Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC MAGAZI^sE.
having his skull cloven — the inferiority in form and temper of the English
swords, and the want of targets, rendered them of comparatively little
effect. Those who clubbed their muskets did the most mischief, many of
the Highlanders being brought to the ground by the fearful blows inliicted
by the stalwart arms of the Englishmen, but these blows were chiefly
deadened by the skilful use of the target ; and, as a proof of the extreme
judgment which prompted the ancients to reject such weapons, it was
particularly observed that few Englishmen who delivered full sweeping
blows with their muskets, whether successful or not, ever had an oppor-
tunity of repeating them. Before they could recover their weapons, they
were almost certain to be rushed in vipon and despatched by the more
manageable sword, or dirk, of a Highlander, wliich, considering their great
inferiority in number, is not a little remarkable.
Almost aU the Highlanders were more or less bruised or wt)unded,
although none fatally. One Highlander was, however, killed by a shot
from the soldier who reached the boat.
It seems questionable if even the eloquence of ]\Iacaulay could have
convinced the Highlanders who there fought, either that their opponents
were cowards, or that the arms with which tliey fought were matches for
their claymores and targets.
It may be said that the bayonet is not supposed to have been em-
ployed at so early a date, but they were certainly invented previously, and
would probably be first tried in a country like the Higldands, which was
unsuitable for the pike. Pennant, Avho published his tour through Scot-
land more than a century ago, gives a full account of the action, and
expressly mentions the use of the bayonet, and his accuracy has never yet
been questioned. Sir Ewcn gained several other very decided advantages
over the English forces, with the details of which it is, liowever, un-
necessary to detain the reader, only it was remarked that the morale of
the English was considerably affected by the carnage at Acliadelew, as
the resistance of the common soldiers Avas afterwards by no means so
obstinate. Sir Ewen finally concluded an honourable pacihctition with
General Monk, with whom he cordially fraternized, apparently greatly
preferring Cromwell's government to that of his Lo-\vdand Presbyterian
neighbours. Erom the period of Sir Ewen's pacification, down to a few
months previous to the Ilevolution, the Highlanders were never engaged
in actual warfare, and no feuds between the chieftains were determined by
the sword, although several times bodies of men were on the point of
engaging. But the last clan battle was fought between the Mackintosh
and Macdonald of Keppoch, in the reign of King James VII. — the cause
of dispute being the ownership of a tract of land which Mackintosh
claimed in virtue of a royal charter, and Keppoch, in consequence of
immemorial possession by his clan. Mackintosh's charter, lioAvever,
bestowing on him the legal right, he was supported by a small body of
regular forces, under Captain Mackenzie of Suddie. By what appears the
most authentic accounts, the Macdonalds considerably out-numbered their
opponents, but tlie appearance of regular forces ought to have more than
counter-balanced this advantage, and what is almost unique in Higldaud
tactics, the jMacdonalds indulged their adversaries with an interchange of