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anonymous letters containing most absurd articles of intelligence, which they afterwards circulated with scurrilous comments.*

In the present crisis Sir John Cope acted with more wisdom than has been usually ascribed to him, and certainly with more energy than his superiors. Not wishing, however, to trust entirely to his own judgment, he consulted lord-president Forbes, and the lord-advocate and solicitor-general, the law-officers of the crown, upon the course to be adopted under existing circumstances. No man was better acquainted with every thing appertaining to the Highlands than Forbes; and in fixing upon him as an adviser, Cope showed a laudable desire to avail himself of the best advice and information within his reach. At the period now in question, the insurrection was in a state of mere inception; and, according to the opinions of those best qualified to judge, there was little probability that it would assume a formidable character. At all events, sound policy dictated that the threatened insurrection should be checked in its bud, and as its progress could only be stopped by the presence of a body of troops, Cope proposed, and his proposal received the approbation of the three public functionaries before named, to march to the Highlands with such troops as he could collect. The number of regular troops in Scotland did not, it is true, amount to three thousand men,† and some of them were newly raised; but there can be little doubt that, by a timely and judicious disposition of about two-thirds of this force in the disaffected districts, the embers of rebellion might have been extinguished. The unfortunate result of Cope's expedition detracts in no respect from the design he thus formed, though the propriety of his subsequent measures may well indeed be questioned.

Having formed his resolution, the commander-in-chief sent expresses to the secretary of state for Scotland on the ninth and tenth of August, announcing his intention of marching to the Highlands. In pursuance of this resolution he ordered a camp to be formed at Stirling, and required all the officers who were absent from their regiments, to repair to their respective posts. About the same time he directed the lordpresident to take the command of the companies raised in the north for Lord Loudon's Highland regiment, and notified the appointment to the officers of the regiment commanding in that quarter. As there was no bread in the country through which he intended to march, he bought

Home's Works, vol. iil. p. 18.

There were three foot regiments, viz. Guise's, the 6th, stationed at Aberdeen,Murray's, the 46th, scattered among the garrisons in the Highlands,—and Lascelle's, the 47th, at Edinburgh. Also two companies of the Scots Royals, (which surrendered to Keppoch's Highlanders,)—two of Lord Sempil's regiment stationed at Cupar-in-Fife, -two of the Scots Fusileers at Glasgow,-three of Lord John Murray's regiment at Crieff,-five of Lee's regiment, the 44th, in the west of Scotland, (the remaining five being in Berwick,)—besides several companies, almost complete, of Lord Loudon's Highland regiment. Besides these there were two regiments of dragoons, those of Gardiner and Hamilton.

up all the biscuit which the bakers of Edinburgh and Leith had on hand, and set all the bakers there, as well as those of Perth and Stirling, to work night and day to prepare a quantity of bread sufficient to support his army for twenty-one days.

On receipt of Cope's letters, the marquis of Tweeddale laid them before the lords of the treasury, who approved of the conduct of the commander-in-chief, and particularly of his resolution of marching into the Highlands with such troops as he could assemble. The secretary notified the approbation of their lordships in a letter to Cope; and so satisfied were they with his plan, that when they understood that the march had been delayed only for a day or two, they sent down an express to him, with positive orders to begin his march to the north instantly. Their lordships seem not to have been aware of the causes which retarded his march, not the least of which was the want of money, a credit for which did not arrive till the seventeenth of August; notwithstanding, Cope had made the demand as early as the third of that month. The order to march reached Edinburgh on the nineteenth of August, which day Cope, accompanied by the earl of Loudon and several officers, set off for Stirling, where he arrived in the evening. Thus, by a singular coincidence, Charles and his opponent placed themselves at the head of their respective armies on the same day.

The force which Cope found upon his arrival at Stirling, and which had been collected for his expedition, consisted of twenty-five companies of foot, amounting altogether to fourteen hundred men, and some of Gardiner's dragoons. Leaving the dragoons, which could be of no use in a campaign among the mountains, behind him, Cope began his march towards the north on the twentieth, carrying along with him four field-pieces, (one and a half pounders,) as many cohorns, and a thousand stand of spare arms for the use of such of the well affected Highlanders as might join him. He carried also with him a considerable number of black cattle for the use of the army. Only a part, however, of the bread which had been ordered had arrived; but so anxious was Cope to obey his instructions, that he began his march with the limited supply he had received, after giving orders to forward the remainder as soon as it should arrive at Stirling.

Cope halted on the twenty-first at Crieff. He was here visited by the duke of Athole, and his younger brother, Lord George Murray, the latter of whom, doubtless, little imagined he was to act the conspicuous part he afterwards did, as commander of the prince's army. The duke attended in consequence of a notice which Cope had sent to him and the other leading adherents of the government, through, or in the neighbourhood of whose territories he meant to pass, requiring them to raise their men; but neither the duke nor the other chiefs who had been ap-. plied to seem to have been disposed to obey the call. Lord Glenorchy,

• Cope's Trial.

+ Ibid.

Ibid.

who arrived shortly after the duke and his brother, excused himself on the ground that he had not had sufficient time. As Cope had calculated upon the junction of a considerable body of Highlanders on his route, he was exceedingly disappointed that his expectations were not likely to be realized, and would have instantly retraced his steps had the orders of government allowed him a discretionary power; but his instructions were too peremptory to admit of a return to Stirling. Seeing, therefore, no use for the large quantity of spare arms, he sent seven hundred of them back to Stirling castle. This was a judicious step, as from the want of carriages he could not have got them transported to Inverness.*

On the twenty-second the army advanced to Amulrie, where it stopped for a supply of bread. Next day it proceeded to Tay bridge, and on the twenty-fourth reached Trinifuir. The army advanced to Dalnacardoch on the twenty-fifth of August. Here Cope was met by Captain Sweetenham,-the officer who had been taken prisoner when on his way to Fort William from Ruthven, and who had been released on his parole. This officer informed Sir John that he was carried to Glenfinnin, where he saw the rebels erect their standard, and that when he left them on the twenty-first they amounted to fourteen hundred men, --that on the road to Dalwhinnie he had met several parties of Highlanders hastening to join them,-and that on arriving at Dalwhinnie he had been informed that they were three thousand strong, and were in full march towards Corriearrack, where they intended to meet him and give him battle. Notwithstanding this alarming intelligence, Cope proceeded on his march, and arrived at Dalwhinnie next day. Here he received a letter from Lord-president Forbes, written at his seat of Culloden near Inverness, corroborating the intelligence received from Sweetenham of the advance of the rebels, and of their intention to meet him upon Corriearrack.

Corriearrack, of which the royal army had now come within sight, and over which it was Cope's intention to march into Lochaber, is a lofty mountain of immense extent, occupying no less than nine miles out of the eighteen that form the last day's march from Garviemore to Fort Augustus. It is extremely steep on the south side, and appears at a distance to rise almost as perpendicular as a wall. The ascent to the summit of this mountain on the south side, is by a road of seventeen traverses; and on the north side, the long descent to the level ground is carried on by traverses, resembling, in some respects, those on the south side. As there are several gullies and brooks on the south side, bridges have been thrown across, over which the road is carried. These tortuosities, rendered absolutely necessary from the nature of the ground, almost quadruple the real distance, which, from base to base, does not exceed five miles. As the mountain was peculiarly fitted for the operations of Highlanders, it is evident that in attempting to cross Corriearrack, Cope, if attacked, would labour under every disadvantage; for while his men · • Cope's Trial.

could not leave the road in pursuit of their assailants, the latter could keep a running fire from numerous positions, from which it would be impossible to dislodge them. Cope was warned by the president of the dangers he would run, and his fears were not a little increased by a report that, on arriving at the bridge of Snugborough, a dangerous pass on the north side of the mountain, he was to be opposed by a body of Highlanders; and that, while this party kept him employed, he was to be attacked in his rear by another body, which was to be sent round the west end of the hill.*

Alarmed at the intelligence he had received,-distracted by a variety of reports as to the strength of the enemy, and disgusted with the apathy of those on whose support he had relied, Cope called a council of war at Dalwhinnie, on the morning of the twenty-seventh of August, to which he summoned every field officer, and the commanders of the different corps of his little army. He would have acted more judiciously had he convened a council at Dalnacardoch, when he first received intelligence of the advance of the Highlanders. At this meeting, Cope laid before his officers the orders he had received from the secretary of state to march to the north, which were too positive to be departed from without the most urgent necessity. After some deliberation, the council were unanimously of opinion, that the original design of the general of marching to Fort Augustus over Corriearrack, was, under existing circumstances, quite impracticable. Having abandoned the design of crossing Corriearrack, the council next considered what other course should be adopted. The wisest course certainly, if practicable, would have been to have marched back to Stirling, and to have guarded the passes of the Forth; but against this proposal it was urged, that the rebels, by marching down the side of Loch Rannoch, would be able to reach Stirling before the king's troops, and that, by breaking down the bridges, they would intercept them in their retreat. As it was impossible to remain at Dalwhinnie, no other course therefore remained, in the opinion of the council, but to march to Inverness. This opinion, which was reduced to writing, and signed by all the members of council, was delivered to Sir John Cope, who, acquiescing in its propriety, immediately issued an order to march. We must now advert to the proceedings of the prince and his friends.

Charles remained only one night at Glenfinnin. On the twentieth of August he marched to the head of Loch Lochie, where he encamped. At this place, a copy of the proclamation for his apprehension was brought him, which exasperated the Highlanders to such a degree that they insisted on a counter one being issued, offering a reward for the apprehension of "the Elector of Hanover." Charles remonstrated against such a step, but he was forced to yield, and accordingly put forth the following answer :†

Cope's Trial, p. 24.

The prince thus relates the circumstances attending this affair in a letter to his fa

"Charles, Prince of Wales, &c. Regent of the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging:

"Whereas we have seen a certain scandalous and malicious paper published in the style and form of a proclamation, bearing date the sixth instant, wherein, under pretence of bringing to justice, like our royal ancestor King Charles the I. of blessed memory, there is a reward of thirty thousand pounds sterling promised to those who shall deliver us into the hands of our enemies, we could not but be moved with a just indignation at so insolent an attempt. And though, from our nature and principles, we abhor and detest a practice so unusual among Christian princes, we cannot but, out of a just regard to the dignity of our person, promise the like reward of thirty thousand pounds sterling to him, or those, who shall seize and secure till our farther orders, the person of the Elector of Hanover, whether landed or attempting to land in any part of his majesty's dominions. Should any fatal accident happen from hence, let the blame be entirely at the door of those who first set the infamous example." This proclamation, which was dated from the "camp at Kinlocheill" was countersigned by Murray of Broughton, who had lately joined the prince, and had been appointed his secretary. On the twenty-third, the prince advanced to Fassefern, the seat of Lochiel's brother, where he passed the night. At Loch Lochie, he was obliged, from the unwillingness of the Highlanders to encumber themselves, to leave a considerable quantity of ammunition, pick-axes, shovels, &c. which, after his departure, were seized by the garrison of Fort William, who besides burned the houses of the people in the vicinity and carried off their cattle. While at Fassefern, intelligence was received by the prince of the march of Sir John Cope from Stirling. Having previously sent off his baggage under an escort of two hundred Camerons towards Moy, in Lochaber, Charles put his army in motion on the twenty-fourth, and arrived at Moy on the following day. On the twenty-sixth, the prince crossed the water of Lochie with his army, and proceeded to the castle of Invergary, in which he took up his quarters for the night. During the night, he received an express from ther, dated from Perth, 10th September, 1745. "There is one thing, and but one, in which I had any difference with my faithful Highlanders. It was about the price upon my kinsman's head, which, knowing your Majesty's generous humanity, I am sure, will shock you, as it did me, when I was shown the proclamation, setting a price upon my head. I smiled, and treated it with the disdain I thought it deserved; upon which they dew into a violent rage, and insisted upon my doing the same by him. As this flowed solely from the poor men's love and concern for me, I did not know how to be angry with them for it, and tried to bring them to temper by representing that it was a mean barbarous principle among princes, and must dishonour them in the eyes of all men of honour; that I did not see how my cousin's having set me the example, would justify me in imitating that which I blame so much in him. But nothing I could say would pacify them. Some went even so far as to say,- Shall we venture our lives for a man who seems so indifferent of his own?' Thus have I been drawn in to do a thing for which I condemn myself."-Jacobite Memoirs, p. 32.

• Kirkconnel MS.

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