|Before proceeding, it may be necessary briefly to explain what the
brigadier had accomplished since he quitted Perth about ten days
previously.
At that time, the detachment under his command consisted of six
regiments, and with a number of gentlemen volunteers formed a total of
two thousand five hundred men.
The brigadier's orders from the Earl of Mar were to get as many men as
he could over the Firth, and though the channel was defended by ships
of war, smacks, and boats filled with armed men, Mackintosh courageously
made the attempt, and despite all the exertions of the cruisers to
prevent him, succeeded in reaching the East Lothian coast with fifteen
hundred men--the Earl of Strathmore's battalion being forced back and
compelled to go on shore on the Isle of May. This was the exploit to
which Lord Kenmure had referred in terms of such high admiration.
With the troops he had thus brought across the Firth, the brigadier
at once marched to Haddington, where he was invited by the Scottish
Jacobites to make an attempt on Edinburgh, and unhesitatingly complied
with the request.
He advanced as far as Jock's Lodge, but not meeting with the promised
support, he turned to Leith, and took possession of a partly-demolished
fort, built by Oliver Cromwell, and proceeded to barricade it.
Next day the Duke of Argyle, who had hastened from Stirling to the
protection of Edinburgh, summoned him to surrender. On his refusal,
the duke threatened to bombard the fort on the morrow, but in the night
Mackintosh withdrew, and conducted his men cautiously along the sands at
low water to Seaton House--a castle belonging to Lord Wintoun.
Here he posted himself securely with his force, and laughed at the
threats of Lord Torpichen and the Earl of Rothes, who came from
Edinburgh to dislodge him with two hundred dragoons and three hundred
volunteers.
At Seaton House he remained fora couple of days, and in that short
interval stored it with provisions to stand a siege, when he learnt that
the South Country Scots and Northumbrians had risen, and received an
express from Forster praying him to meet him at Coldstream or Kelso.
Another express came from the Earl of Mar bidding him march south, and
join the English insurgents.
The latter order could not be disobeyed, and he therefore quitted the
stronghold he had gained, and marched to Longformacus, harassed in the
rear by the Government troops.
But this pursuit did not prevent him from plundering the house of Doctor
Sinclair, who had incurred the animosity of the Jacobites by shooting
young Hepburn of Keith.
Continuing his march to Dunse, the brigadier rested there for a day,
proclaimed James the Third, collected the excise dues, and received the
very satisfactory intelligence that Sir William Bennet had abandoned
Kelso. No longer troubled by the Government troops, and renovated by
the much-needed repose, he marched on next day to Kelso, and was met at
Ednam Bridge, as we have related, by the Lowlanders.
Such were the main incidents that had occurred during Mackintosh's
memorable march towards the south. He had proved himself a thoroughly
good soldier, equal to every emergency, and not to be checked by danger
or difficulty, and fully deserved the encomiums passed upon him by Lord
Ken mure.
As the Highlanders entered Kelso, with bagpipes playing, colours flying,
and drums beating, the inhabitants flocked forth to gaze at them, and
were greatly struck by the stalwart appearance and martial bearing of
the men.
Brigadier Mackintosh, of whose doings so much had been heard, excited
great curiosity, and the tall figure, strongly marked features, and
athletic limbs of the veteran warrior would have pointed him out to all
beholders, even if he had not marched at the head of his detachment.
Throughout their progress neither the brigadier nor any of his officers
had mounted a horse, but marched on foot with the men, and crossed all
rivers in their Highland garb.