Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

1766.] OPERATION'S IN THE HIGHLANDS, 1746. ccxvii
war, held at Bannockburn House. The brigade under Lord Cromartie marched
coastwise, with the column under Lord George Murray, while the Prince's column
took the Highland road to Inverness. In the retreat, Lord Cromartie had the
command of a brigade. Lord George Murray, on 10th February 1746, gives him
orders for the march from Aberdeen. He was to march early in the morning, with
his own brigade and Glenbucket's battalion, for Old Meldrum, where he was to
quarter all that night, and next night at Strathbogie ; and was to march in the van
himself, and his son in the rear, and be careful that the division kept close together,
and that there were no stragglers. 1 Having taken the town of Inverness,
the Prince despatched Lord Kilmarnock, with a large force, into Eoss in pur-
suit of Lord Loudoun. The Prince fixed his headquarters at Culloden House.
On Lord Cromartie reaching that place, the Prince ordered him to go and take
the command of the forces under Lord Kilmarnock. Lord Cromartie's own
clan, led by Lord Macleod, were sent on the same expedition. Lord Macleod
halted about half an hour at Culloden to pay his duty to the Prince ; and the
regiment halted an hour or two at Inverness, and then marched that night to
Beauly, where Lord Cromartie took over the command of the Earl of Kilmarnock's
troops, communicating to him the Prince's orders. Lord Kilmarnock immediately
gave up the command, and returned the same night to Inverness. Next day the
march was continued to Dingwall, and a day or two afterwards towards Tain,
against the Earl of Loudoun ; but on reaching the Bridge of Anas (now Alness)
intelligence was received that Lord Loudoun had crossed over into Sutherland
with his troops. Lord Cromartie marched that night to his residence of Tarbat
House with part of his troops, and ordered the rest to follow ; but presently
orders came from the Prince to send back part of the troops to Inverness, and to
wait with the rest at Dingwall for further orders. Lord George Mun-ay had
taken part in this movement against the Earl of Loudoun. He returned to
Inverness, and thence made his expedition into Athole, while Lord Cromartie
remained as commander-in-chief north of the river Beauly.
It having been resolved to disperse Loudoun's forces, several regiments were sent
to reinforce Lord Cromartie, and the latter received orders to march from Dingwall
to Tain. The Duke of Perth took the direction on himself, though Lord Cromartie
kept the name of commander-in-chief. Lord Cromartie and Lord Macleod went
home to Tarbat House, accompanied by some Irish and other officers. Boats
1 Letter, vol. ii. p. 191.