Intelligence having been brought to the Prince, that Lieutenant General
Cope, commander in chief of the government forces in Scotland, was
landed at Dunbar, with the troops he embarked at Aberdeen, and was
joined by Hamilton and Gardiner’s dragoons, he resolved to march
directly and attack him.
Accordingly on the 20th September, in the morning, the Prince put
himself at the head of the army at Dudingston, and presenting his sword
said--‘My friends I have flung away the scabbard.’ This was answered by
a chearful huzza.
The army marched till they gained the top of Carberryhill, from whence
we observed the enemy drawn up on the plain below, in order of battle.
We continued the march along the brow of the hill, till we were
opposite to the front of, and at half a miles distance from the enemy.
Here the Highlanders gave a shout, by way of defiance, and nothing less
than authority could restrain them from coming immediately to action.
Several officers were sent, particularly Colonel Ker of Gradane, to
reconnoitre the enemy’s camp. They reported that General Cope had got
into a fastness, where it was impossible to attack him, without risking
the loss of the whole army: That his right was drawn up to the high
walls of the gardens of Preston, where he had made several breaches to
retire into, if needful: The house of Seton and a small morass on the
left: An inclosure not half a gun shot over, surrounded with a ditch
three or four feet deep, and five or six broad, covered his front;
which made two ditches of that breadth and depth to pass: And the sea
was in his rear, at no great distance from him: His canons and coehorns
were planted on a high way that led to Tranent, between the above
inclosure and morass. Thus his front was to the south, his rear to the
north, his right to the west, and his left to the east.
In this situation what was to be done? It was about two o’clock in the
after-noon. The Prince made several movements to amuse the enemy, and
placed guards on the several roads that led to their camp. In the mean
time General Cope discharged several canon at us, but without effect.
At twilight the Prince drew off his men, and marched to Tranent. From
hence he detached Lord Nairne, with 500 men, to guard the road that
led from Preston to Edinburgh, to prevent Cope from marching thither.
On the other hand General Cope, afraid that the Prince should have
directed his march eastwards, altered his disposition, and faced east,
having now the morass in front; and his troops were thus disposed.
General Hamilton’s dragoons were on his right, and Colonel Gardiners on
his left. The regiment of Lascelle’s and Murray, with five companies
of Lees and four of Guises formed the center. And his second line
consisted of three companies of the Earl of Loudun’s regiment, two of
Lord John Murray’s, a body of Monros, and a great number of recruits
for regiments abroad. Amounting in all to about 2000 foot, and 700
dragoons.
As it was now dark, the Prince ordered the army to march and to take
possession of the ground on the south east of the morass which they
did, at about half canon shot of the enemy. We continued under arms in
the order of march, observing the greatest silence, so that Cope did
not perceive where we were.
About three o’clock of the morning of the 21^{st}, orders were sent
to Lord Nairne to draw off his guards and join the Prince, which he
immediately did. The disposition of the attack being made, the Prince
addressed his army in these words--‘Follow me, gentlemen, by the
assistance of God, I will this day make you a free and happy people.’
The right wing was commanded by the Duke of Perth, Lieutenant General,
and consisted of the Macdonalds of Clanranald, Glengary, Keppoch and
Glenco, and Grants of Glenmoriston. The left wing was commanded by
Lord George Murray, Lieutenant-General, and consisted of the Camerons
of Lochiel, Stuarts of Appin, and two companies of Macgregors. The
second line was commanded by Lord Nairne, Major-General, and consisted
of Athole-men, Robertsons of Strouan, Maclauchlans, and the Duke of
Perth’s men. About 25 gentlemen, and their servants, a horse-back,
formed a sort of corps de reserve. The whole army consisted of about
2200 men.
We marched chearfully on. The Duke of Perth was conducted by a
gentleman, of the name of Anderson, by a ford through the above morass;
where 100 men could have prevented our passage: it was so difficult
that every step the men made they sunk to the knee in mud. This made
them pass in some disorder, but not being observed, by means of the
darkness, they formed again as they passed the morass. But the Duke of
Perth, in place of inclining to the enemy’s left, to avoid being seen
by them before all our men were passed, marched towards the sea: so
when our left gained the plain, Lord George Murray found that he was
nearer the enemy than the Duke of Perth was. However, day beginning to
break the attack was ordered.
The highlanders, pulling off their bonnets and looking up to heaven,
made a short prayer, and ran forward. In advancing Lord George Murray
observed, that by the turn of the morass, there was a great interval
between his left and the ditch of the before mentioned inclosure: he
therefore ordered the Camerons to incline that way, in order to take it
up, to prevent being flanked by the enemy’s dragoons. By this movement
there became a considerable interval in the center, which the 2^d line
was ordered to fill up. We were now discovered by the enemy, who played
their artillery furiously upon our left; yet only one private man was
killed, and one officer wounded. The highlanders ran on with such
eagerness that they immediately seized the canon. The dragoons on right
and left made a very regular fire, which was followed by close platoons
of all their infantry, which our men received with great intrepidity.
But what by the huzzas of the highlanders, and their fire which was
very brisk, the dragoons were immediately thrown into disorder, which
occasioned some confusion among their foot. The highlanders threw down
their muskets, drew their swords, and carried all before them like a
torrent: so that in seven or eight minutes both horse and foot were
totally routed, and drove from the field of battle.
The Prince during the action was on foot in the 2^d line. He was with
great difficulty prevailed on not to attack with the first line in so
much that the officers refused to march if he insisted on it. As soon
as the victory declared for him, he mounted his horse and put a stop to
the slaughter, calling out,--‘make prisoners: spare them, spare them,
they are my father’s subjects.’
When General Cope saw how things were going, and that he could not
rally his forces, he, with about 350 dragoons, and some volunteer
officers, gained Carberryhill, by a road that led to it from Preston,
and, as we had not time, nor horse to pursue, got away undisturbed to
Lauder, and from thence to Berwick.
As our 2^d line had no occasion to engage, it may with justice be
said, that 1400 highlanders, unsupported by horse or canon, routed
a regular army of 2000 foot and 700 dragoons, defended by a fine
train of artillery, and obtained a most compleat victory. Such is the
impetuosity of a highland attack!
We took all the enemys canon, coehorns, small arms, colours, standards,
drums, tents, baggage and military chest, in which was about 3000^l.
11^s.
Of the enemy were killed about 500, wounded 400, and taken prisoners
1400. Among the prisoners were about 80 officers.
Our loss was very inconsiderable, viz. killed 2 captains, 1 Lieutenant,
1 ensign, and about 30 private men; and wounded 6 officers, and 70
private men.
All care immaginable was taken of the wounded, plenty of able surgeons
having been provided for that purpose.
The Prince lay this night at Pinkie, and next day the 22^d returned to
the palace of Holyroodhouse, and the army encamped again at Duddingston.