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
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
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