else left for his escape,
the said Donald told him that there was one pass with a hollow to
go down over a very high rock, which was exceedingly hazardous, but
was the only place he could advise the Prince to attempt. Upon this
they went to the said precipice, being then dark night, and Donald
Cameron went first over the pass and the Prince followed. But as he
was coming down the hill to the top of the rock where the pass was,
his foot slipped, and the hill being so steep he tumbled to the very
top of the rock and would certainly have fallen one hundred fathoms
perpendicular over the rock had not he catched hold of a tree on the
very top of the rock with one of his legs, after his body passed the
same and which he kept hold of betwixt his leg and his thigh till
the next person that was following catched hold of [Sidenote: _fol._
572.] him by the breast and held him till the said Donald Cameron
returned back and came to them and recovered both. At last they got
over this so dangerous pass, by which they pass'd the first line of
the troops, and different nights after this they passed the other
four lines of the troops creeping on their hands and feet betwixt the
sentries.
[285] See f. 172.
* * * * *
The above account was taken from the said Donald Cameron his own
mouth, so it can be depended upon.
After this follows the rest of Mr. John Cameron's journal, the next
words being these, 'When they came to Glenmoriston they got six
stout,' etc.[286]
[286] See f. 172.
* * * * *
_N.B._--The proceeding narrative appears to be the same with that
account which Dr. Cameron's lady gave to Dr. Burton from the best of
her remembrance.[287]
[287] See f. 550.
[Sidenote: 22 Dec.]
At the same time (December 22nd) I received from Dr. Cameron's lady
a copy of Mr. John Cameron's journal,[288] and as the copy I had
made my transcript from happened to be very [Sidenote: _fol._ 573.]
unexact and confused, so I was not a little desirous to compare my
transcript with that copy which I received from Mrs. Cameron; and
upon comparing them together I found them to be one and the same,
there being no other difference betwixt them than what ordinarily
proceeds from the carelessness and inaccuracy of transcribers. Even
the copy I had from Mrs. Cameron was none of the correctest as to
orthography.
[288] See f. 155.
In the course of our conversation Mrs. Cameron said it was a
very remarkable thing that the Prince landed (in his course from
the island Eriska) in Lochnannua, at Boradale in the country of
Arisaig[289] and in the parish of Ardnamurchin, and that at the very
same spot he went on board the eight-oar'd boat after the battle of
Culloden, to sail for the isles, that he was thereafter coming from
the Isle of Sky, and likewise that at the very same spot he imbarked
for France upon September 20th, 1746, when he was forced to leave
Scotland and to seek [Sidenote: _fol._ 574.] for safety in foreign
parts.[290]