Lieutenant General Hawley, having been declared commander in chief in
place of Sir John Cope, marched from Edinburgh to raise the siege of
Stirling Castle, with about 10000 foot and 3 regiments of dragoons, and
encamped a little to the westward of Falkirk.
On the 16^{th} the Prince drew up his army in line of battle, on a muir
or plain, a mile south east of the house of Bannockburn, then his head
quarters, and made all the necessary dispositions, in case the enemy
should have advanced to attack him. But Hawley continued all day in his
camp, and in the evening the Prince ordered his men to their quarters.
Early next morning, the 17^{th}, the Prince ordered his men to draw up
on the same plain. The right wing, commanded by Lord George Murray,
consisted of the Macgregors, Macdonalds of Keppoch, Clanronald,
Glengary, and Glenco, Mackintoshes and Farquharsons. The left,
commanded by Lord John Drummond, consisted of the Camerons of Lochiel,
Stuarts of Appin, Macphersons of Cluny, Frazers of Lovat, and Macleods
of Raza and Bernera. The 2^d line, commanded by Brigadier-General
Stappleton, consisted of the regiments of the Duke of Athole, Earl of
Cromarty, Lord Lewis Gordon, and Lord Ogilvy. Lords Elcho and Balmerino
with the Prince’s horse-guards, consisting of about 80 gentlemen and
their servants, were placed on the right wing, between the first and
second lines. Lords Pitsligo and Strathallan with the Aberdeen and
Perth-shire squadrons of horse, and a few hussars, making about the
same number, were placed in like manner on the left. The Irish pickets
were placed immediately behind the 2^d line as a corps de reserve. The
whole making about 7000 foot, and 160 horse.
The regiments of the Duke of Perth, Lord John Drummond, Gordon of
Glenbucket, and John Roy Stuart were left at Stirling to guard the
trenches and push on the siege, being about 1000 men. The Duke of
Perth, who commanded the siege, and John Roy Stuart were allowed to
join the army to assist in the action: and the care of the siege was
left to Major-General Gordon of Glenbucket.
About midday the Prince, finding that Hawley did not advance, resolved
in a council of war to march and attack him. The army therefore marched
in order of battle, in two columns, keeping always an equal distance
of about 200 yards. This saved a great deal of time, and prevented
confusion, when we came within sight of the enemy. Lord George Murray
took the road to the south of the Torwood, as the highway leading from
Stirling to Falkirk was too narrow. At the same time Lord John Drummond
went with most of the horse to reconnoitre the enemy; and made a
movement as intending to march the highway through the Torwood.
The army crossed the water of Carron at Dunipace. By this time the
enemy were perceived to be in motion. We therefore quickened our march
to gain the top of the hill, about a mile south of the town of Falkirk,
and a little more from Hawley’s camp.
General Hawley’s disposition seems to have been thus. On his right were
the Argyleshire militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Campbell,
the regiments of foot of Ligonier, Price and Sinclair: on his left
Ligonier, Cobham and Hamilton’s dragoons; the regiments of foot
of Wolfe, Cholmondly and Pulteney. The 2^d line was made up of the
regiments of foot of Blackney, Monro, Flemming, Barret and Battereau.
The Glasgow and some other militia, and Howard’s regiment of foot
formed a corps de reserve.
Mr. Hawley, afraid lest the Prince intended to march south, and
not come to an action, ordered the dragoons to advance with all
expedition, to take possession of the hill, and to keep us in play
till the infantry should come up. When they came within canon shot,
they made a motion to attack our right in flank, which Lord George
Murray perceiving he, with the assistance of Colonel John Roy Stuart,
made a very quick motion till he gained a morass, by which he saved
being flanked. So our right was to the east, our left west, and front
north. The dragoons seeing their scheme thus disappointed, advanced on
a full trot, in order to break us; but the Macgregors and Macdonalds,
keeping up their fire till they were within pistol shot, received them
so briskly, that they were immediately broken, and thrown into the
utmost confusion. As the enemy’s foot were now very near, the dragoons
could not easily retreat back, without breaking their own line: they
therefore gallopped along our line, whereby a vast number of them were
killed. This beginning greatly inspirited our men, as it had a contrary
effect on the enemy.
Scarcely had the dragoons got off when their infantry advanced to make
the attack. They greatly out-lined us on the left, as we out-lined them
on the right. Our left extended little farther than to their center.
But from the unequality of the ground, being interspersed with risings
and hollows, whereby there was no seeing from right to left what was
doing, neither of the parties reaped advantage from that circumstance.
The enemy’s right therefore attacked our left with a very close fire,
which the Camerons and Stuarts received with great fortitude, drew
their swords, broke and pursued them out of the field. Then our left
made a halt in order to be joined by the right; but were again attacked
by other two regiments in flank, whom they also immediately broke. Our
right, marching down the hill, fell in with the Glasgow militia, whom
they severely chastised.
The Prince, who was mostly in the center, and whose attention was
turned to all parts, observing some regiments of the enemys foot, and
the remainder of the dragoons, marching up the hill, put himself at the
head of the Irish pickets, and such of the scattered highlanders as
were nearest to him, with a few gentlemen a horse-back, and advanced to
attack them. But seeing the order of the pickets, and having a great
storm of wind and rain in their faces, they fled precipitantly to their
camp, as did all the rest of their troops.
As the action began late in the afternoon, it was now dark, the storm
still continuing. However, the Prince made all the dispatch immaginable
to put his troops in order, as he intended to beat the enemy from
their camp. But hardly were the half of our men drawn together, when
we observed many fires in Hawley’s camp, and his men at the same time
marching, with great hurry, between the camp and town of Falkirk. We
immediately conjectured that they were burning their camp (which they
indeed endeavoured, but were prevented by the rain) and were to take
possession of the town of Falkirk. Had they taken this course, a few
men properly posted could have hindered the highlanders from entering
that night, and obliged us either to have abandoned the field of
battle, or to have stood all night under arms, wet and fatigued as we
were, and exposed to the inclemency of the weather, a thing impossible.
Mr. Drummond, now Lord Strathallan, and Mr. Oliphant younger of Gask,
disguised in peasants dress, went into the town to reconnoitre, and to
get intelligence of the enemy. They soon returned with information,
that they were flying in confusion to Linlithgow. The Prince
immediately ordered his men to march, and attack them in the rear. As
we marched we fell on the enemy’s canon, which they had left between
the field of battle and the town: they could not draw them up the hill,
on account of the badness of the roads; so they were of no use to them
in the action.
The enemy’s rear were just got to the east end of the town, when Lord
John Drummond entered it on that side: he was shot throw the arm by a
soldier, whom he was taking prisoner. Lord George Murray entered at the
middle, and Lochiel at the west end of the town.
Our men had no sooner entered the town than they disappeared on all
sides; every one putting himself under cover to dry his cloaths; and
refresh himself after the fatigue of the day: and altho a detachment of
1000 men were ordered to pursue the enemy, yet, such is the misfortune
of an irregular army! not 50 could be brought together, besides those
absolutely necessary to mount the guards for the Prince and their own
safeties. So the enemy never stopped till they got to Linlithgow, and
some of their volunteers and dragoons to Edinburgh.
The Prince’s first care next morning was to send to reconnoitre the
field of battle, and cause bury the dead, as well those of the enemy
as his own men. Some of their officers that could be distinguished, of
whom were Sir Robert Monroe and Colonel Whitney, were brought down to
the town, and interred in the same manner as our own officers were.
It now appeared that about 600 of the enemy were killed on the field of
battle, and that we had made about 700 prisoners.
We got all their artillery consisting of 7 large pieces of brass canon,
and 3 iron ones, several mortars and coehorns, with a great many
shells, all their ammunition, waggons, tents, 3 standards, 2 stand of
colours, a kettle drum, many small arms, baggage, and generally every
thing that the rain prevented them from burning.
On our side were killed 3 captains, 4 subaltern officers, and about 40
private men: and we had wounded near double that number.