Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 4, 1896

TJEte CELTIC MONTHLY.
15S
had been sent over by James from Ireland to
take the conmiand of the Highland forces after
the mortifying repiiJse at JJimkeld, mustered
about I'iOO men and marched down Strathspey.
With a singular want of tact and judgment lie
encamped upon the Haughs of Croradale, a
spot open to attack. Sir Thomas Livingstone
with several troojjs of the " Greys " was lying
eight miles down the Speyside. He received
notice of Buahan's march, and determined to
attack him. Collecting all the infantry he
could gather together, and taking four troops
of his cavah-y, he marched for the Haughs of
Cromdale, which he reached in the early dawn
of the 1st of May. Crossing the river he
instantly dashed forward amongst the sleeping
Highlanders, who had been partially aroused
by the sentinels.
A most singular scene was now witnessed,
some were seen half-naked running away, others
quite panic struck and with only their shirts on,
disposed only to escape, while a great number
shouting then- " war cry;" fought sturdily with
claj-more and targe as they retired, without
any clothing, so complete was the surprise.
Livingstone's horse mingled fiercely with
them and did terrible execution with their long-
straight swords, for there was now bitter animos-
ity between the adherents of the old and new
Governments. In one little hamlet a party of
Macdonalds defended themselves with the
gi-eatest resolution, though not a man among
them had the least particle of clothing on his
body.
The very commanders were taken by surprise
as much as the men. Buchan escaped in his
shirt and night cap, without his wig, hat, coat
or sword. Cannon ran away with nothing on
him but his shirt. It was a complete stampede.
From these sad pictures of civil broils and
futile attempts of carrying on warlike opera-
ions, we turn with pleasure to the more
honourable and stirring scenes of war waged
by Britaui and its alhes against the aggressive
ambition of Louis XIV. Early in 1694 the
Scots Greys and other cavalry regiments
embarked for Flanders, and joined King
William's army in Brabant. Soon after they
arrived they were twice engaged in skii'mishes
with the French horse, and each time routed
them.
In 1695 King William undertook the siege
of Namur, a fortress deemed the strongest in
Europe. It was defended by ditches and
ravelines, and its citadel, or castle, situated on
a high and craggy rock had then the reputation
of being impregnable, and its bastions and
batteries towered in their strength above the
gaunt blue coloured streets of the city below.
Steep on all sides the rock is yet fortified to
perfection, and has a deep well with two
springs of very good water. From a military
point of view it is of very great importance.
To Cohoru's batteries, Louis, when it came
into his hands a few years before, added aU
the latest masterpieces of Vauban, and over
one of its gates he placed a vaunting inscription
challenging the alhes to wrest it from the
grasj) of France.
(To he Clint anied).
CLUNY AND LADY CUUNY OF THE
'45, AFTER CULLODEN.
Bt Alexander Macpuerson, Kingussie.
VIL
"Cha bu duine giirach e,
A chuireadh bbsd a threubhantas ;
Mu 'nadur gu dearbh b' eblach mi,
Bha cuid de m' sheorsa dh' eireadh leis :
Ma 'a buidlieann ghasd an comhraig sibh
Bidh na Nam an conihniudh beusach dhuibh,
'S ma 's bratach thais an comhstri sibh,
Cha chluinnear bebil a' se'is iimaibh. "
,^5?.N accordance with the desire esjiressed by
MK -'^'""^"^ CharUe that the Chief — outlawed
■===.' though he was — should remain m the
Highlands, to guard, as far as possible, the
interests of the Royal exiles, Cluny prolonged
his perilous stay in Badenoch for a period of
nine years after Culloden, thereby subjecting
himself not only to the risk of capture and
death on the scatfold, but to the most terrible
hardships and privations. During that long
jieriod his haunts were numerous. There
were natural eaves in Ben Alder, Meall-a-
Chuaich, and other high mountains which he
frequented in simimer In the cold seasons he
had artificial caves at Ralia, Biaindmore,
Nessiutully, and Strathmashie. At Raha his
cave was dug under the floor of the house of
his kinsman, Macpherson of Ralia, but as that
house was liable to more than ordinary
suspicion, Cluny never remained there very
long. At Biallidmore the cave was made
under the floor of a sheep-cot belonging to
Donald Macpherson, a particular confidant,
and there Cluny frequently took refuge, having
every reliance on the fidelity and prudence
of Macpherson and his brothers. While at
Bialhdmore he could, besides, enjoy ahnost
daily the society of his clansmen, "Banchor"