Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange EventsBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange Events
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Legends -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Miscellanea
His Royal Highness thought it advisable to reduce this place; and on its
surrender he returned to London. General Wade continued his march for
the North, dismissing all the foreigners from his army; and General
Hawley, on coming from London to take the command, was joined by some
regiments which had been withdrawn from Flanders. They marched to
Edinburgh, and from thence to Falkirk, and pitched their tents on the
north-east side of the town on the 16th of January; the Highland army
being at Torwood, about midway between Falkirk and Stirling, and about
three miles from the English camp, they could easily see each other's
camp light. The English army lay all night on their arms in expectation
of being attacked, but the van and picket-guards came in on the morning
of the 17th, having observed no motions in the hostile camp which
showed any signs of an attack, although they were as near as safety
would permit. Soon after, the enemy were observed to move some of their
flags from Torwood towards Stirling, which made the English suppose that
they were retreating; but this motion was a feint to deceive them.
However, upon this the soldiers were ordered to pile their arms and take
some refreshment; and although Lord Kilmarnock was in the army of Prince
Charles Edward, General Hawley went to breakfast with Lady Kilmarnock at
Callander House. The enemy in the meantime stole a march down a valley
northward, unperceived; but just before the army discovered them, they
were seen by a person, who ran into the camp exclaiming, "Gentlemen!
what are you about? The Highlanders will be upon you!" On which some of
the officers said, "Seize that rascal; he is spreading a false
alarm!"--"Will you believe your own eyes?" said the man; and at that
moment the line of Highlanders was seen fringing the high ground on
Falkirk Moor.
It is unnecessary here to relate the details of the engagement of
Falkirk, so graphically described by Sir Walter Scott in "Waverley,"
resulting in a momentary gleam of hope to the adherents of Prince
Charles Edward, and in as brief a discouragement to the English. Captain
Thornton lost twenty of his men, together with his lieutenant and
ensign, who were taken prisoners. The captain was in a house when the
English were surprised, and hearing the bagpipes at the door, he ran
up-stairs and hid in a room behind the door. One of the Highlanders ran
in, looked round, but not seeing him, called out, "None of the rascals
are here."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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