second, and was saluted by a triple discharge of the great guns from the castle which he had so suddenly and so completely relieved.

A fresh supply of about one hundred and twenty horses from Newcastle, for the service of the army, reached Edinburgh the day that it marched, which were sent after it with all expedition. Bligh's regiment came in next day, having been brought on its way by the country people on horses. Major-general Bland arrived in town at the same time, and followed the army next morning; as did the duke's secretary, Sir Everard Fawkner, the earl of Ancrum, and other officers, all of whom joined at Stirling, where the army halted, till the bridge, which had been broken down on the approach of the rebels, should be repaired.

THE

HISTORY OF SCOTLAND.

BOOK XI.

1746.

Charles proceeds for Inverness-The duke of Cumberland advances to Perth-Excesses of the royal army-Dutchess Dowager of Perth, and the Viscountess of Strathallan apprehended and sent to Edinburgh castle--The prince of Hesse lands at LeithThe royal army marches to Aberdeen-Notorious disaffection of the country-Perth occupied by the Hessians-Charles seizes upon the barrack of Ruthven-Narrowly escapes at Moy-Enters Inverness-Seizes Fort Augustus-Besieges Fort William Joined by lady Seaforth and lady Macintosh―The lord president retreats to the Isle of Skye-Lord George Murray surprises the outposts of the royal army—Lays siege to the castle of Blair-Duke of Cumberland detaches a party into Argyleshire-Reenforces Fort William-Appin, and the country of the Camerons destroyed-Discouraging situation of Charles-Calls in all his out parties-The duke of Cumberland prepares for marching towards Inverness-Has one of his advanced posts surprised at Keith Overruns and disarms Glenesk and Glen Prosen-Crosses the Spey-Halts at Nairn-Charles takes post on Drumossie muir-His order of battle-Is attacked and totally routed by the duke of Cumberland Has a first and last interview with lord Lovat at Gortuleg-Meeting of the rebels at Ruthven-Great rejoicings, addresses, &c. on account of the dispersion of the rebels-The duke of Cumberland follows up his victory-Rebels everywhere apprehended-Proclamation concerning them Ministers of the Church of Scotland required to give in lists of them-Part of the king's troops leave Inverness for the south-Burn every nonjurant meeting-house they come to-Lochiel attempts to make head against the king's forces-Narrowly escapes being made prisoner-Terrible devastation of the country-Secretary Murray is apprehended-Lord Lovat is sent under a strong guard to London-Loyal amusements— Robberies and murders perpetrated by the rebels-Wanton cruelty of the king's officers -Flight of Charles, &c. &c.

CHARLES having divided his army, and given orders for the whole to assemble in the neighbourhood of Inverness, proceeded himself direct by the Highland road, where he was in no danger of being overtaken, and on the sixth of February took up his lodgings at the castle of Blair. On the seventh, upwards of one thousand of the clans, a number of gentlemen on horseback, and about fifty baggage horses, with all the prisoners carried from Falkirk, who were in the most miserable condition, most

of them without shoes or stockings, arrived at Dalnacardoch, on their way to Ruthven in Badenoch. Eighty cart loads of baggage, followed by Lochiel and some others of the leading men of the party, followed the same route next day, leaving Charles and a few attendants at Blair, where he amused himself for some days with field sports, of which it appears he was an ardent admirer. Such of the men as had been forcibly carried with them to the south, from about Dunkeld and that neighbourhood, were now allowed, probably from the difficulty of subsisting them, to make their escape, and their outposts came no farther south than the pass of Killicrankie.

That division of the rebels under lord George Murray, and lord John Drummond, which took the other road, entered Perth on the second, to the number of fifteen hundred. Robertson of Faskally, and the laird of Blairfetty, followed next day from Crieff, with one hundred and forty men, bringing along with them seven pieces of brass cannon, four covered waggons, and upwards of two hundred stragglers. Next day, these seven pieces of brass cannon, four covered waggons, and fourteen carts laden with ammunition, escorted by lord Lewis Gordon's men, proceeded northwards by the way of Dunkeld. The main body, horse and foot, consisting of Charles' lifeguards, Pitsligo, Ogilvie, and Sir James Kinloch's men, took at the same time the route for Montrose, by Cupar of Angus, and were followed on the fourth by the French piquets, which had lain in garrison at Perth, by Faskally and Blairfetty, with their dependants, by the lords George Murray, Pitsligo, Elcho, Ogilvie, and Strathallan, with a number of gentlemen of less name but of equal notoriety. Secretary Murray had previously gone to Charles at Fairnton; and the French ambassador, lord Kilmarnock, Macleod of Raza, and another gentleman, went by the way of Dunkeld. Thirteen pieces of iron cannon, eight and twelve pounders, were left behind them, nailed up; and a great quantity of cannon balls, with fourteen swivel guns, that formerly belonged to the Hazard sloop of war, were thrown into the Tay.

The same day that the rebels evacuated Perth, the bridge of Stirling being repaired, the royal army, under the duke of Cumberland, marched from the latter city. The advanced

guard, consisting of the dragoons and the Argyleshire Highlanders, went on to Crieff. The foot were cantoned in and about Dunblane, where the duke of Cumberland also lay for that night, and next day reached Crieff. The advanced guard took possession of Perth on the fifth, and the duke arrived on the sixth. Detachments were immediately pushed forward to Dunkeld, and Castle Menzies, the former under the command of Sir Andrew Agnew, and the latter under the command of lieutenant-colonel Leighton. Magazines of bread and forage were ordered to be laid in; and it was resolved that the army should be allowed here to recover from the effects of the great fatigue it had undergone in making such long and hasty marches, through bad roads, in such an inclement season.

During the stay of the royal army at Stirling, a person of the name of Riddel was apprehended with a pass in his pocket signed by Charles, and hanged for a spy. A party was also sent, when the army was on the march, to relieve Sir Patrick Murray of Oughtertyre, and a Mr. Griffith, who had been made prisoners at the battle of Gladsmuir, and were on parole, which it effected accordingly. In their march through the estates belonging to the duke of Perth, and to lord Strathallan, the troops committed shameful excesses, under the pretence of searching for arms and ammunition, entering the houses of the rebels, and of such as were supposed to be along with them, and carrying off their silver plate, household goods, cattle, sheep, and hogs, which they sold by a kind of military auction when they arrived at Perth. Some parties of the Old Buffs brought in forty-five horses, which were sold for the benefit of the captors, and fifty-seven head of black cattle, which were ordered for the use of the army. The same practices were afterwards too generally carried on in Fife, in Athol, and other places.

Several persons were taken up at Perth upon suspicion; and at Drummond castle, the dutchess dowager of Perth was apprehended and sent off to Edinburgh, under charge of a party of dragoons. The viscountess of Strathallan was sent to the same place, along with upwards of sixty persons, many of whom had

• Scots Magazine for 1746.

been confined in the castle of Stirling since the preceding September.

On the eighth, prince Frederick of Hesse, and the earl of Crawford, with five thousand Hessians, in thirty-six transports, escorted by four ships of war, arrived in Leith Roads from Williamstadt, having been only four days on the passage. The prince, the earl of Crawford, and some other persons of distinction, came on shore the same night, but the troops did not land till four days after. His serene highness was lodged at Holyrood house, where he was complimented by many persons of distinction, and he was entertained with balls, concerts of music, assemblies, &c. &c.*

Lord Mark Ker having been appointed governor of Edinburgh castle, arrived in that city the same day with the prince of Hesse, and was received with the usual formalities. Parties of this nobleman's, and of St. George's dragoons, Kingston's horse, and some divisions of Johnston's foot, arrived in Edinburgh about the same time, and were sent forward to the army at Perth. On the fifteenth, the duke of Cumberland came to pay his respects to his brother-in-law, the prince of Hesse, at Holyrood house, and to consult with him respecting their future operations, and the employment of the troops he had brought along with him. We are told by Home, that in a council of war held at the house of lord Milton, by his royal highness and the prince of Hesse, it was the opinion of all the generals that the war was at an end, and that his royal highness had nothing to do but to give his orders to the officers under him to march into the Highlands, as soon as the season would permit, and ferret the rebels out of their strong holds and fastnesses; for it was evident, they said, that the rebels would never risk a battle against an army commanded by the duke of Cumberland. This opinion, though highly flattering to his royal highness, does not appear to have been his own, or if it was, he wished for solid grounds to rest it upon; for he pressed lord Milton, who was present, and who wished to decline taking any part in the discussion, on account of his not being a military man, to give his

* Scots Magazine for 1746.