Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

326 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
To Avork out the Highland system certainly required men of great
courage and activity, and at Killiecrankie the Highlanders gave ample
proof of both, although the late Dr Macrie, the son of Knox's biographer,
has so far suffered his covenanting prejudices to overpower his judgment
as to assert that Killiecrankie was not a battle at all, and that the High-
landers gained no military glory by their success on that field. It is
simply pitiable to think of such contortion of judgment.
It is mentioned by Mackay inhis Memoirs that a body of Highlanders,
favourable to the lievolutionary interests, having joined his standard, the
regular officers were desirous to increase their efficiency by disciplining
them after the approved modern fashion, but Mackay had the good sense
to interpose, and in the most peremptory manner, forbade any interference
with the Highlanders' arms or mode of fightmg.
Mackay further mentions that he having thought that one cause of the
defeat of his forces was the fact of the bayonet being then thrust into the
muzzle of the gun, whereby the soldier was prevented from continuing the
fusillade till the last moment of closing, invented somethmg like the pre-
sent socket handle, so as to maintain the fire as long as possible.
In describing the bayonet as a \veapon with which the soldier thrusts
as with a pike, he forgets that the pike has the advantage of deliver-
ing its thrust at so great a distance as to prevent a sword from reaching
the pikeman, whereas the long Highland broadsword can over-cut
the bayonet with the utmost facility, and subsequent engagements
proved that the new-fashioned bayonet had as little luck with the High-
landers as the old. The arm of the new-fashioned bayonet, besides, causes
it to act at a great mechanical disadvantage.
Mackay, along with several other officers of distinction, perished at
the Battle of Steenkirke, where the French Guards slung their muskets,
drew their swords, and thus advancing against the English infantry (who
apparently used their bayonets) succeeded in obtaining the only success
which, in modern times, French infantry ever obtained over English in
hand-to-hand combat.
It is said Mackay, mortally wounded, died in a ditch after lingering
for some time. It may be that the thoughts of the gallant old expiring
veteran turned to the wild hillside of Killiecrankie, when on a bright
summer night the long broad claymores of the Highland savages hashed
death and destruction among his bayoneteers, and he may possibly have
tliought that had such arms been in the hands of his stalwait Englishmen
on that day, the British forces ■\voidd not have been disgraced, and he
might not have perished.
J. M. W. S.
in order to prevent his being outflanked^ was obliged to leave an interval in his line so
large as to prevent any of the Highlanders beiug opposed to them, and they aclually re-
pulsed by their fire a body of about 00 camp followers who atteuipted to attack them.
Many different accounts of their prowess is given- Mackay, among other reasons,
attributing it to the superior nerves of Englishmen, jireferring, he says, the English
commonality in matters of courage to the Scots, but from the account he gives of their
retreat they seem to have been quite as panic struck as their neighbours. Had they
really possessed nerve, they might at least have attempted to take their opponents in
llank while rushing past them ; but, at all events, it is perfectly clear that there was no
collision with cold steel, although their conduct on this occasion has actually been quoted
iu recent times as a triumph of the bayonet,