Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 3

24B HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS.
the fire of Wolfe's regiment, ami by Cobham's and Kerr's dragoons
who had formed en potcnce on their right flank, tiie right wing also gave
up tiie contest, and turning about, cut tlioir way back, sword in hand,
tiirough those wlio liad advanced and formed on the ground tliey had
passed over in cliarging to their front.
In consequence of the unwillingness of the left to advance first as di-
rected, Lord George Murray had sent the order to attack from right to
left; but, hurried by the impetuosity of the Mackintoshes, the riglit and
centre did not wait till the order, which required some minutes in the
delivery, had been communicated along the line. Thus the right and
centre had the start considerably, and quickening their pace as they
went along, had closed with tlie front line of the English army before
the left had got half way over the ground that separated the two armies.
The difference between the riglit and centre and tlie left was rendered
still more considerable from the circumstance, as noted by an eye-wit-
ness,* that the two armies were not exactly parallel to one another, the
right of the prince's army being nearer the duke's army than the left.
Nothing could be more unfortunate for the prince than this isolated at-
tack, as it was only by a general shock of the whole of the English line
tliat he had any chance of a victor^'.
The clan regiments on the left of the line, apjirehensive that they
would be flanked by Pulteney's regiment and the horse which had been
brought up from the corps de reserve, did not advance sword in hand.
After receiving tlie fire of the regiments opposite to them, they answered
it by a general discharge, and drew their swords for the attack ; but
observing that the riglit and centre had given way, they turned their
backs and fled without striking a blow. Stung to the quick by the
misconduct of the Macdonalds, the brave Keppoch seeing himself
abandoned by his clan, advanced with his drawn sword in one hand,
and his pistol in the other ; but he had not proceeded far, when he was
brought down to the ground by a musket-shot. He was followed by
Donald Roy Macdonald, Ibrmerly a lieutenant in iiis own regiment, and
now a captain in Clanranald's regiment, who, on his falling, entreated
him not to throw away his life, assuring him that his wound was not
mortal, and that he might easily join his regiment in the retreat ; but
Keppoch refused to listen to the solicitations of his clansman, and, after
recommending him to take care of himself, the wounded chief received
another shot, and fell to rise no more.-(-
Fortunately for the Highlanders the English army did not follow \i\>
the advantages it had gained by an immediate pursuit. Kingston's
horse at first followed the Macdonalds, some of whom were almost
• Maxwell of Kirkcoiinel.
t III Kiiiiiig from Hie fielcl. Captain Roy IMacclonald received a musket-builet, wliich
passed ill at Hie sole of Ihe left foot and came out at the buckle. AVitli difficulty lie readi-
ed Bun Chraobg, two miles beyond Inverness, where he procured a lioi-se and set off for
tile isle of Skye, but his foot bad snellcd so much that be <ould not put it in the slir-
ru|>. — Jacobtle Memoirs, u. 4'i^.