|Having fully arranged his plans, General Wills summoned the various
commanders, and after explaining to them his views, made the following
disposition of his forces.
The horse and dragoons were to be formed into three brigades: the first
to consist of Wynn's and Honey-wood's regiments, under the command of
Brigadier Honeywood; the second to comprise Munden's and Stanhope's
regiments, under the command of Brigadier Mun-den; and the third to
comprehend Pitt and Dormer's regiments, under the command of Brigadier
Donner.
“We shall set out at break of day,” said the general, “and this will be
the order of march. In the front will be Preston's foot, with a vanguard
of fifty men from the regiment, commanded by Lord Forrester. Then will
follow the three brigades I have appointed, while the whole of the
militia, under the command of Sir Henry Hoghton, will bring up the
rear.”
“Am I to cross the bridge, general?” inquired Sir Henry, who was
present.
“Most probably the bridge and the approaches to it will be defended,”
replied Wills. “Post your men at various points on the south bank of the
river. Station two parties of horse about a hundred yards apart on the
left of the bridge, and place small parties along the bank as far as
the ferry-house, extending them, if necessary, in the direction of
Penwortham, where Parson Woods will be posted with his men. Thus the
whole of the bank will be guarded, and no supplies can be conveyed to
the rebels--nor can any of them escape.”
“I quite understand, general,” said Sir Henry, “and will carefully
attend to your instructions.”
“One word more, gentlemen, and I have done,” said Wills, looking round.
“As we shall set out as soon as it is light, you must all be on the
alert an hour before daybreak, so as to prevent any chance of delay.
This applies particularly to the foot and the advanced guard, who ought
to start half an hour before the horse. We shall halt for an hour at
Chorley, to breakfast.”
In anticipation of the day they had before them, the commanders and
officers retired early to rest. But not till he had satisfied himself
by personal inspection that all the regiments under his command were in
good marching order did General Wills seek his couch.
Fully an hour before daybreak the reveille was sounded, and it was
scarcely light when the vanguard, commanded by Lord Forrester, marched
out of Wigan.
After a short interval, the advanced guard was followed by Preston's
regiment of foot--known as the Old Cameronians--which could boast some
of the finest men in the service. Then followed, after another pause,
the three brigades of cavalry; and both men and horses being in
excellent condition, these regiments looked remarkably well. General
Wills rode with Brigadier Honeywood at the head of the first brigade.
After a long train of baggage waggons came the militia, numbering some
six hundred horse and foot, commanded by Sir Henry Hoghton. Like the
regular soldiers, the militia-men looked exceedingly well, and were
loudly cheered by the inhabitants, most of whom--though the hour was so
early--had assembled to witness the march forth of the troops.
The spectacle was rendered infinitely more impressive by the
circumstance that the men were about to fight a battle. The result,
however, of the impending contest seemed scarcely doubtful, and the
general opinion was that the rebellion would be effectually crushed.
Confident in their leader, and animated by their officers, who promised
them an easy victory over the insurgents, with the plunder of the rich
town of Preston, the king's soldiers were in excellent spirits.
Nor did anything occur in the march to disquiet them. The morning being
fine and the roads in tolerably good order the infantry got on very
well, and were very little fatigued on reaching Chorley.
During the halt at Chorley, word was brought to General Wills, by a
scout that the bridge over the Ribble was defended by Colonel John
Farquharson of Invercauld, with a hundred picked men belonging to
Colonel Mackintosh's battalion.
General Forster had likewise come forth to reconnoitre, and had been
seen with a party of horse about two miles south of the bridge, on the
Wigan road.
This intelligence did not seem to necessitate any alteration in General
Wills's plans, but he ordered Lord Forrester and Captain Preston to halt
at Walton-le-Dale till he himself should come up.
After this short halt the march was resumed, and on arriving at
Walton-le-Dale, the general learnt Colonel Farquharson had been
strengthened by three hundred men sent to support him by the Earl of
Derwentwater.
Under the impression that the bridge would be stoutly defended, Wills
prepared to attack it with Honeywood's brigade, but what was his
surprise, on arriving at the spot, to find the passage entirely
unoccupied!
What had become of Colonel Farquharson and his Highlanders? Where were
Lord Derwentwater's three hundred men? Not one of them was to be seen.
Though there was nothing to impede his progress. Wills hesitated for a
few minutes, suspecting some stratagem might be intended. He then rode
boldly across the bridge, and was followed by his whole force with the
exception of the militia, which remained on the south bank of the river,
and took up the position assigned.
After crossing the bridge Wills again halted before entering the deep
lane that led to the town, and thinking the hedges might be lined, he
caused them to be examined, but no skirmishers could be discovered.
Unable, otherwise, to account for such strange neglect of all
precautions, he came to the conclusion that the rebels must have
abandoned the town, and commenced a retreat to Scotland.
Should this prove to be the case, it would be a great disappointment to
him, as well as to his soldiery, since it would deprive him of victory,
and the men of the plunder they expected to obtain.
However, his alarm was quickly dispelled. A prisoner had been taken, and
was brought before him.
The man had refused to answer the sergeant who first interrogated him,
but as Wills threatened to have him shot, he became more compliant.
“Where are the rebels?” demanded the general.
“In the town,” replied the man, sullenly.
“Is General Forster there?” continued Wills.
“I suppose so,” said the prisoner.
“And Lord Derwentwater?”
“Maybe,” replied the man. “But I have not seen him.”
“Take care how you answer, fellow!” cried Wills sternly. “Are you quite
sure Brigadier Mackintosh has not set out for Scotland?”
“Quite sure,” replied the man, “I saw him not half an hour ago--helping
to make a barricade.”
“A barricade!” exclaimed Wills, glancing at Brigadier Honeywood. “Now
we are coming to it. Where is the barricade formed?” he added to the
prisoner.
“In the Churchgate,” replied the man.
“Is that the only barrier?”
“No, there are three others. All the entrances to the town are
barricaded.”
“Then the rebels mean to defend themselves?” said Wills.
“To the last. You needn't expect them to surrender.”
“If they don't, I shall cut them to pieces,” said Wills, sternly. “Go
back to the town and tell them so.”
“I won't deliver any such message. It would cost me my life.”
“No matter,” cried Wills. “Obey me. Recollect what I have said. Not
one of the rebels shall escape me--unless their leaders surrender at
discretion. Now begone!”
The man was then set free, and driven towards the town, but he did not
re-enter it.
General Wills then quitted the lane, which was shut in, as we have
said, by high hedges, and led his troops to some fields on the left that
commanded a full view of the town.
How peaceful and beautiful it looked! Even the stem Wills, who was about
to deliver it up to fire and sword, felt a certain regret at the thought
of destroying so pleasant a place.
Very few evidences of preparation on the part of the insurgents were
visible, the barriers and intrenchments being all in the interior of the
town.
A few soldiers could be descried at the outskirts, but no guard was
placed at the extremity of the avenues. Wills quite understood what
this meant, and judged correctly that the houses on either side of the
streets must be filled with troops ready to pour a murderous fire upon
the assailants as they entered the town.
Aware that the cavalry could not act within the town, Wills gave orders
that two regiments of dragoons should dismount, when the attack was
made, in order to support the foot. His first business, however, was to
dispose his men so as to prevent the rebels from sallying forth, and cut
off their retreat in case they should make the attempt.
This done, he ordered two attacks to be made simultaneously upon the
town; one by Brigadier Honeywood from the Wigan Road on the south--the
other by Brigadiers Dormer and Munden from the Lancaster Road on the
north.
His directions were thus conveyed to Honeywood:
“You will have with you Preston's regiment of foot to be commanded by
Lord Forrester, likewise two hundred and fifty dismounted dragoons,
commanded by five captains. These are to support Preston's foot. You
will sustain the whole with your regiment.”
“Your orders shall be obeyed, general,” replied Honeywood.
Wills then gave similar directions to Brigadiers Dormer and Munden,
telling them they would have under their joint command three hundred
dismounted dragoons for the attack on the Lancaster Avenue, which would
be sustained by two mounted regiments.
Then, addressing the brigadiers, he added:
“Obtain possession of the ends of the town as speedily as may be, and
set fire to the houses, in order to dislodge the rebels, who no doubt
occupy them. Next make lodgments for your own men, so as to prevent
the sallying forth of the rebels upon them, and check the escape of the
enemy.”
“It shall be done, general,” said Brigadier Dormer.
“Before commencing hostilities, however, I shall send a summons of
surrender to General Forster,” said Wills. “But I do not think he will
comply with it.”
Scarcely were the words spoken, than several shots were fired from
a farm-yard near the town, by which an orderly near the general was
killed, and another officer wounded.
“Soh!” cried Wills, fiercely. “There will now be no summons to
surrender. Let the attack commence forthwith.”
Brigadiers Dormer and Munden with the regiments under their command,
then rode off to the north side of the town to attack the Lancaster
Avenue; while Lord Forrester led Preston's foot towards the upper end of
the Wigan Avenue, followed by the dismounted dragoons, and sustained by
Brigadier Honeywood's regiment.
Shortly afterwards, sharp firing announced that the attack had commenced
on both sides of the town.