Clan Gillean

Sir Lachlan. 185
country. It is probable that John Lorn, the poet,
arrived from Keppoch about the same time, and
that there were thus two messengers. Montrose
resolved to attack Argyll at once. He led his
army along the river Tarf, over Lairc Thuirard,
through Glenroy, over the mountains into Glen-
nevis, where he arrived on the evening of Saturday,
the 1st day of February. Argyll left his army as
soon as Montrose arrived, and sought safety on his
galley. He appointed Sir Duncan Campbell of
Auchinbreck to the chief command. At dawn on
Sunday morning both parties began to prepare for
battle. Sir Duncan Campbell placed a regiment
of Lowland infantry with two field-pieces on the
right ; the Campbells in the centre ; and a Low-
land regiment with two field-pieces on the left.
He planted about forty or fifty musketeers in
Inverlochy Castle. His reserve occupied a rising
ground, and had a field-piece. Montrose also drew
up his men in four divisions. The left wing con-
sisted of a regiment of Antrim men under Colonel
Magnus O' Cahan or O' Kean ; the centre was
composed of the Macdonalds of Glengarry, the
Macleans, the Clanranald, the Macdonalds of Glen-
coe, the Macdonalds of Keppoch, the Camerons, the
Stewarts of Appin, and the Robertsons, Stewarts
and other Atholl men ; the right wing consisted of
an Antrim regiment under Alister Mac Coll. An
Antrim regiment under Colonel Sir James Mac-
donald formed the reserve. The Antrim men were
all musketeers. The battle was begun shortly after
24