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

250 HISTORY OP THE HtOHLANDS.
minafe them troni Charles's troops. Tliis indiscriminate massaorn con-
tinued all the way from the field of battle to a place called Mill-burn,
within a mile of Inverness. Not content with the profusion of blood-
slied in the heat of action and during the pursuit, the infuriated sol-
dierj', provoked by their disgraces at Preston and Falkirk, traversed
the field of battle, and massacred, in cold blood, the miserable wretches
who lay maimed and expiring. Even some officers, whose station in
society, apart altogether from the feelings of humanity, to which they
were utter strangers, should have made them superior to this vulgar
triumph of base and illiberal minds, joined in the work of assassination.
To extenuate the atrocities committed on the battle, and the subse-
quent slaughters, a forged regimental order bearing to be signed by
Lord George Murray, by which the Highlanders were enjoined to
refuse quarters to the royal troops, was afterwards published under the
auspices of the duke of Cumberland ; but the deception was easily seei
through. As no such order was alluded to in the official accounts of tin,
battle, and as, at the interview which took place between the earl of
Kilmarnock and Lord Balmerino on the morning of their execution,
both these noblemen slated their entire ignorance of it, no doubt what-
ever can exist of tlie forgery. The conduct of Charles an 1 his follow-
ers, who never indulged in any triumph over their vanquished foes, but
always treated them with humanity and kindness, high as it is, stands
still higher when contrasted with that of the royal troops and their
commander.*
From the characteristic bravery of the Highlanders, and their con
tempt of death, it is not improbable that some of those who perished, as
well on the field after the battle, as in the flight, did not yield their lives
without a desperate struggle ; but history has preserved one case of indi-
vidual prowess in the person of Golice INIacbane, which deserves to be
recorded in every history relating to the Highlanders. This man, who
is represented to have been of the gigantic stature of six feet four inches
and a quarter, was beset by a party of dragoons. When assailed, he
placed his back against a wall, and though covered with wounds, he de-
fended himself with his target and claymore against the onset of the
dragoons, who crowded upon him. Some officers, who observed the
unequal conflict, were so struck with the desperate bravery of Macbane,
lliat they gave orders to save him ; but the dragoons, exasperated by
his resistance, and the dreadful havoc he had made among their com-
• One of the duke's sycophiints says, that after the fatigue of the battle was over, his
royal highness retired to a place near tlie field to refresh himself; and that after sitting a
short time he rose and tooli " a serious walls to view the multitudes that lay dead on the
ground. He was followed by some of his attendants, who observed him in deep medita-
tion. He laid his hand upon his breast, and with his eyei lifled up lo heaven, was heard
to say. Lord, what «m // thai I should be spared? wjien so niatu brave men lie dead
upon the spot! — an expiession of sucll deep liuinility towards God, and compassion to-
wards his fellow-iTtatures, as is truly wortliy a Chriali.in hero ! ! !"— .tfurcAn-if, p. 3i)6.