Origins of the 'Forty-five : $b and other papers relating to that rising
History
Origins of the 'Forty-five : $b and other papers relating to that rising
Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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