Series 3 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (Fourth volume)

MADE BY CHARLES EDWARD STUART 111
either on the high seas or round the coast of Scotland.
Among those captured were two large ships 1 which were
awaited with the keenest anxiety, because they were said
to have on board a considerable sum of money. Besides
the money they contained sixteen large bronze cannon, a
great number of saddles and bridles, and five hundred
picked men from Fitzjames’ Irish regiment. With them
was General Fitzjames 2 himself with a number of officers
of lesser rank belonging to the first families in Ireland,
who were in the pay of France. The loss of these ships
at a time when the need was so great was a severe blow to
Edward and all his men, many of whom began to weary
of a long and arduous service, with no immediate pay or
prospects of victory to cheer them. Complaints began to
be heard in camp and grumbles at being cheated of all
reward of their hardships.3 Not a few, weary of their
sufferings and misery or anxious about their fate, deserted
to Cumberland’s camp. Though much distressed, as was
only natural, Edward kept up an appearance of hope and
endeavoured to sustain the spirits of his men by promising
them the reward, such as it was, of glory.
He was careful to keep them from all knowledge of his
own troubles and difficulties, since confidence in one’s own
strength is of the utmost value in war. Meanwhile, in order
to foster this feeling and at the same time not to let his
men become demoralised from idleness, he was the first
to leave his winter quarters at the beginning of April.
Advancing with part of his troops he prepared to besiege
1 One of these was the Prime Charles—formerly the Hazard—which was
taken by an English ship in Tongue Bay on 25th March. She had arms and
ammunition on board and £12,000 in specie.
Or perhaps the reference is to the two French transports forming part of the
convoy which brought over Berwick’s regiment and some of Fitzjames’ Horse.
2 Fitzjames was captured by a cruiser, along with two ships.
3 The supply arrangements now, and up to the date of Culloden, were grossly
mismanaged by Hay of Restalrig. After the battle, in his letter to the Prince,
Lord George Murray says that Hay had ‘ neglected his duty to such a degree
that our ruin might probably have been prevented had he done his duty,’ and
that he and O’Sullivan had disgusted the army ‘ to such a degree that they had
bred a mutiny in all ranks.’ (Browne, iii. p. 261.)