Sutherland and the Reay country

THE REGIMENTS.
By John Mackav (Ben Reay).
The military history of the Highlands, until a comparatively
recent date, may be summed up as consisting of a series of
clan feuds, attacks and reprisals. There were many warriors
and fighting men, but bands of disciplined and trained
soldiers, according to modern ideas, were unknown. Men
were taught how to handle the sword, the battle-axe, and the
bow, and in later times, the musket. The chief, or territorial
magnate, who had many dependents, gave orders for the men
on his estates to gather, and they obeyed: it may have been to
engage in a foray against a hostile clan, and carry off spoil, or
to make a raid on the territory of some leader against whom
the chief had a grudge, or for the more deadly purposes of
revenge. Our section of country was probably neither better
nor worse in this respect than other districts. Tradition tells
us of conflicts with the Danes and other invaders ; and later,
that Highland chiefs with their followers fought under Bruce
at Bannockburn, in the memorable battle which secured to
Scotland her independence ; and also, that during the two
succeeding centuries they frequently assisted the Scottish
kings in their wars against England.
In treating of the Regiments of Sutherland and the Reay
Country, I shall not attempt to give any account of the armed
bands which rival chiefs brought into the field, when clan
disputes had to be settled by the sword ; for although clan
fights were often contests between large numbers of armed
men, and showed a considerable display of military skill and