Broadside entitled 'Desperate Engagement'

Commentary

This satirical story begins: 'An Accouut of a Most DESPERATE BATTLE, which took place on the 13th of April, 1824, between the clans of two Chieftains, between Auchterarder and Fosswell, the Battle was for a long while doubtfull, till the two generals encountered each other'. This story was sourced from the 'Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle' on Wednesday 5th May, 1824.

This broadside relates to the feud between two landowners, one of whom wants to continue his road onto the other's land. The text, however, does not name the landowners or the area where this feud occurred. Instead the author makes fun of the landowners' endeavours - calling them generals and their staff 'an army'. Battle and strategy terminology are also used while references are made to Scotland's, then defunct, social system of clanship.

Road building in Scotland became increasingly important during the nineteenth century. This often caused problems between landowners who were not always in accordance with one another. This situation was exacerbated as many of the Jacobite attained lands were returned to their original holders during the 1820s, 30s and 40s.

previous