As Fortune, or rather Providence, has screened, conducted and brought
me safe out of so many miseries and dangers; gratitude obliges me to
be ever-thankful to that Omniscient Power, by whose particular bounty
and goodness I now live, and survive a Cause, which, though it be now
a little sunk, will, I doubt not, one day or other, rise again, and
shine forth in its true colours, make its Hero famous to after-ages,
and the Actors esteemed and their memory venerable. But since it is not
permitted to pry into futurity, we may at least take a retrospective
view of our own or others’ actions, and draw from them what may amuse,
instruct or benefit human Society, and by that means fulfill in some
measure the end for which we were sent into this world. Conceiving
it therefore to be the best method of shewing my gratitude to Divine
Providence, I shall give a short but true account of what happened
to me during the time I had the honour of being a soldier under the
banner of a most beloved Prince; hoping that the indulgent reader,
whom curiosity may induce to peruse the following pages, will pardon
the simplicity and ruggedness of my style, which, I am afraid, will be
the more strikingly conspicuous, as, in order to preserve the thread
of my History unbroken, I have occasionally been obliged to interweave
with my narrative some extracts from the Memoirs of another, whose
excellence totally eclipses my humble attempt.
The lessons of loyalty, which had been instilled into me from my infant
years, had made a deep and indelible impression upon my mind; and as I
advanced towards maturity, and my reasoning faculties were developed,
I became so firmly convinced of the solidity of the principles which
I had been taught, that, when arrived at the age of Twenty-two, I
resolved never to deviate from them, but to act to the best of my
power the part of a good and faithful subject, notwithstanding the
customs of an unhappy kingdom to the contrary. Nor was it long before
an opportunity presented itself of proving my fidelity to my lawful
Sovereign; viz., when the Prince entered triumphantly into Lancashire
on the 24th of November 1745,[389] attended by about four thousand
armed men. The first time I saw this loyal army was betwixt Lancaster
and Garstang; the brave Prince marching on foot at their head like a
Cyrus or a Trojan Hero, drawing admiration and love from all those who
beheld him, raising their long-dejected hearts, and solacing their
minds with the happy prospect of another Golden Age. Struck with this
charming sight and seeming invitation ‘_Leave your nets and follow
me_,’ I felt a paternal ardor pervade my veins, and having before my
eyes the admonition ‘_Serve God and then your King_,’ I immediately
became one of his followers. How, and in what manner, I am now going to
relate.
The brave and illustrious Duke of Perth (whose merits it would require
the pen of an angel properly to celebrate, being a true epitomé of all
that is good) halting to refresh himself at a Public-House upon the
road, where with some friends of mine I then happened to be; His Grace,
being truly zealous in the cause, asked of them the disposition of the
place and people. They replied, that they believed it to be much in
the Prince’s favour. After some conversation on one thing and another,
the Duke did me the honour to invite me to join; which request being
nowise contrary to my inclination, I immediately answered His Grace,
that I was exceeding willing to do anything that lay in my power for
promoting the Prince’s interests, in any situation he might judge most
proper. Upon this, the Duke honoured me with a most sincere promise
of his particular patronage; and not a little proud I was of acquiring
such a friend on my first joining the Prince’s army, in which I had not
before a single acquaintance. After some questions, the Duke desired me
to get in readiness and to meet him on horse-back at Garstang; which
in about two or three hours I accordingly did. The army being then in
full march for Preston, the Duke desired me to go with forty men round
that part of the country which I best knew; which forty men being
accordingly put under my command, I went to Eccleston and Singleton in
the Fyld Country, where I delivered some commissions, and caused the
King to be proclaimed, the bailiffs, constables and burgesses of the
place attending at the ceremony. I dispersed several of the Prince’s
Manifestoes; and Exhortations were made, in order to shew the people
the misery and oppressions of tyranny and usurpation, which like oxen
yoked down to the plough, they seem to labour under; and calling upon
them to rise up and, like lions to shake off the infamous yoke which
too long had galled the necks of free-born Englishmen;--to assert
their liberties honourably both before God and Man, and to prove to
the world, that they remained true English hearts, equal to their
fore-fathers’, who once had given laws to foreign States;--to exert
their liberties under a Prince, who was come for their sakes, and for
their sakes only, and with their concurrence would make them most
happy. But alas! notwithstanding all our proposals and exhortations,
few of them consented to join the Prince’s army. Therefore, having
assembled those who did come in, orders were given for them to give
up all their arms; which being reluctantly complied with, search was
made in several houses, where we found a few; and amongst the rest we
entered the house of an honest Quaker, whom I had seen about ten days
before at a Public-house, where he accidentally came in whilst I was
there, bringing with him a gun and a pair of pistols, which he had
bought. Calling for his pot of ale, he began to harangue the host and
the others present, telling what an honest man the Justice of the
Parish said he was, and that he could keep all the Papists quiet. And
with these, said he (meaning the pistols) I can bid defiance to half
a hundred of Rebels. I then heard him with great pleasure, thinking I
should have the satisfaction of trying the honest Quaker’s courage;
which accordingly happened. For, meeting with him at his own house, I
demanded of him, if he had any arms. Not knowing me directly, he said
he had none, and that he was not a man of blood. Vexed at this evasive
answer, I replied: ‘Hark thee, my honest friend, since nothing but an
action with thy own weapons will get thy arms from thee, rememberest
thou in such a place to have boasted much of thy courage, with a gun
and a pair of pistols?’ At which being much struck and hanging down
his head he seemed greatly terrified. ‘How now,’ said I, ‘honest
Friend, thou that wast so lately so pot-valiant, where now is thy
boasted courage?’ ‘Pardon me,’ he then said, ‘I humbly beg, and I shall
most willingly deliver up the arms; for I have done much amiss.’ I
accordingly took the arms from him, and went off, much pleased with the
adventure.
All these things being now effected, on the days after I had first
seen His Grace the Duke of Perth, we began our march for Preston; and
on the road, passing by a house of a person, who had in the year 1715
been the chief cause of my Father’s misfortune, I turned my horse in
order to have hanged the man and certainly would have done it, had not
maturer thoughts intervened, and stopt my revengeful rage. Continuing
our journey, we arrived at Preston about 2 o’clock in the afternoon,
having with us 39 English Recruits, whom I presented to His Grace the
Duke of Perth, giving him an account of what had passed. At first
he seemed to be somewhat concerned; but, recollecting himself, he
afterwards welcomed me back, and said, he doubted not soon to see a
great joining, and desired me to come to him the next day--for the Army
halted two days at Preston. So, taking leave, I went to see some of my
friends in the Town; and, amongst the rest, to acquaint my Father with
what I had done. He approved much of it, and gave me very salutary
advice, telling me always to have the love and fear of God before me,
and never to deviate from my duty, but to act to the best in my power
the part of a brave soldier, and never to deject but comfort all those
I found in misery. He then said to me, that as the infirmities of old
age no longer permitted him to espouse so good a cause, in which he had
once been actively engaged, he would continually invoke the Almighty
for our success and preservation. So kissing me, he gave me his kind
benediction: and with the viaticum in my pocket I took leave of the
tenderest of Fathers and best of Parents.
It being now the day on which the army marched from Preston, I waited,
according to appointment, on the Duke of Perth, who told me, if I
pleased, he would give me a Captain’s Commission in his Regiment; or,
as one Mr. Gorogan[390] was to have a Colonel’s Commission over the
English, that I should have a Company under him, and command the men I
brought with me to Preston. The latter offer I accepted; and on being
recommended to the Colonel by the Duke, I was made Captain; and Captain
Larrey,[391] now living at St. Omers, was the other Captain, with 3 or
4 more. So we with the army began our march for Wiggan, where we were
joined by a few more Loyalists. Having lain all night at Wiggan, we
marched the next day for Manchester. The ringing of the Bells, and the
great rejoicings and salutations with which we were welcomed, gave us
mighty expectations. But too true is the saying: _Parturiunt Montes,
nascetur ridiculus mus_.
Word was immediately brought to the Prince, that a number of men were
at his service; and to please and content the Town, it was thought
necessary, that what men were raised at Manchester--vizt., the
English Regiment--should be called the Manchester Regiment, and all
inferior Officers displaced as not being sufficiently Manchesterfied.
However, regarding how matters went, I observed a little Man, by
name Morgan,[392] deputed by the Prince with orders to inspect and
commission new Candidates, come into the room appointed for that
purpose, and after salutations made, take his place at the head of the
Table, with the Blackguard Dog[393] at his elbow, whether coming there
by orders or impudence, I know not. Mr. Morgan began to tell the reason
of his being sent, saying, that His Royal Highness was highly charmed
at the report he had heard of the great number of Manchester men who
were to join his standard; and assured them all of his particular
protection, and of his willingness to grant them every favour in his
power. This Declaration gave great joy to all present.
A dispute then arose concerning the making of a new Colonel:[394]
but taking a dislike at some of their proceedings, I gave up all
pretentions to anything amongst them, and joined Lord Elcho’s
Guards;[395] so the place was vacant. The rest however were called
upon to be Regimental Captains, and so on, according as the aforesaid
pursuivant of Mr. Morgan notified: for, on demand who was to be the
first Captain, all, conscious of each other’s merit, were silent;
till he, with a face of assurance, named such a man, for he had great
interest; after him, another, for he could raise a great number of men;
and after him another, for he had great merit and power; till all the
Captain’s Commissions were disposed of according to his direction; and
then, looking about him, he said of the rest, it was hang choice which
was pitched upon first.
The Manchester Officers, being now formed, agreed to petition the
Prince to stay another day there; which he agreed to in the expectation
of raising a great number of men. I was as credulous as they: but was
much surprised to see the next day those men whom I had brought from
behind Preston, and on the road thence to that place, enrolled for the
most part in the Manchester Regiment, and thus _Manchesterised_, if it
may be said so: and much troubled I was to see many of those men who
had followed me, had been paid out of my own pocket and been under my
care till our arrival in Manchester, disposed of, nay taken away from
me in that manner.
_Quos Ego--sed motos praestat componere fluctus._
However, being willing to be as useful as possible to the cause, I
acquiesced in whatever they thought proper. The Prince, tho’ again
requested to stay, being weary of delay to no purpose, ordered the
following day the army to make a short march, and gave leave to the
Manchester Regiment to stay a day longer to get more recruits, on
promise to march up to the army the day after: which we did; but our
stay was not productive of much benefit.
The Comand of the Army, which till then had been the Duke of Perth’s,
was at this time given to Lord George Murray.[396] The real cause of
this change I cannot pretend to divine: all I can say, is that the
received opinion amongst us was that Lord George being looked upon as
a man, whose name would bear a greater sway in England, especially
amongst loyal Protestants, and help to efface the prejudice and notion
of Popery and arbitrary Power, which some, though vainly imagined were
rushing in like a torrent upon them; it was just proper to place the
chief command in him: and the Duke of Perth, for the good of his King
and Country, most readily resigned, shewing himself willing to promote
the cause in any station, and giving a notable example of a brave
warrior, willing to command and willing to obey. Whether there was any
other secret reason, I must leave it for time to unfold.
The Army being now arrived at Congleton in Cheshire, nothing particular
happened there, except that a patrol took one Captain Wier, a famous
spy,[397] with seven dragoons, who were feasting at a house some
distance off. This Wier was by birth a Scotchman, and had been
employed in many villanies, and having served the Court not only as
a spy upon us, but amongst other foreign Powers, had been promoted
for his diligence in this business. He was conducted back with us
to Carlisle--how unfortunate for us, that he was not put to death,
considering what he has since done!--but his life was saved through
the innate clemency of the Prince, though he merited the worst of
punishments.
On the first of December we departed from Macclesfield, in order to
march to Leek; where we staid all night, and marched the next day for
Derby. All that morning it was rumored amongst us, that we should have
an engagement as the enemy’s army was said to be lying about five
or six miles from us at Newcastle and Stone in Staffordshire. So we
marched in the best order we could to receive them: and about eleven
o’Clock, having espied a party at some distance on the mountains, we
drew up in order of battle, and stood so for some time, and would have
fought them: but perceiving it was a false alarm, we continued on our
route to Derby, where we arrived somewhat late and fatigued. But two
days’ repose sufficiently refreshed us.
Derby is a large and handsome town. The heads of it were much terrified
at our entrance, many of them having made large subscriptions to
Government; and therefore had quitted their houses with the utmost
precipitation. It fell to my lot to be quartered in one of them, vizt.,
one Mr. Chambers. Coming in with my billet, I asked if I could lodge
there. The Steward immediately replied that I could--adding ‘And any
thing we can do for you, shall be done: only pity us in our situation,
which is most deplorable.’ At this wondering much what he meant, I told
him to be of good courage--that neither I nor any of us were come to
hurt him or any one. Having thus abated the horrid notion they had of
us, which was only capable of being conceived too hard for expression,
being so very strange; he conducted me to the Housekeeper, who was
also in tears. She was somewhat seized with horror at the sight,
though my countenance was none of the roughest: but soon collected
herself and made the same answer with the utmost feminine tenderness,
putting themselves and the whole house under my mercy. I truly was much
surprised, for anything of this kind was quite new to me: however,
after pulling off my riding-coat and boots she conducted me into a fine
room; where, at entering, I perceived a number of jewels and watches
lying confusedly up and down, and many things else in the utmost
confusion. I demanded, to whom they belonged, and what was the reason
of their being so carelessly laid up. The housekeeper then began to
tell me the whole affair--‘Sir,’ said she, ‘Mr. Chambers, the master of
this house, no enemy to you, has retired with his lady and family into
the country,’ ‘Why so?’ said I. ‘Not conscious,’ replied she, ‘of any
thing particular against you, but out of fear of what the Highlanders
might do against him.’ She then begged, that I would have compassion
on them, and be their protector; which, after some short discourse,
I promised, telling them, that what was consistent with reason, and
a countryman, they should always find in me. I then ordered all the
things that lay so confusedly thrown about, to be locked up, assuring
them, that nothing should be touched or broke open, unless with
authority. So for two days I ruled master there, and, I hope they will
generously acknowledge, much to their content and satisfaction in that
situation of affairs--having preserved the Young Lady’s jewels from the
hand of rapine, and hindered the house from being damaged.
A rumor was here spread amongst us, that _Cumberland Will_ and
Ligonier[398] intended to give us battle; which I believe would have
happened, if we had marched a day or two more towards London. Every one
prepared himself to act in the best manner the valiant Soldier. But the
Prince’s Council judged it more proper to retire back into Scotland
without risking a battle, and there to await the arrival of foreign
Succors. How far they acted amiss or well in this, I know not: but a
great alteration was afterwards seen amongst us. The brave Prince at
that out of a generous ardour and Love to his country, wished he had
been twenty feet under ground! but, notwithstanding all this, a march
back was agreed upon, after we had halted two days at Derby. Here I
cannot pass by an accident that happened somewhat ominous--though
I am none of the most credulous--but thence we may date our first
misfortune. Great numbers of People and Ladies (who had come from
afar to see the Prince), crowding into his room, overturned a table,
which in falling overturned and broke the Royal Standard--soon after
our return was agreed upon--so I leave the reader to judge and make
his reflexions on this. It would seem certain at least that Providence
miraculously concurs, while such and such things are carried on. Thus,
when Moses held up his hands, Joshua prevailed; but when through
weariness he in the least relaxed the Israelites had the worst of
it. So perhaps it was, that our enterprise was not vigorously enough
pursued: and remarkable it certainly was, that the Royal Standard
should be broken immediately after our return was resolved upon.
The third day being come, our march was proclaimed; and we began our
return,[399] wondering what it could forebode. About this time we
heard of Lord John Drummond’s Regiment having landed in Scotland, and
that more troops were daily expected from France. Some few afterwards
came, but the whole, including the said Regiment, did not exceed Five
Hundred effective men--too small an assistance in the then state of
our affairs![400] Soon after their arrival, Lord Lewis Gordon, being
joined by the foresaid regiment, defeated Lord Loudon at Inverury, so
completely dispersing his army, that it was rendered ineffective during
the remainder of the campaign.[401] This happened very luckily for us;
for if Lord Loudon had not met with a check, he would probably have
been able to collect a strong army to cut off our retreat, or at least
give us a very warm reception on our return to Scotland. This news
therefore gave us great comfort; and we courageously continued our
march to join the above mentioned troops (in number one thousand men)
by the same road we travelled before. The English Army, being informed
of our retreat, immediately pursued us; but we found the saying to
be very true ‘_A good pair of heels is worth two pair of hands_.’
Diverting it was, to hear those bells, which before had rung for us,
turn to ring for them; we sometimes going out at one end of a town,
whilst they were coming in at the other: and no less odd it was, to
see the Magistrates who had canted when the Prince was amongst them,
immediately after taking an opposite side, and cursing and detesting
those whom they had just before saluted with a Judas-kiss.
The Enemy, finding that they could not come up with us, resolved,
though very ungenerously to their own party, to endeavour to raise
the inhabitants of the towns through which we had to pass against us,
by spreading false reports, that the Prince’s Army had been entirely
defeated, and that nothing remained for them but to exert themselves
like good subjects, and to suffer none of the fugitives to escape. This
report was believed in many of the towns: great rejoicings were made,
and every man thought himself capable of knocking out a Rebel’s brains
with a club or a staff. Then you might see heroic valour displayed
among cocks that never crowed but among hens upon their own dunghill.
But the malicious expectations of our enemies were disappointed; and
what they had contrived for our ruin redounded much to our profit.
Notwithstanding the mildness of the Prince during the march of his army
through England, and though he had suffered no one to be oppressed, we
heard betwixt Derby and Manchester, that the latter town had made great
rejoicing, and had raised some men to stop us: but we soon made these
mighty heroes tremble, and the town pay for their rash determination
for entering regularly and triumphantly, we shewed them we were not the
people they took us for, and convinced them, that our situation was not
so bad as had been falsely reported.
Every one therefore, vexed to the very heart at being so deceived,
began to lay upon the mob the fault of what had happened, and the Mob
on the Heads of the Place, so that discord and confusion arose among
them. The Piper, however was well paid for their dancing; for it cost
them five thousand pounds Sterling--scarcely a sufficient atonement
for their malice.[402] Here I cannot pass by mentioning a barbarous
deed perpetrated before we came to Manchester which shewed the innate
cruelty of our enemies on the one hand, and our clemency on the other.
A young English lad, who had joined the Prince, being somewhat before
the army, had through weariness laid himself down to rest under a
hedge, and fallen fast asleep. He was soon perceived by a woman and
her boy: and this cruel fiend immediately determined to murder him as
he lay sleeping like a lamb, conscious of no harm; she accordingly
with the assistance of her son cut the poor young man’s throat. The
army coming up soon after, we espied the mangled body in that shocking
condition; and on searching the next house adjacent, we found a young
boy in bed much besmeared with blood, and trembling, who confessed the
fact, and said that his mother was the chief author of it. They were
both taken into custody, and a report of the whole made to the Prince:
but he was against their being put to death, so that by a wonderful
clemency they escaped the just reward of their crime.
We halted two days at Manchester, and on the third marched for Wiggan.
When going out of the town, a gun was fired at the Prince by a villain,
who, mistaking him, shot at a Mr. Sullivan, and luckily missed him.
Search was made for him, but in vain--and no great matter for any thing
he would have suffered from us; for many exercised their malice merely
on account of the known goodness and clemency of the Prince, which
however they would not have dared to do, if he had permitted a little
more severity in punishing them. The Army irritated by the frequent
instances of the enemy’s malice began to behave with less forbearance.
And now few there were, who would go on foot, if they could ride; and
mighty taking, stealing, and pressing of horses there was amongst us,
for none of us was ever sure of keeping his own. Diverting it was to
see the Highlanders now mounted without either breeches, saddle, or
anything else but the bare back of the horse to ride on; and for their
bridle, only a straw rope. In this manner we marched out of England,
many a good horse being brought in to give us a lift.
During our march to Wiggan, and thence to Preston, nothing particular
happened; only the enemy continued to pursue us, yet we made no more
haste on that account. I met upon the road my old patron the Duke of
Perth; who asking me how I did, and how I liked the service. I told
him ‘Very well!’ He then inquired ‘How I could bear the thought of
going into Scotland’--and I immediately replied That I had ever been
curious to see that kingdom, and was proud of benefiting the cause,
or occasion that was offered. His Grace was pleased to promise, that
he would recommend me to the Colonel, who, he doubted not, would be a
father to me; as it accordingly fell out. Marching on to Preston, we
halted there two days; and on the third in the morning, immediately
after we had quitted the town, the enemy took possession of it. On
our arrival at Lancaster in the evening, I was recommended to Colonel
Elphinstone, afterwards Lord Balmerino,[403] who commanded the second
troop of the Prince’s Life Guards. Having equipped myself for that
purpose when in Preston, I rode on somewhat before the Army, to be
in readiness at Lancaster: but on the road, nine miles distant from
that place, alighting from my horse to refresh myself at a Public
house, and leaving my horse two or three minutes at the door; he was
immediately taken away by some of the soldiers, and I entirely lost
him. Vexed I was to be served so; and having nine miles to walk in my
boots sorely harrassed me. However, fortifying myself with patience,
and premeditating revenge, I at last, though somewhat late got up to
Lancaster: and now being in great anxiety for a horse, being the next
day to have the honour of riding in the Guards, I resolved to wait an
hour or two till my servant Dick, a Yorkshire-Man, came up, and to
make use of his horse, till such time as I could get another. But his
arrival brought me little satisfaction; for, after he had refreshed
himself, and I had told him the misfortune that had happened to me, he
went out, and wrote me a few lines to the following purport:--
‘DEAR MASTER,--I am truly sorry for your misfortune but I do not
much like the Army’s behaviour; neither can I think of going into
Scotland, and you know a Yorkshire-man coming home without a
horse is laughed at. Therefore not doubting but you can provide
yourself better than with this, I beg leave to be your Humble
Servant _Dick_, promising to rejoin you, when I see you in these
parts again.’
He left these lines with the landlord of the house to give me; which he
did about an hour after.
So, being served a true Yorkshire trick, I lost both man and horse.
I bethought myself of applying to one Mr. Grant,[404] Colonel of the
Artillery, thinking there might be a spare horse. When I had informed
him of what had happened, he promised that he would endeavour to
provide me with a horse the next morning, till he could buy or get
another; which kindness of his was very seasonable. But going down
the Castle-Hill, where the Artillery lay, I espied two Highlanders
stealing a horse, and breaking down a pair of barn-doors. When they
saw me advancing towards them, one of them went, and the other stood
guard. Now I thought this a good opportunity to provide myself: So I
went boldly in, and inquired whether Captain McDonald’s Horse were
not there; the man answered he knew not; at which taking courage, and
going up to the horse, I demanded whose that was. He made me the same
answer. ‘Friend,’ said I, ‘if you do not, I do,’ and I immediately
took the horse, well pleased, that I had got a _Titt for Tatt_ (as
the Lancashire saying is). So returning to my lodgings with my prize,
I repaired to wait upon Colonel Elphinstone, who received me very
graciously, having been spoken to before by the Duke of Perth. He
welcomed me among them, assured me of all that was kind and civil in
his power, and then invited me to sup with him. After thanking him,
I accepted his kind invitation; and when I took my leave of him he
renewed his promises of kindness, and desired me to be in readiness to
mount next morning at his quarters.
At this time the Yorkshire Hunters[405] endeavoured to shew themselves
against us, but little to their honour. This was a regiment composed
of the Yorkshire Gentlemen, many of whom mounted themselves and their
servants on the best light horses they had, and gave themselves the
fore-said name. As we were marching into Lancaster, these Hunters
attacked some of our Light Horse in the rear: but finding they had
caught Tartars, they quickly retreated; and being pursued, some of
them were taken prisoners--so that _Yorkshire seemed to be put upon
Yorkshire_.
About this time the Prince’s Council resolved to despatch some one
with orders to Lord Lewis Gordon and Lord John Drummond, and the rest
of the Prince’s adherents who were in arms, to meet us at Carlisle;
and for this purpose the Duke of Perth set out attended by about
One-hundred Light-Horse. When they arrived at Kendal, the inhabitants
of that place, seeing them come in great haste, judged they were flying
from the battle and endeavouring to make their escape, assembled in a
tumultuous manner, and, after insulting them, at last fired upon them
out of the windows--and at going out of the town, a ball was fired at
the Duke of Perth in his Chaise, who, looking out courageously, noticed
the place it came from. Though the ball happily missed the Duke it shot
Captain Cameron’s horse. Being now out of the town, we resolved boldly
to re-enter it, and quell that insulting mob. So, marching back, they
took the man who fired the fore-said ball, and killed two or three:
yet this villain escaped with only a few blows from the gentleman
whose horse he had killed; though certainly he would have been put to
death, had not the Duke interceded for him. The town of Kendal being
thus appeased, we continued our route: but hearing that the Militia of
_Pe[n]r[i]th_ and other places, thinking our Army had been cut off,
had risen, and were, in conjunction with the Hessians who had landed
thereabouts,[406] intercepting the road they thought they were to pass;
the Duke resolved to pass by another in order to miss them. But his
guide, instead of shewing the right way, conducted them upon the enemy;
so that ascending the summit of the hill, they perceived their danger,
being within gun-shot of a great body of both horse and foot, which
unexpected sight struck a great panic amongst the Duke’s party. The
Duke was for fighting his way through them: but Colonel Bagott,[407]
Colonel of the Hussars, was of another opinion, and he being seconded
by some others, a retreat was agreed upon. The enemy immediately
dispatched some of their Light-horse in pursuit of them: but the Duke’s
party retiring in good order, kept their pursuers, notwithstanding all
their firing, at a good distance; and after being pursued five or six
miles, returned upon them with such vigour, that they took three or
four prisoners, rescued the Duke’s baggage, which had just before been
seized, and made them retire faster than they had come. Finding it
however in vain to pursue his enterprise, the Duke rejoined the Army.
We having staid all night at Lancaster, I went, according to
appointment, to wait upon my Colonel, who, being mounted at the head
of his troops, placed me in his corps. We were ordered that day to
march in the rear of the army; and, as we left the town, the enemy
immediately took possession of it, and followed us some little way
out, so that we did not directly know their intention. But, finding
they soon returned, we marched on (nothing particular happening) to
Kendal where we halted all night and made the town pay for its past
behaviour. We then continued our retreat in exceeding bad weather and
roads to Carlisle: but by the severity of the season we were obliged
to make a shorter march than we intended, and halt all night at a
village called Shap, where we suffered very much on account of the bad
accommodation it afforded. However staying there all night we assembled
together early next morning. Some few of us got that night to Carlisle.
But I cannot pass by an affair that happened at Clifton which was as
follows:--The enemy’s advanced Guard, commanded by General Honeywood,
having got somewhat before us, planted himself in ambush near the road
we were to march, and from behind the hedges expected, as the army
approached to cut them off; but there the biter was bit: for though we
came unknowingly upon them, we had the good fortune to receive their
attack in good order, killed and drowned many of them, and put the rest
to flight: General Honeywood himself narrowly escaped, having lost his
arm, and severely wounded. This brave action was chiefly owing to the
courage of the McPhersons, commanded by Clued McPherson,[408] their
Chief, who behaved most gallantly on this occasion; and most pleasing
it was, to see the champions come into Carlisle, loaded with the spoils
of their enemies.[409]
The whole army being now in Carlisle, our thoughts lay for some time
suspended in order to act for the best; for we supposed that the enemy
would come and give us battle. I cannot say that we somewhat waited
them, but finding they did not, it was judged proper after two days’
stay and deliberation, to continue our march farther North, and to
leave at Carlisle the few English who were with the army and about
three hundred Scots. But of this proceeding I can say nothing farther,
leaving to the world to judge as they think proper. The English then
were about two hundred men; for many had quitted and returned home
being unwilling to go to Scotland. Now some there are, who censure the
Prince for leaving them at Carlisle, thinking it was out of disregard
and a desire of being rid of them: but if they will pry a little more
narrowly into the affair they will find, that it was the desire of
Mr. Townley Colonel of the English who not only petitioned the Prince
in his own name, but in the name of all the officers of the Regiment,
to be left there, though the latter never assented to or desired it,
many of them wishing to undergo the same fate as their Royal Master.
However on Mr. Townley’s coming back and telling them that it was the
Prince’s pleasure that they should remain at Carlisle, they all, taking
it as coming from the Prince, most willingly acquiesced, shewing true
English bravery in any situation to obey:--and now, seeing themselves
deprived of the satisfaction of following him they so greatly loved,
they resolved to accompany him still in their hearts--all that was in
their power. They shewed a true generosity in disposing of all that was
not of immediate use to them, viz., their horses and riding-equipage,
to all who stood in need; and though I seemed somewhat picqued at them
in the beginning of this Narrative, I must ingenuously own, that they
were a set of brave men; and though it is often objected to them, that
they were not of an extraordinary rank, yet they behaved so as to make
those of a nobler birth blush; for, from the time they had the honour
of joining the Prince’s standard, they never sought pay either for
themselves or their men, honourably maintaining and supporting the
Regiment themselves:--Unhappy Gentlemen! They merited a much better
fate than what was awaiting them![410]
Every thing being now in readiness, we began our march, in order
(alas! as it happened) to bid adieu to Old England for ever! On the
22nd of December 1745[411] (being the Prince’s birthday) about four
o’Clock in the afternoon, we crossed the river Esk, which separates the
two kingdoms. The deepness and rapidity of the river, joined to the
obscurity of the night, made it most terrible: but the good Prince,
here, in particular, animated the men; and how noble was it to see
these Champions, who had refused him nothing now marching breast-deep,
one supporting another, till wonderfully we all passed safe. The Duke
of Perth here signalized himself much by his goodness; for, crossing
the river several times on horseback, he took behind him several of the
common Soldiers, whose strength was not sufficient to bear up against
the current. Nor was the Prince wanting in giving a notable specimen of
his generosity and condescension to his subjects, in imitation of the
Great Alexander, who, in his expedition into Persia, suffered a poor
Soldier, much fatigued, to repose himself in the king’s chair, which
till then it had been death for anyone but himself to sit in. So the
Prince I think, imitates, or fully equals, this great hero in point of
affability to his men; for, taking on horseback a common soldier behind
him, he carried him over the water, giving us all a great example
of goodness and courage to follow him. But at this river I narrowly
escaped drowning; for in crossing it, and being near the middle of the
stream I perceived two women (tho’ never an army was known with so few)
rolling down it and in imminent danger of perishing if I did not guide
my horse in order to stop them: and I had like to have paid dearly for
it, for coming against me, they laid hold of me in such a manner, that
I was not able to dismount; and being so beset by the two women, and my
horse, who was none of the biggest, going down the stream with me, I
gave myself up for lost. I did not, however, lose courage and conduct
in managing my horse as well as I could; and perceiving a man mounted
upon a very high horse wading where I was swimming, I called to him
for assistance. He seeing me in that piteous case, came immediately,
and rescued me from the imminent danger I was in of perishing, and
freed me also with a great deal of difficulty from my two companions:
but how I got quit of them or out of the water, I remained an entire
stranger; being come to the other side, I was immediately seized with
a great panic and trembling from the fright of the danger I had so
narrowly escaped, and in this state I continued for three or four hours
notwithstanding all the efforts I could make against it. That night
however, being, as I said, on the other side, somewhat before the
rest, I saw them come almost half round together with my deliverer, to
whom I did not fail to pay my most hearty thanks, as the poor women did
to me.
But here let us stop and take a short View of the Army’s behaviour
whilst in England. It may be said, and is allowed even by the judgment
of our enemies, that never such an army could be expected to behave
as they did, giving the greatest marks of generosity to our enemies,
paying for what they had, and revenging or oppressing few or none; and
shewing to the World, that a noble design rather than either malice,
rapine or plundering, was at the bottom of our proceedings. But as I
may perhaps be suspected of partiality towards them, I shall refer
the Reader to what was acknowledged by one of our greatest enemies,
viz., one Parson Bissett in Aberdeen,[412] who was one of the heads
of the Presbytery, and much esteemed by his own party for his morals
and great talents as a preacher. This Gentleman, mounting the pulpit,
soon after we had left Aberdeen, and while Cumberland’s Army was there,
began his Sermon with a comparison betwixt us and those then in town,
saying: ‘When the Prince, as they call him, was here,[413] I made it my
business night and day to inspect their conduct, and observe their most
minute actions; and instead of finding subjects of complaint, I found
much to the contrary, and drew honey whence I thought it was not to be
extracted. I heard what they said and did; and I heard of no robbery,
of no ill towards the people: but since these men are come amongst
us, what is the secret that is not revealed? What is holy, that is not
polluted? What’s forbid, that’s not transgressed? and in fine, where is
God or Man obeyed? Here, cursing and blaspheming; there Drunkenness,
Whoredom and Debauchery are carried on in full career, and reign with
unlimited sway.’ So, going on in this strain, he concluded by telling
his auditors, that it was a shame to be out-done by us; that, in
punishment for their sins, nothing less than the curse of God could
fall upon them, and make instruments of us to punish them.
But now I shall return again to the river Esk. Having wonderfully got
safe over, we marched all that night through excessively bad roads,
all of us being very wet and cold, without any refreshment, except
what we had before we left Carlisle, till ten o’Clock the next day,
when we arrived at Dumfries; and extraordinary it was to see the Army,
notwithstanding all their fatigue, come in as merry and gay as if they
had only marched that morning. At our entrance into the Town, we saw
the great rejoicing that had been made for our defeat, the candles
being still in the windows, and the bonfires unextinguished. And now it
was, that being in Scotland, my Colonel began to shew me great civility
upon account of my being an Englishman, and so did afterwards several
of the gentlemen of that country; for seeing me amongst them, they
thought they could scarce do enough for me, especially my Colonel, who,
for fear of my being any time badly quartered, ordered that I should
always be lodged _chez lui_. So that from that time I had ordinarily
his quarters, and sometimes a part of his bed, when there happened to
be no other, so that I had every reason to be satisfied with my lot,
having such resource of comfort in all my difficulties.
After we had halted two days at Dumfries, and made them pay for
their past behaviour,[414] we marched on for Hamilton; and here the
Prince, attended by a few of his gentlemen, went to take the diversion
of shooting in the Park; in which he behaved to the admiration and
surprise of all present, killing or hitting every thing he shot at,
so that, without flattery, he was looked upon to be the best marksman
in the army. After we had staid some time at Hamilton, we continued
our march to one of the prittiest (but most whiggish) towns in all
Scotland, viz., Glasgow. Here we arrived on the 25th of December,
1745, much to their confusion, and halted six or seven days.[415] That
Town had given, when the Prince marched for England, five thousand
pounds for its good behaviour, and paid us now as much over again
for breaking the same, rebelling against us, and raising the Militia
in our absence. So we taught them more wit, how to break their words
another time. The Army having been here provided with cloathing and
other necessaries, of which they were very much in want, the Prince
resolved to make a general inspection and review of them. Accordingly
orders were issued one morning for that purpose, for us all to repair
to a place at a little distance from the Town. So we marched out with
drums beating, colours flying, bag-pipes playing, and all the marks
of a triumphant army to the appointed ground, attended by multitudes
of people, who had come from all parts to see us, and especially the
ladies, who before were much against us, were now, charmed at the sight
of the Prince, become most loyal;[416] and many afterwards, when they
could not testify it to us by their good offices, did it in imitation
in their hearts. I am somewhat at a loss to give a description of the
Prince at this Review. No object could be more charming, no personage
more taking, no deportment more agreeable, than his at that time was,
for, being well mounted and princely attired,[417] having, too, great
endowments both of body and mind, he appeared to bear a sway above
any comparison with the heroes of the last ages, and the majesty and
grandeur he seemed to display most noble and divine. The Army being now
drawn up in all form, and every one putting himself out for the best,
the Prince rode through the ranks, greatly encouraging and delighting
all who saw him. After the Review we returned again to Glasgow; and
about this time the unhappy news reached us, that Carlisle was invested
by Cumberland, who, having got up cannon from Whitehaven, was in a fair
way of taking it.
It being now judged proper to continue our march for Stirling, we
quitted Glasgow in a handsome manner, and soon sat down before that
town, which we took after two or three days’ cannonading, and then
began the siege of the Castle, having just received a few pieces of
Cannon from France, which would have been sufficient, as many are
pleased to say, if our Engineer, viz., one Mirabell,[418] a Frenchman
by birth, had been good for any thing: but erecting our batteries
in an improper place against the Castle, we spent three weeks’
labour in vain; during which time news arrived from Carlisle, by Mr.
Brown,[419] who was left Lieutenant Colonel by the Prince, and one Mr.
Maxwell,[420] who made their escape over the wall while the Articles of
Capitulation were signing. These gentlemen acquainted us, that, after
Cumberland had lain six or seven weeks before the town, and heralds
had been frequently sent in to summons it to surrender, Mr. Hamilton,
Governor of the Castle had at last resolved to obey them but whether
with a true fear or promise of his life, is disputed. Certain however
it is, that he employed that villainous Wier, whom I have mentioned
before (being left a prisoner at Carlisle) with secret Messages to and
from the enemy; and instead of hanging him, invited him daily to his
own table. How far this conduct was good, I leave the world to judge.
Mr. Townley, Governor of the Town, being informed that the resolution
to capitulate was taken, endeavoured, seconded by his whole corps,
officers and soldiers, to oppose him: but finding no means effective
to hinder the place from being given up, he was obliged to send, by
Hamilton’s direction, articles of Capitulation to Cumberland, who
returned for answer That the Town and Castle should be surrendered
at discretion, and that the Officers and Soldiers should be at his
Father’s Mercy, with whom he promised to intercede for their safety.
How sincerely he behaved in this, is sufficiently known:[421] and when
I reflect upon this, I think I may say I have good fortune, in leaving
that unhappy town and regiment, that I was not on some gallows or other
made a partaker also of his clemency! This news was at first hard to
be believed amongst us: but it appearing but too true, the Prince was
exceedingly troubled, and lamented much the loss of his subjects,
especially the English, who were to be made sacrifices of; and also did
generally the whole army, many of them wishing they had been there, nay
even to be made victims of to Cumberland’s fury!
We had now scarce got well into the siege of the Castle, before news
came, on the other hand, that General Hawley was advancing towards us
with about eleven or twelve thousand men. The Prince’s Army at this
time amounted to about eight thousand effective men, having been joined
by Lord John Drummond’s Regiment, and Lord Lewis Gordon’s, of whom I
have spoken before, and some few others. So, seeing we must inevitably
fight we endeavoured to prepare ourselves in the best manner for that
purpose. The enemy, we heard, were now come to Falkirk, which was only
eight or ten miles distant from us. We waited two days in expectation
of their coming on to attack us: but finding that they continued at
Falkirk, we on the third morning, leaving a sufficient force for the
siege of Stirling, boldly marched out in quest of them. And here it was
the soldiers shewed the greatest alacrity; the foot marching with such
celerity as kept the horse on a full trot, so that by two o’Clock in
the afternoon we came up with them, notwithstanding we almost marched
round them, in order to have the wind somewhat favourable for us. And
now the day, from being an exceeding fine one, became on a sudden
obscure; the sun which till then shone upon us, was now as it were
eclipsed, and all the elements in confusion, so that the heavens seemed
to fulminate their anger down upon us, by the impetuous storm of hail,
wind and rain, that fell just at the time of the engagement. The enemy
at this time scarcely knew any thing of our march towards them till
it had been almost too late; as they lay in an entire security and
defiance of us, thinking it not worth their while to take the necessary
precaution of having spies out, as other prudent Generals would have
done, notwithstanding the contempt they might have had for us. We now
roused them out of their lethargy, being just upon them at their going
to dinner. Cursing their bad fortune, they immediately mounted and
turned out of their camp, somewhat in confusion to meet us, which they
did at a short distance from it, though not to our disadvantage.
Their cavalry was in front of their left wing, unsupported with foot;
and their infantry in the right, unsupported by horse: but the day
being so excessively bad, hindered their cannon from coming up, so
that we were upon an equal footing with them in that respect, we
bringing none with us. We were about four hundred light Horse ordered
to face the enemy’s dragoons, being fronted and supported by a strong
line of _McDonells_; and our foot, with the Prince, against their
foot. Here I must acknowledge, that when I saw this moving cloud of
horse, regularly disciplined, in full trott upon us down the summit, I
doubted not but that they would have ridden over us without opposition
(I mean the front line) and bear us down without difficulty in their
impetuous progress: but I soon found myself mistaken; for immediately
upon our bearing upon them in order to meet them, there blew such a
storm of wind and hail, which was before on our side, and now turned
miraculously, as we turned, on our backs; and notwithstanding that
almost disabled us to bear up against them, it so harrassed the enemy,
that cursing and blaspheming was made the dying-speech of many of them.
And now kind Heaven seemed to declare for us.
The brave front-line of _McDonells_ suffered the enemy to come within
ten or twelve paces of them before firing. Nobly altogether presented,
and sent their benediction upon them, so that in the third part of a
minute that rapid and impetuous torrent, which seemed in rolling to
lay all waste before it, was now checked and stemmed in such a manner,
that it was made to retake its course faster than it had proceeded.
Upon seeing this, we immediately seconded our work with a hearty huzza,
victory now declaring for us. But on the Prince’s wing it remained
somewhat more obstinate: yet soon after they returned the same, having
happily finished their affair with scarce the loss of forty men, and
we had only one wounded. We now pursued them sharply for about sixty
paces, and fetched down a good many of them: but unfortunately being
ordered to halt, when a little further pursued would have finished
our affair, we let an opportunity slip out of our hands, which never
afterwards presented itself again. This piece of conduct belonged
chiefly to Lord George Murray,[422] who would not permit the army to
pursue any farther. So being ordered to halt, we modestly bid our
enemies retire, and as it were tell them to come better provided
another time. Here I could say something more: but I cannot at present;
therefore I’ll say nothing, leaving it to Midwife Time to say it for
me, and contenting myself with halting with the army.
And now after four or five hours’ halt, we heard, that we might go, if
we pleased, and take possession of the town. So the army was ordered
immediately to enter the town, and about eighteen of us Guards, who
were present, to go about three miles off, and take fifty-four of the
enemy prisoners. When we arrived at the house, where they had got
together they shut the door against us. We therefore surrounded the
house, and summoned them immediately to surrender:--which they refusing
at first to do, we fired into the house--and they immediately gave
themselves up to our mercy. So, after taking them and fifty-four stand
of arms, we conducted them Prisoners into Falkirk that night. And
here it was, that I happened to perform an action which gave me great
comfort afterward in my distress.--A fine young boy, who was somewhat
out of order, being found in the house after all was almost done, was
espied by some of our party, who bringing him out asked who would take
care of him. I told them to give him to me, which they immediately did.
The young boy, being now in my possession, says to me: ‘I hope Your
Honour will not kill me.’ Upon which, being a little surprised at what
he said, I asked him, ‘Have you not well merited it?’ ‘If I may be
permitted to speak to Your Honour,’ replied he, ‘I own I am taken in
an unhappy affair, which neither malice nor inclination drew me into.
But the Head of the Country, notwithstanding I was the only child of my
aged parents, insisted, under great penalties, on my coming in to join
him; so that I beg you will pity me in my condition: but if it must be
that I die this night, pray! tell me what death you think it will be?’
Upon which, not knowing what to think or what to say, I was somewhat
at a loss: his telling me of his aged parents, and his simplicity
touched me much: and how far I may be censured for my after-conduct, I
know not; but those who think I did amiss, I hope, will pardon me, as
being then but a young warrior. True, such a thing, I know, ought not
to have been publicly done; yet, when an opportunity presented itself
of doing an Act of Mercy without harm to the Cause, I am convinced
that this my behaviour will, with all generous minds, escape reproof.
The young boy continuing his lamentations, I told him to be of good
courage, for death was not so imminent as he expected; at which he
seemed to respire new vigor and life: And after some questions asked,
and promises made of his ever being grateful and upon his telling me,
that his home was not above fourteen miles from thence, I asked him, if
he could privately slip away thither. He replied, such a favor would be
too great for him to presume to request: So telling him to do it if he
could, I discharged him, ordering him to be a support to his poor aged
parents.
And now by this time we had almost conducted our prisoners to Falkirk;
and, after delivering them, we went thoroughly wet and cold, to repose
ourselves a little while on straw, and some in the open fields or air,
all places being by this time entirely filled, so that it was then
impossible to find any resource or ease for our excessive hunger, wet
and cold. So resting a few hours in that condition, they soon after
appeared; and when light, we went to see the field of the slain; and
number being made of them, we found near seven hundred of the enemy
slain, and about fifty of ours, which were immediately interred. But
this cheap-bought victory, you will say, merited a better exit! The
most distinguished among the slain were Colonel Whitney and Sir Robert
Monro, who was heard much to blaspheme during the engagement, and as
a punishment for which, his tongue was miraculously cut asunder by
a sword, that struck him directly across the mouth. His brother, a
physician, was likewise killed at his side.[423] There were likewise
found slain, some Presbyterian Parsons,[424] who, fired with holy zeal,
had quitted their Bibles and took their swords. It was said, that one
of these Parsons, seeing the danger he was in of losing his life as a
Soldier, had recourse to his dignity, supposing that would be a cloak
to save him. ‘Spare my life,’ said he to a Highlander, who was on the
point of taking it, ‘for I am a Minister of My Master Jesus Christ!’
To which the other ingeniously replied: ‘If you are a good one, your
Master has need of you; if not, it’s fitting that you go and take your
punishment elsewhere!’--which dilemma was immediately solved by the
Highlander’s sword. Another Minister, seeing the case his Brother was
in, and being in a fair way to share the same fate, begged his life
of another Highlander for Prince Charles’s sake, by which means he
preserved what he would otherwise inevitably have lost.
We now took possession of the enemy’s baggage, camp, and eight pieces
of cannon; which they had not time to carry off--besides a few
prisoners, the chief of whom was Major Lockhart, who, after having his
life given him, and his liberty upon his parole of honour, afterwards
spurned against gratitude itself, by not only being heinously perjured,
but more than ordinarily thirsty of those prisoners’ blood who just
before had spared his life.[425]
We had now about one-hundred prisoners, one of whom seeing his
situation and ours, said with a grave countenance to his companion: ‘By
my soul, Dick, if Prince Charles goes on in this way, Prince Frederick
will never be King George!’ But of the five or six thousand men that
went with the Prince to the field of battle, scarce three thousand
returned back with him, for many of them, having loaded themselves with
booty, returned up to the hills. It was now a great loss to us, that
we had neither fort or other secure place to keep our prisoners in, so
that, if it were not merely out of mercy, it was to no purpose to take
prisoners, being without the means of keeping them.
And now being come again to Stirling, the enemy being fled to
Edinburgh, and finding the siege of the Castle went on but slowly
the spirit of the army began much to change. Factions, grudges, and
private interest were now judged proper to be exercised, so that the
Prince was in a mortifying situation, seeing himself deserted by half
his army, and the others mightily turned. But as it is not for me to
say more than what relates to myself, I shall only mention the grudge
I have often dearly paid for--that exercised against my Colonel,
who, on the death of his brother had lately succeeded to the title
of Lord Balmerino. And here it may be proper to give some account of
the character of this brave man, which though sufficiently known, his
praises cannot enough be sung. He was a man of a noble personage, of
approved loyalty, and had the courage of a lion. He possessed a mind
and genius well ornamented with both natural and acquired parts, being
versed in most languages. He could recite whole pages of Horace, Ovid,
and Virgil at his age of fifty-eight, as perfectly as a school-boy of
sixteen, so that his memory for his years was wonderful, the more so
for its not being in the least impaired by his hard drinking--his sole
and predominant passion, which if he had a little more restrained, he
would have shone with the same lustre in the army as he afterwards did
on the scaffold. However, whilst with the Prince, he was never failing
with his duty; and proud he was of having something, wherein he could
shew his loyalty and obedience to his Master.
But what was the cause of the quarrel betwixt him and Lord George
Murray, I know not; as Lord Balmerino did not ever directly inform us
why he was treated after that manner: only I remember, His Lordship,
when he saw himself so apparently ill-used, frequently addressed his
corps as follows. ‘Come let us do as we are ordered! It is in vain to
dispute; a time will come when I shall see all these things righted,
and that too at Lord George’s cost or mine. But at present he is my
superior, and we must obey as we tender the good of the Prince.’ With
such soothing expressions has he often accosted us, when some were
mutinying. And certainly he suffered a great deal from Lord George,
for, to my knowledge, we have been ordered twenty or thirty miles,
harassed and fatigued, and a courier sent after us, ordering us
immediately to return without halting--saying it was my Lord George
Murray’s orders.[426] And now a harder time than ever came upon us,
for I can safely say and prove, that from the time of Falkirk Affair
to the Battle of Culloden, notwithstanding the fatigue of the day, I
scarce slept three nights out of seven in bed.
And now having been some time before Stirling Castle, news arrived
from Edinburgh, that Cumberland was come thither with an intention to
rally General Hawley’s army and attack us again. As our number had
been so much diminished by the desertion of those who after the battle
of Falkirk had gone home loaded with plunder; it was judged expedient
for us to retire higher into the country, where we were sure of being
joined by some more forces. Accordingly we had orders to proceed on
our march; and on the morning on which we began it, the Prince to St.
Ringin,[427] distant about half a mile from Stirling, to give the
necessary directions for quitting the town and raising the siege;
which being done, we retired again, and when at a short distance,
we were surprized with a hideous noise just behind us; and upon the
Prince’s sending back to inquire what it was, it was found to be a
church blown up, just upon the place where a few minutes before we had
been standing. This church had been converted into a magazine for our
gun-powder, which by some accident had been set on fire, and several
of the town’s-people and of our soldiers were killed by the explosion.
However, continuing our march, we arrived that night at _Crieff_ a
little town in the Highlands; and the Prince lodged at Drummond Castle,
the residence of the illustrious Duke of Perth, which was only a short
distance from the said town. And now it was judged proper for the army
to separate; accordingly the Prince went the Highland way with the
Highlanders and prisoners for Inverness; and the Horse and Lowland
Regiments the Low-Country Road by the Sea-Coast, which was much
longer, so that it was three or four weeks before we again formed a
junction.
And now we marched from Crieff to Perth, a large fine town; from Perth
to Cowpar-in-Angus; from Cowpar to Glams; from Glams to Forfar; and
so on to Montrose. The reason why I am so short in mentioning these
places, is, I have little to say; we passing them quickly, and nothing
extraordinary happening. But at Montrose we halted a few days. It is a
fine loyal seaport town and looked upon as I was told there, to produce
men of the greatest wisdom in Scotland. Having staid three days there,
we were a little surprised at the sight of ships of war, that appeared
a little distance off the Coast: and the rumor being that Cumberland
was pretty nigh us, we began to apprehend lest they should land and
intercept our passage; to prevent which, we marched with all haste out
of the town, the foot going out the third day at night, and the rest
following early the next morning except the Hussars who remained some
days longer to watch the enemy’s motions.
Some of my readers may be curious to know what sort of men these
Hussars were. A set of braver fellows it would be very hard to find;
many of them having mounted themselves on horses which they had taken
from the enemy. Their Commander[428] also was a wise, courageous
virtuous man, and behaved himself in his station to the admiration of
all, regulating his corps with such order as to make our enemies and
the country, even fifty miles distant from us, have more fear of them
than almost the whole army. In fine, he was of infinite service to
the Prince, as also were his horse; for their conduct was daring, and
their courage was steeled, and few of them there were, who would have
scrupled to go, if possible to hell’s gates to fetch away the keys.
Soon after our departure from Montrose, we arrived at Aberdeen, where
we staid two or three days; and notwithstanding our being in the town
the Presbyterian Ministers ceased not to preach and pray publicly
against us. And here it was that I happened to be bedfellow to my
Colonel, Lord Balmerino in the same bed where Cumberland afterwards
lay, it being in one of the Chief Provosts’ houses.
When we marched out of Aberdeen, it blew, snowed, hailed, and froze to
such a degree, that few Pictures ever represented Winter, with all its
icicles about it, better than many of us did that day; for here men
were covered with icicles hanging at their eyebrows and beards; and an
entire coldness seizing all their limbs, it may be wondered at how so
many could bear up against the storm, a severe contrary wind driving
snow and little cutting hail bitterly down upon our faces, in such a
manner that it was impossible to see ten yards before us. And very
easy it now was to lose our companions; the road being bad and leading
over large commons, and the paths being immediately filled up with
drifted snow. However, we continued marching on till about three in the
afternoon, when my horse overcome by the inclemency of the weather,
fairly gave it up and would carry me no farther: and now by a little
halt I quickly lost my Company, and was obliged to alight and lead
my horse leg-deep in snow; being upon a wide common, as it appeared
to me, not having seen all that day’s march scarce a house, tree or
barn. I now expected every moment to perish, as I was quite benumbed
and all covered over with snow, and my horse refused to follow me. At
last, unable to proceed any farther, I sunk down, quite exhausted, upon
the snow. In this dreadful situation, I luckily recollected a little
bottle of spirits, which had been given me by the Provost’s Lady; and
accordingly tried to put my frozen hand into my riding-coat pocket
to take it out. On taking a draught of the liquor, I soon found that
never repose to the wearied traveller, never meat to a most ravenous
hunger, never drink to a most burning thirst, could be more refreshing
or agreeable than this was to me; and I should have finished my bottle,
if a reflection had not come into my head about my poor horse, which
seemed to be in as bad a situation as myself, being one of a delicate
and tender breed. Knowing that he could drink beer, I resolved to make
an experiment whether he would partake of the contents of my bottle. So
pouring the remainder of the liquor into the crown of my hat, which I
had pressed low down for the purpose, and dissolving some snow in it,
in order to mitigate the spirits, I gave it my poor horse to drink:
which to my great surprise and pleasure, he did, his mouth, I believe,
being so cold that he did not know what he drank. However, now finding
ourselves to respire as it were new life and vigor, we endeavoured to
proceed, and after three quarters of an hour, being almost upon the
relapse again, we stumbled upon a house, and following the walls of it
came to the door, where entering together with my horse, I surprized
the poor people who were sitting at the fire. But they, seeing the
condition I was in, received me with a great deal of good-nature, and
permitted my horse to stand in the house till he was well rubbed, and
then led him to a little place for him to lie in, giving him hay and
corn as he wanted. After I had taken off my riding-coat and boots and
well warmed and refreshed myself, I heard of two more (who had been in
almost as bad a situation as myself except that their horses continued
to carry them), who were come to the next house adjacent. So going out
to see them, I found them to be two old acquaintances, vizt., one Mr.
Maxwell, and Mr. Ball, an English Gentleman, who, after some chat,
concluded, that two more harassing marches, than that over the Esk and
the present, could scarcely be imagined. Accommodating ourselves as
well as we could for that night, being obliged to lie with our horses,
we departed early next morning for Old Meldrum, which place most of the
army had reached before us.
From Old Meldrum we marched the next day for Banff, a little pretty
agreeable town. About this time we heard, that the Highlanders,
who were with the Prince, had broke down the barracks of _Riven of
Badenoch_ (which were a great eye-sore to them, having been built to
keep them in order), and having taken the Sergeant and eleven more
prisoners, were in full march for Inverness, distant thence only
twenty-four miles. And now, after a short stay at Banff, we marched
for Cullen; and by this time we heard that the Prince had made himself
master of the Lord President’s House, and after some little resistance
forced the soldiers in the town of Inverness to retire into the Castle,
which, after a regular siege, likewise soon surrendered at discretion.
About 200 men were taken prisoners here, and several officers, the
principal of whom were the Governor and the Master of Ross. This rapid
success of the Prince gave us great courage. So, marching from Cullen,
through Fochabers, over the River Spey, Elgin, Forres and Nairn, towns
only ten miles distant from each other, we came to be greedy spectators
of our dear Prince again, and what he with his brave Highlanders had
effected. And now, to second our victorious arms, we were joined
by several more of the Clans and Chiefs, and the brave Amazon Lady
McIntosh,[429] Seaforth and others coming in, or causing their Clans to
come in, and many who had left us at Falkirk rejoining their colours,
greatly reinforced the army. When in this flourishing condition, it
pleased the Prince to make a visit to the Duke of Gordon’s, whither
all the Guards were ordered to attend him; and in going a curious fine
standard with this motto ‘_Britons, strike home!_’ that was taken at
Falkirk from Gardiner’s Dragoons, was honourably conferred upon me
by the Prince at the head of the whole Troop; and I had the honor of
carrying it ever after. Having passed Nairn, Forres, Elgin, and the
river Spey, just at the other side under Fochabers, we came to the
Duke’s seat.[430] What reception the Prince had, or what passed there
I know not: but after a short stay we attended our Royal Master back
again to Inverness. But as soon as we arrived there, we had orders
to conduct some of the chief officers, who had lately been taken
prisoners to Forres, and after leaving them there (they being upon
their parole of honor) to go to Cullen to inspect all affairs there on
that side of the country, and to observe the motions of the enemy who
lay at Aberdeen. While at Cullen, where we were continually upon the
watch by our patrolling parties, we heard that Colonel Grant, a good
French Officer, had with his Artillery taken Fort Augustus, and made
the garrison prisoners; that a part of Fitz-James’ Horse had landed
and joined the Prince;[431] and that Lord George Murray had blocked
up seven hundred men in the Castle of Blair, when he behaved with a
great deal of conduct and policy, for, he appeared before the Castle
with only a few men, having hid most of the Highlanders with him in an
adjacent wood. The garrison being thus deceived made a sally upon him
with about three hundred men; but he immediately drew his party out
of the wood and surrounded them, upon seeing which, they immediately
surrendered.[432] So, sending them prisoners to Inverness he persevered
in the siege of the Castle: but the approach of the Hessians soon
obliged him to raise it and leave four hundred men remaining in the
Castle.
At this time President Forbes together with Lord Loudon, were
endeavouring to confederate and knit together what forces they could:
but to prevent their doing much mischief, a party of the brave
McDonalds, with some few others, were detached under the Command of the
Duke of Perth, who soon dispersed this rising power, and obliged its
heads, viz., Lord Loudon and the President to save themselves in boats.
Some of my readers may be curious to know who this President was, and
what interest he had. He may truly be styled the Oracle of his Country,
for many resorted to him for advice; and had he been as great a friend
as he was an implacable enemy, James would in all probability have
swayed the English sceptre; for by his interest, cunning and persuasion
he brought over his own party, together with Sir Alexander McDonald
and several others, who before were just sworn in to the Prince’s
interest.[433] So, I say, had he been as firm a friend as he was an
implacable enemy, we should have seen, instead of the four thousand men
who marched into England, an army of Eighteen or twenty thousand men.
About this time we heard, that the officers who were prisoners upon
their parole of honour had broken it, and escaped to the enemy’s
army, all of them except the Master of Ross and one or two more.[434]
But what will the world say, to see these officers, whom no tie of
religion, gratitude or honour could bind, protected and cherished by
their own party--nay sent against us, to endeavour to destroy those who
before had saved them!
And now we heard, that the Advanced Guard of the enemy was approaching
us, and were got up to Strathbogie. We who were also of the advanced
Guard, upon receiving this intelligence, quitted Cullen, and retreated
to Fochabers, where a considerable body of our men were endeavouring
to make a resistance at the River Spey, and had for that purpose built
barracks, and made all necessary preparations, in case the passage
of the river had been attempted. But finding their army lay quiet at
Aberdeen, and that their advanced party in Strathbogie only made now
and then some little excursions towards us as far as Keith, we, though
at first we were very diligent and alert, we relaxed in our vigilance,
nay fell asleep and at last into a lethargy, in which we unhappily
continued till awakened by the foul affair of Culloden, which merits an
epithet bitterer than I can give.
About this time an advanced party under the command of Major Glascow
went out at night, and hearing that some of the enemy were at
Keith,[435] surrounded that place, and having taken most of them
prisoners, with their arms and equipage, returned the next day with
great honour to Spey-side, where Lord John Drummond and Lord Ogilvy
commanded.
As we lay hereabouts a considerable time, assessments were made
upon the country for our support, and among others upon the Earl of
Findlater’s Estate, who on our arrival had taken wing and joined
Cumberland Will. The Earl’s Steward, being threatened with military
executions, if he refused to comply with our demands (which were always
seconded by such threats, though seldom put in practice) begged leave
to write to his Master for instructions how to act. Upon this the Earl,
having consulted with Cumberland, sent a Letter addressed _To the Man
they call Lord John Drummond_, telling his Lordship, that if he or any
other person should pretend to exercise any military authority over any
thing belonging to him, there were Rebels’ houses enough, on which his
Master Cumberland promised him he should have his revenge. This Letter
excited a great deal of indignation among us; and was the cause of what
afterwards happened to his house;--for several of our party, without
any order being given, and indeed without the Prince’s being in the
then situation of his affairs, able to restrain their fury, ransacked
it, and carried away several articles of value, but without setting
fire to it, or wantonly destroying anything merely for destroying’s
sake.[436]
At last news arrived that the enemy had left Aberdeen, and were
marching against us.[437] This intelligence gave great satisfaction
to many of us, who were in a manner tired out of our lives. Yet
notwithstanding the approach of the enemy, all the Prince’s endeavours
to collect his whole army, were ineffectual; for many under pretence
of cultivating their lands, or promising to come up soon enough, went,
staid, and came as they thought proper.
And now finding the enemy advanced pretty fast both by water and land,
the fleet bringing up their provisions and wearied soldiers; frequent
patrols were sent out by us in order to observe their motions. Here
I had the honour of commanding the last patrolling party that ever
crossed the Spey for the Prince’s cause. Lord John Drummond (Commander
at the Spey) having ordered me with ten others to patrol all night
towards the enemy, we began our work about seven o’Clock and continued
it till about five the next morning, being then eight miles from
Fochabers and two from the enemy; when we took a man with a Letter
from one of Cumberland’s Secretaries to the Duchess of Gordon,[438]
desiring her to employ all her interest among her vassals in getting
down provisions and getting together what forces she could, as the
Duke of Cumberland intended to pass the river that day. Having secured
the Messenger and Letter, we continued our route, till we came up in a
manner to where they were encamped; for as they lay upon the declivity
of a hill, and had no guards on the top, we were able to approach
very near to them unperceived. But finding them drawn out in order of
battle, after seeing all we could see, and some bravadoes and huzzas,
we retired with all speed, leaving them to wonder what we meant. We
soon reached Fochabers (on the Spey) where I found Lord John Drummond.
Having given him the Letter taken from the Duke of Cumberland’s
Messenger and informed him of the situation I had found the enemy in,
I retired to repose myself a little while. When fast asleep, a servant
came in to tell me that the enemy was in the town, and that it was
too late to think of escaping, almost all of our party having already
passed the river. However, starting up in great confusion, I resolved
to risk all rather than fall into their hands, and mounting my horse
escaped by a back road. I had no sooner crossed the river than I was
ordered to join a party of about eighty horse who were to remain behind
on the banks of the Spey to observe the motions of the enemy; whilst
the foot, amounting to about two thousand men, marched for Inverness,
where the Prince then lay with the greatest part of his army. Finding
that the enemy after a short halt at the Spey side, began to cross the
river, we likewise retired and followed our foot, to inform them of
the enemy’s being in full pursuit of us. This intelligence made our
men pass through Elgin, without halting, and straight on that night
to Forres, which was ten miles farther; and, after some stay there,
to Nairn, out of which we were next morning driven; the whole English
Army entering the town at one end, whilst we marched out at the other,
and continuing to pursue us sharply for three or four hours. And here
it was His Grace the Duke of Perth and Colonel O’Sullivan[439] gained
immortal honour by their bravery and conduct in bringing us off in
good order from under the very nose of the enemy; for notwithstanding
all their firing upon our rear, and though we were much inferior in
numbers, we lost not one man.
Soon after their desisting from pursuing us, we received orders to
halt, and encamp upon that very place, where the fatal battle of
Culloden was afterwards fought. Having accordingly encamped as well
as we could on the heath that grew upon the common, which served us
both for bedding and fuel, the cold being very severe, we were soon
after joined by the Prince and several of his Clans. Finding that
the enemy did not pursue us we rested ourselves all that night upon
the Common, and early next morning drew out in battle-array. But
that day being Cumberland’s birthday,[440] and the enemy shewing no
intention to attack us on it, we reposed ourselves again, though still
keeping ourselves in readiness, upon the place where we had rested
the preceding night; a biscuit being given to us for our refreshment.
In that situation we remained, till the brave Prince came amongst
us in the dusk of the evening, with the full resolution of going to
attack them that night in their camp, distant only seven miles. Orders
were accordingly given to that effect, which were obeyed with the
greatest pleasure and alacrity by the whole army. We began our March
about seven o’Clock leaving great fires burning in our camp: but by
some strange infatuation or misfortune the road was not rightly taken,
either through the ignorance or treachery of Lord George Murray’s
guide. This still remains doubtful, but this I can say, that with the
little knowledge I had of the country I could have conducted them much
better and sooner. After we had marched till about three o’Clock in
the morning, over double the ground that was necessary, we at last
came pretty nigh the enemy’s camp: and when we were supposing to
surround them, and for that purpose in some measure drawing out; my
Lord George Murray began to be missing; notwithstanding the Prince’s
Aides-de-Camp in riding from rank to rank, and asking, for God’s sake!
what has become of His Lordship, and telling that the Prince was in
the utmost perplexity for want of him. In that situation did we remain
a considerable time, till, day breaking fast in upon us, we heard
that Lord George Murray was gone off with most of the Clans. Where
he had been all that considerable time, or what was his intention in
it, I leave Time to prove. Now, after we had stood some time on the
brink of entering their camp, the Prince, on receiving the unwelcome
news of Lord George Murray’s going off with the greatest part of the
army, was under the necessity of ordering us likewise, much to our
dissatisfaction, to march back again to our Camp. In this manner did
that noble and well-concerted scheme fall to ruin--and not only to
ruin, but in such a manner as to ruin us, who before had hopes of
ruining the enemy. But O! for Madness! what can one think, or what can
one say here![441]
The enemy at our departure, being fully awakened and seeing the
jeopardy they had been in, judged rightly, it was their time now to
pursue us in the unhappy situation we were then in, being harassed,
hungry and starved and fatigued, almost to the greatest extremity. We
had no sooner reached our camp again, than news came of the enemy’s
being in full march towards us, and of their intention to attack us.
This disagreeable intelligence vexed us much in our present situation,
the more so, as of the twelve thousand men, who were actually in arms
and in the pay of the Prince, not above Four thousand were now with him
many going every moment, notwithstanding his orders to the contrary,
to Inverness, and to woods and houses adjacent, in order to repose and
rest themselves after their late excessive fatigue. Many of these were
so far from rejoining us, that they were taken asleep by the enemy
after the battle. Those, however, who staid, put the best face on
the affair they could, and all of us presently appeared surprizingly
courageous, who only seemed to survive and animated by the spirit
of loyalty and love for our dear Prince. But now why we resolved to
fight, or why we did not retire to Inverness, and keep that town till
we were fully joined, which might have been easily done, or even at
last, if judged proper, avoided fighting and make another expedition
into England in spite of them,--I may say it was Fortune’s will;--for,
contrary to the Prince’s inclination, Lord George Murray insisted on
standing and fighting them that day: and as for what he said of our
wanting provisions, it is most certain, though we did that day, we
might have retired to Inverness and found there a sufficiency of meat
for two or three days. However, the Prince, notwithstanding his great
inclination to avoid fighting, was at last obliged to give way to the
importunity of Lord George Murray, who even used terms very cutting
in case of refusal; and was also for fighting His Grace the Duke of
Perth--but this may be said for him, he doubted not but the same Hand
that had supported and miraculously conducted the Prince hitherto
would infallibly continue to support him, and make him a glorious
Conqueror.[442]
I shall now proceed to give account in what manner we were ranged in
battle-array. The brave McDonalds, who till then had led the van,
and behaved at all times with great courage and bravery, were now
displaced, and made to give way, at the pleasure of Lord George Murray,
to the Athol men, whom he commanded. The rest of the front line was
composed of Highlanders: the second, of Lowlanders and French, with
four pieces of cannon at each wing: and in the rear was the Prince
attended by all the horse, and some foot. In this manner were we drawn
up--four thousand men to fight eleven thousand. The enemy being by
this time in full view, we began to huzza and bravado them in their
march upon us, who were extended from right to left in battle-array, it
being upon a common. But, notwithstanding all our repeated shouts, we
could not induce them to return one: on the contrary, they continued
proceeding, like a deep sullen river; while the Prince’s army might be
compared to a streamlet running among stones, whose noise sufficiently
shewed its shallowness. The Prince, the Duke of Perth, the Earl of
Kilmarnock, Lord Ogilvy, and several other Highland and Lowland Chiefs,
rode from rank to rank, animating and encouraging the soldiers by
well-adapted harangues.
The battle being now begun, the whole fury of the enemy’s Artillery
seemed to be directed against us in the rear; as if they had noticed
where the Prince was. By the first cannon shot, his servant, scarcely
thirty yards behind him, was killed; which made some about the Prince
desire, that he would be pleased to retire a little off: but this he
refused to do, till seeing the imminent danger from the number of balls
that fell about him, he was by the earnest entreaties of his friends
forced to retire a little, attended only by Lord Balmerino’s corps.
Frequent looks and turns the Prince made, to see how his men behaved:
but alas! our hopes were very slender, from the continual fire of
musketry that was kept up upon them from right to left. We had not
proceeded far, when I was ordered back, lest the sight of my standard
going off, might induce others to follow. In returning, various
thoughts passed my soul, and filled by turns my breast with grief for
quitting my dear Prince, now hopes of victory, then fear of losing--the
miserable situation the poor loyalists would again be reduced to--and
what we had to expect if we left the field alive: these thoughts, I
say, strangely wrought upon me, till, coming to the place I was on
before, and seeing it covered with the dead bodies of many of the
Hussars who at the time of our leaving had occupied it, I pressed on,
resolving to kill or be killed. Some few accompanied my standard, but
soon left it. At this time, many of ours from right to left were giving
way and soon the battle appeared to be irretrievably lost. The enemy,
after we had almost passed the two ranks, flanking and galling us with
their continual fire, forced us at last back, broke our first line, and
attacked the second, where the French troops were stationed. I happened
then to be there, and after receiving a slight grazing ball on my left
arm, met with Lord John Drummond, who, seeing me, desired I would come
off with him, telling me all was over and shewing me his regiment, just
by him, surrounded. Being quickly joined by about forty more horse, we
left the field of battle in a body, though pursued and fired upon for
some time. When we arrived at the foot of the hills, some of us took
one way, and some another: I, however, with about six more, continued
with Lord John Drummond; and it was with some difficulty we passed the
rapid torrents and frozen roads, till one o’Clock that night, when we
came to a little village at the foot of a great mountain, which we had
just crossed. Here we alighted, and some went to one house and some to
another. None of these cottages having the conveniences to take in our
horses, who wanted refreshment as well as we, many of them perished at
the doors. I happened to be in one of the most miserable huts I had
ever met with during my whole life; the people were starving to death
with hunger. However, having laid myself down on the floor to rest
myself after having been almost thirty hours on horse-back; the people
came crying about me and speaking a language I did not understand,
which made my case still more unpleasant. But by good luck, a soldier
soon after came in, who could speak both to them and me, and brought
with him some meal, which was very acceptable, as I was almost starving
with hunger. Of this meal we made at that time a very agreeable dish,
by mixing it very thick with cold water, for we could get no warm:
and so betwixt eating and drinking we refreshed ourselves, till four
o’Clock in the morning; when Lord John Drummond and the rest of us
began our march, we knew not whither, through places it would be in
vain to describe; for we saw neither house, barn, tree, or beast nor
any beaten road, being commonly mid-leg deep in snow, till five o’Clock
that afternoon; when we found ourselves near a village called _Privana
a Badanich_,[443] the barracks of which, as I mentioned before, the
Prince had destroyed. Being now, to our surprize, almost upon it, we
consulted amongst ourselves how we might best get intelligence from
it; for, as it lay on the road from Inverness twenty-four miles we
apprehended the enemy might be there. But fortunately a soldier coming
out told us, that the village was occupied by the Prince’s men. This
intelligence gave us great pleasure; and having accordingly entered
the place, we found a great many of the Prince’s adherents, the chief
of whom was Lord George Murray and the Duke of Perth; but we heard no
news where the poor Prince was. At first we had great hopes of rallying
again: but they soon vanished, orders coming for every one to make the
best of his way he could. So some went one way, some another: those
who had French Commissions surrendered; and their example was followed
by my Colonel, Lord Balmerino, tho’ he had none. Many went for the
mountains, all being uncertain what to do or whither to go.
In this perplexity I resolved to steer my course through the
mountainous country, notwithstanding the advice of many to the
contrary, who told me, it would be impossible for me to escape, and
begged I would go and surrender, assuring me, that if I attempted the
mountains, I should inevitably perish in them. But reflecting, how
nigh suffering my Father had been in the year 1715, taking Courage and
Patience for my guides, I resolved to enterprize a journey through
a Country that few of my Nation had ever passed before. So, folding
up my Standard, whose Motto was _Britons! strike home!_ I put it in
my Riding-coat pocket, in hopes it might be of use another day, and
began my journey, in company with three others, for the Highlands.
Having discharged our horses, after a long day’s journey, we came to a
house situated on Garvie-more, twelve miles from any other, where we
met with many of our party, who had arrived there before us. However,
putting up in the best manner with what little we could obtain, we set
forward for Fort Augustus: but on the road, a misfortune happened,
that disconcerted all our plans; for a man who carried our provisions
of Oatmeal, fallen a little behind, by accident met with some of the
Brigade Picquets, who robbed him of our meal and two riding-coats. This
unexpected loss obliged us to separate soon afterwards, being too many
to subsist in this wild tract of country, if we had kept together.
However, having got betwixt Fort Augustus and Fort William, we struck
up into the country to the right, and passed several large mountains in
Lochiel’s Country, where we staid three days, because we heard, that
the brave Prince was nigh us, and to take leave of one another, the
necessaries of life being exceedingly scarce, from the great number of
people wandering over the hills as well as we. I here went to wait upon
the Duke of Perth, who was at the house of Doctor Cameron, Lochiel’s
Brother: but being told by two sentinels at the door, that His Grace
was indisposed, I returned without seeing him. It was now reported,
that an English spy had been at Doctor Cameron’s house which obliged
me in all haste to quit that place; for certain it is, had I staid
there any longer, and the Highlanders supposed me to be the spy, they
would have made away with me. I therefore left my companions and set
forward to Lochaber, the wildest country I ever was in. And now it
was that I began to be truly miserable, and to endure hardships which
I had thought it impossible for human nature to support, for in that
most hideous place I was deprived of every thing that could give me
comfort: true it is, I found some few inhabitants; but in language food
and customs quite different from what I had ever seen before. In this
place I was forced to stay several days, on account of the prodigious
quantity of snow that fell upon the mountains, and hindered me from
discerning or making any road. During my stay, I by good fortune got
a pound of black bread to live upon. The snow somewhat melting I set
forward again from Lochaber towards the sea-shore. On the road I
was overtaken by about forty women, half-starved to death who were
wandering up and down for safety. Some of them, who spoke English,
told me, they had been driven out of their houses by the soldiers who
were sent out from Fort William to ravage burn and plunder all before
them and now it was that the most heart-rending scenes of misery began
to present themselves; for many of these poor creatures with children
in their arms, lay extended in the clefts of the rocks half covered
with snow, dead, and a-dying in the most piteous manner. With these
companions of misery, and daily meeting with more I passed some days.
I now learned, that many of the unfortunate adherents of the Prince
had been famished to death on the hills and I expected it would soon
be my turn, for I began to be almost unable to proceed, my shoes being
worn out, and the sharp rocks wounding my feet. However, I encouraged
myself with the thought that my pursuers would have the same difficulty
to climb the rocks as I had; and on the twentieth day[444] after our
defeat at Culloden I came to the sea, in Clan-Ronald’s Country; the
view of which was most agreeable to me, though even then I saw no
prospect of escaping. Getting a little refreshment from the people who
dwelt on the sea-shore, I began as it were to revive again, having been
almost starved to death with hunger and cold; for I had been obliged
to lie down for whole nights under the shelves of rocks, and was for
two or three days together without eating at all, as nothing could
be obtained either for love or money. Though I was fat and strong at
the battle of Culloden, I was now quite emaciated and reduced to so
miserable a state, that, if I had had another day to walk, I am sure
I must have died; for I was not only starved with hunger and cold,
but frightfully covered with vermin, which bit me all over my body so
that there remained not one whole place in my skin. This, joined with
the pain in my torn feet, made me often think that Job could not be
in a more piteous condition. Yet as he had God for his comforter, so
had I; for the justness of the cause I was suffering for, gave me
great courage, and supported me much: and though I saw daily enmities
exercised against me, it was a great satisfaction to me, to think,
that, during the time I had the honour of being a soldier under the
banner of our dear Prince, I could not accuse myself of one act that a
Christian might blush at.
Being somewhat recovered by the particular care of a worthy Gentleman
(whose kindness I had the satisfaction in a little time to return by an
agreeable meeting with him at Paris), I began to inquire, if it were
possible from island to island to make my escape out of the country;
for could I have sold myself at that time as a slave into Turkey, I
would have done it. My host told me, that it was impossible, as all the
boats had been destroyed by Cumberland’s order. However, one morning,
being in that perplexity of thought how to get off, and fearing every
moment the landing of soldiers to destroy the country--news was brought
us that two French ships had come into the Lough just by--which
mightily raised our hopes, that either a restoration of the Prince’s
affairs were at hand, or that we should escape to France. So, running
down to see and hear what we could we found them to be ships destined
for the Prince’s service, having on board a great quantity of arms and
ammunition, with five barrels of gold, pretty large and nearly one-yard
long--which before our late fatal disasters might have been of great
use.[445]
Notice being sent all about the Mountains, as far as time would permit;
several, who lay despairing, came down to the sea-shore, and among
the rest, my old patron the Duke of Perth, Lord John his brother; Sir
Thomas Sheridan, Secretary Murray, Mr. John Hay, and Doctor Cameron.
These being assembled together, judged it proper though no one knew
where the Prince was (many thinking he was gone off for France) to have
the money and arms brought on shore; which was done on the evening
after. Going securely to sleep that night expecting to sail for France
the next day, we were surprised by the noise of cannon, which awakened
us about three o’Clock in the morning; and getting up to see what the
matter was, we had for our comfort the disagreeable news and sight of
three English ships, that were come from Fort William to attack the
French, whose appearance on the coast they had noticed, it seems. This
sight displeased us very much: however, fighting was the resolution of
us all. The two French Frigates (viz., the _Mars_ and the _Bellona_),
being pretty strong, and having a sufficient quantity of men, cannon,
and ball, resolved to make head against the three English vessels, of
which one was the _Baltimore_,[446] that name being written upon her
rudder, which was carried off by a cannon-ball. The place they fought
in, was a creek of rocks, which held the French (the English coming
down upon them) as it were penn’d up, having the land on their back and
both sides. However it was easy for them to hold communications with
us on shore, who were four hundred armed men or more; so that had they
been obliged to abandon their Ships, they might have saved themselves
on shore. The Crews of the two ships amounting to nearly eleven hundred
men, might, with the assistance of the Highlanders, have made an
effectual resistance to the English, if they had attempted to invade
us. The battle furiously beginning at three o’Clock in the morning, it
remained doubtful till four in the afternoon, who would be victors. Nor
was it a small pleasure to us to see those combatants engaged, and the
skill of the French, whose fire seldom missed the English; for many
of us being upon the rock as it were hung over these ships, in such a
manner that they could not hurt us with either cannon or musketry; we
could discern how matters went, and few balls were fired but we might
see whether they hit or missed, which latter the English frequently
did. During the engagement, the Highlanders were busied in carrying the
arms, money, and powder off from the sea-shore; which service they
performed with amazing resolution, many a cannon ball being fired,
in order to hinder them, by the largest of the English ships. Few
Highlanders there were but what had a cask of brandy hid privately in
the hills, with which some of them got merry before night. At last we
had the satisfaction to see the English hoist their sails, leave the
French, and sail to the main ocean. The French repaired their ships as
fast as possible, and endeavoured to make what haste out they could,
lest the English should return with a greater force.
All being over and hopes reviving again; one who had been in the Guards
with me, came and told me, he had found a barrel of money, and that he
would get me as much of it as I pleased. To this proposal I replied,
That I had no manner of use for it, for, if I should be so fortunate
as to escape into France, I had friends enough there, who would take
care of me; and that if I died or were taken, it would be of no service
to me. Moreover if the Prince should rally again, how shocking it
would be to have to reproach ourselves with being a hindrance to our
dear Prince’s designs. On hearing this reply, he, being of a temper
exceedingly rude, began to repent of informing me of it; and seemed
resolved to take some, and let the rest be embezzled away; for as
far as I could learn he had hidden it in a place unknown to any one
but whether in the confusion when everything was carried off, he had
stopped it, or carried it away, elsewhere, I know not, for he would not
tell me. But strange, you will say, must have been the confusion when
a barrel of gold fell into his hands, and no one the wiser. However,
I determined to quitt my hands and conscience of it; and much search
being made for it at this time, I went and told one Mr. Harrison, a
Priest,[447] about it, and what such a man intended to do, and beg
that he would keep an eye on him: but he, being a little before me,
overheard me, and turning back knocked me down with a stick, and
swore, that he would kill me the first opportunity. But the Priest,
taking my part endeavoured to pacify him, desiring him to desist from
thoughts of the money, and shew him where it was. The man, however,
remained obstinate, and said he was resolved to have some of it, since
the Prince’s affairs seemed now desperate; alleging that his Father
and himself had been ruined for loyalty. They then both agreed to go
together; but what afterward passed, I know not.
Recovering myself from the fall he gave, I went towards the ships,
in order to get on board that night, and in going I was so happy as
to meet with the Duke of Perth, who, seeing me in a most piteous
condition, called me to him, and, after embracing me, and giving me
most agreeable consolations, said: ‘Dear Mr. Daniel, I am truly sorry
for you; but I assure you that you shall go along with me, and if we
are so fortunate as to get to France, depend upon it, that I shall
always be your friend.’ In reply I begged His Grace not to be in pain
about me; for the loss of me was only the loss of my life, not having
one dependant upon me; and assured him that I was truly resigned to
God’s holy will; and thanking His Grace for his kindness and concern
for me, wished we might be so happy as to reach France. And now, after
we had staid some time upon the sea-shore, waiting for the boats, three
were sent to fetch us; but we were obliged to wade breast-deep into the
sea, before we could get on board of them. While we were lying on the
shore--the Duke, poor man! wrapped up in a blanket!--a Highlander by
accident let the snuff of his tobacco-pipe fall into a barrel of gun
powder; which blowing up, with a great number of stones about it, one
of them flew so near my ear, that I could not hear at all for three
hours after. This explosion alarmed us at first, as we supposed the
English had returned to attack the French ships again: but happily no
other mischief was done, except that the Highlander lost his life.
The boat the Duke was in, put off immediately; and another coming
took me in, with many more, and carried us to the _Bellona_, where
we remained at anchor till two o’Clock the next morning, when we
sailed for France.[448] The chief of those in our ship were Sir Thomas
Sheridan;[449] Mr. Sheridan, his nephew;[450] and Mr. Hay.[451] We
were twenty-five days in sailing to France, and met with no opposition
during our voyage. I was exceedingly seasick, and having no pockets,
and every one thinking I should die, I gave a purse of money to Mr.
John Hay’s servant, telling him, if I died, to keep it; and if I
survived to carry it for me to France; which he carefully did for
me. In the ship I was in, there raged a contagious distemper, which
carried off sixty-seven in twenty-five days: and about the tenth
day of our voyage, I saw the body of my friend and patron the Duke
of Perth, thrown over-board; which afflicting sight, joined with my
violent sickness, I expected would have put an end to my life. But what
I thought would have killed me, perhaps contributed to save my life
in that pestiferous ship; as my continual vomiting may have hindered
any thing noxious from taking any effect upon me. But what is very
surprising, for twenty-two days I had not one call of nature, which
I affirm upon honour. And now after all my adventures dangers and
fatigues, I at the end of twenty-five landed in France, where, to my
satisfaction, I have lived since, in the expectation daily of seeing
what I have ever wished to see.
_Postscript_
Having now finished my Narrative, I hope the truth of what I have
written will make up for the faults that may be found in it, and that
the candid Reader will find matter of admiration and esteem in the
behaviour and actions of one so dear, whom I had once the honour to
serve. I shall conclude with
_Fuimus Troies, et erimus iterum._