Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

DURING THE REBELLION
295
M‘Leod by express, vid. his Letter with M‘Leods answer—
(App. No. 38, 39).*
Mr. Grant therefore Immediately returned to Strath¬
spey but that as he apprehended that when M‘Leod was
gone forward some small partys of the Rebells (whereof
he had heard of severalls that could be formed in one
Days time) might give Disturbance to the Country, he
ventured even without orders to leave a party of 60 men
at his house in Mulbain within Two miles of Fochabers,
of which however he acquainted Lord Loudoun after his
return to Castle Grant by a Letter, December 24th (App.
No. 40),f wherein he renewed his offer of Employing his
whole Clan, wherever Lord Loudoun should think they
could be of any service to the Government, and that small
party happened afterwards to be of good use after the
Unlucky Disaster that happened to M‘Leods party at
Inverury by securing the boats upon Spey to make good
their Retreat. December 25th Mr. Grant received a letter
from Sir Harrie Innes dated 24th December (App. No. 41),J
with an Account of the Disaster at Inverury,1 and that
M‘Leod was come to Elgin and by his orders Desiring
* App. 38. G. of G., ii. 201. (From Huntly.) Grant writes he
has a letter from Loudoun intimating he should not have marched
further than Keith, and he will return there next day. Culcairn and
Mackintosh want to join Macleod at Inverurie to-morrow night.
An enclosure contains the following lines, which naturally were not
sent up to Government, and are not in the Record Office. They are
taken from The Chiefs of Grant:—
‘ Lord Loudoun will not act as Cope,
Whose ribbon now is call’d a rope;
If Grant is armed to join M‘Leod
The enemy is soon subdued,’
* App. 39. C. of G., ii. 200. (From Banff.) Macleod very sorry
that Grant is not to join him at Inverurie, but he knows best what
Loudoun has directed.
f App. 40. C. of G., ii. 202. (From Castle Grant.)
t App. 41. C. ofG., ii. 205. (From Elgin.)
1 For a detailed account of the action at Inverurie on 23rd December, see
ante, p. 140 et stq.