With the advance of the rebels into Derbyshire, their precipitate retreat back to Scotland, and the battle of Falkirk, the services of the SIXTH are not immediately connected; but in the early part of 1746, after the Duke of Cumberland had forced the young Pretender to raise the siege of Stirling castle, and to retreat to the Highlands, the three companies of the regiment stationed in _Fort Augustus_ were besieged by the rebel army. As the young Pretender had obtained a train of artillery, and the services of a few French officers and engineers, the reduction of the fort was not a difficult operation, and the three companies were made prisoners: the works were afterwards blown up and abandoned by the enemy. [Sidenote: 1747] A lieutenant and about fifty men of the regiment had, in the mean time, assembled at Edinburgh: some of these men had escaped from captivity, others were the remains of the two companies which had fought at Preston-pans, and they were directed to proceed, by forced marches, to Inverlochy, and throw themselves into _Fort William_: a drummer and three men of the regiment, who were made prisoners at Fort Augustus, also escaped from custody and took refuge in Fort William. In March, 1746, the enemy besieged the fort, and the garrison made a most resolute defence. By a well-directed fire from the works, by sallies and other devices, with the co-operation of a small naval force, the enemy was forced to raise the siege and retire. This success was followed by the overthrow of the rebel army at Culloden, which extinguished the hopes of the Pretender, and the insurrection was thus finally suppressed. The officers and men of the SIXTH were liberated from captivity, the companies in garrison were relieved, and the regiment proceeded to England to recruit its numbers, where it remained for six years. [Sidenote: 1751] In the warrant of King George II., bearing date the 1st of July, 1751, for regulating the uniform, colours, and distinctions of regiments, the facing of the SIXTH was directed to be of DEEP YELLOW. "The first colour to be the great Union; and the second to be of deep yellow, with the union in the upper canton; in the centre of the colours the ANTELOPE, being the ancient badge of the regiment, and in the three corners of the second colour the _rose and crown_. The front of the grenadier caps to be of deep yellow, with the antelope, as in the colours; the little flap to be red, with the white horse, and motto, _Nec aspera terrent_, over it; the back part of the cap to be red, and the turn-up deep yellow. The same badge of the antelope to be painted on the drums and bells of arms, with the rank of the regiment underneath." [Sidenote: 1753] [Sidenote: 1755] [Sidenote: 1756]