Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

lx INTRODUCTION
Gordon of Park, while his three daughters were married
to prominent Jacobites.1
Nor on the Jacobite side were there any noted person¬
ages. The two most prominent Jacobite leaders were
Gordon of Glenbucket, a tenant farmer, and Lord
Pitsligo. Though of small estate, Lord Pitsligo was
universally respected for his high character and his per¬
sonal piety. He knew his own mind and never faltered.
He had been out in the ’Fifteen, and was sixty-seven years
of age. In a letter to a friend, he confesses that what
really troubled him was the fear of ridicule that a man
of his age should take part in the adventure; but he
thought, and weighed, and weighed again. His enthusiasm
was of the coldest kind, but duty called him and he obeyed.
His example influenced many Aberdeen and Banffshire
lairds, and he gathered a considerable contingent of horse
and foot. It is related that when he was ready to start
to join the Prince, and had put himself at the head of his
troop, he turned his face upwards and prayed aloud, ‘ O
Lord, Thou knowest that our cause is just,’ and then
quietly gave the order to march.2
To understand these Memoirs fully, it is necessary to
place them in their historical setting, and to give a brief
outline of the military operations during the campaign.
On August 31st the corporation of Aberdeen, thoroughly
alarmed at the news of the advance of Prince Charles,
determined to put the city into a position of defence.
Lists were made of all available citizens, who were em¬
bodied into a force of twelve companies of infantry and
a detachment of artillery, while arms and ammunition
were collected for their equipment. Sir John Cope, who
had left Inverness on September 4th, reached Aberdeen
on the 11th. Finding guns placed to defend the harbour
and citizens fully armed, he commandeered both cannon
1 Cumin of Kininmont, Gordon of Cobairdie, and Erskine of Pittodrie.
2 See Blackwood’s Magazine for May 1829.