Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
'Towards the evening of the twentie-eight December 1745 the Prince
entered the town of Penrith, in the Province of Comberland. But as
Lord George Murray could not bring up the artilirie so fast as he
wou'd have wish'd, he was oblig'd to pass the night six miles
short of that town, together with the regiment of MacDonel of
Glengarrie, which that day happened to have the arrear guard. The
Prince, in order to refresh his armie, and to give My Lord George
and the artilirie time to come up, resolved to sejour the 29th at
Penrith; so ordered his little army to appear in the morning under
arms, in order to be reviewed, and to know in what manner the
numbers stood from his haveing entered England. It did not at that
time amount to 5000 foot in all, with about 400 cavalrie, compos'd
of the noblesse who serv'd as volunteers, part of whom form'd a
first troop of guards for the Prince, under the command of My Lord
Elchoe, now Comte de Weems, who, being proscribed, is presently in
France. Another part formed a second troup of guards under the
command of My Lord Balmirino, who was beheaded at the Tower of
London. A third part serv'd under My Lord le Comte de Kilmarnock,
who was likewise beheaded at the Tower. A fourth part serv'd under
My Lord Pitsligow, who is also proscribed; which cavalrie, tho'
very few in numbers, being all noblesse, were very brave, and of
infinite advantage to the foot, not only in the day of battle, but
in serving as advanced guards on the several marches, and in
patroling dureing the night on the different roads which led
towards the towns where the army happened to quarter.
'While this small army was out in a body on the 2Qth December,
upon a riseing ground to the northward of Penrith, passing review,
Mons. de Cluny, with his tribe, was ordered to the Bridge of
Clifton, about a mile to southward of Penrith, after having pass'd
in review before Mons. Pattullo, who was charged with the
inspection of the troops, and was likeways Quarter-Master-General
of the army, and is now in France. They remained under arms at the
bridge, waiting the arrival of My Lord George Murray with the
artilirie, whom Mons. de Cluny had orders to cover in passing the
bridge. They arrived about sunsett closly pursued by the Duke of
Comberland with the whole body of his cavalrie, reckoned upwards
of 3000 strong, about a thousand of whom, as near as might be
computed, dismounted, in order to cut off the passage of the
artilirie towards the bridge, while the Duke and the others
remained on horseback in order to attack the rear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account