Series 3 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (Fourth volume)
(129) Page 116
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116 ON THE EXPEDITION TO SCOTLAND
in the balance.1 Great indeed were the generals in com¬
mand of both armies: on the one hand the Duke of Cumber¬
land, and on the other the Prince of Wales, two young
princes alike in rank, age, birth, and courage, fighting, not
in a private quarrel, but for their state and to uphold the
dignity and the rights of their fathers. Great too was the
object of the battle, great the prize of victory, the kingdom
of England. The King’s men had the advantage in
numbers, the Jacobites in their confidence in their courage,
having been previously victorious. Otherwise, there was
little to choose between them. But all unequal was
fortune, which, though she controls all other human things,
sways more especially the fate of battles.
The battle began with a discharge of artillery. Amid
the awful roar, you could see the black clouds of smoke
cloven by continuous bright flashes. But owing to the
poor skill of the Jacobite gunners only a few of their shots
took effect, whereas the King’s men aimed better and
brought down a greater number of their enemies. Edward,
riding hither and thither, observed the losses. He there¬
fore halted behind his centre and bade his men draw their
swords and charge. At once the Highlanders who were
on the left charged the enemy’s right vigorously,2 as is
their custom, throwing it into confusion. Had it not been
rallied by the immediate advance of the cavalry, the re¬
sulting confusion might have decided the issue of the
battle. But the repulse of the Highlanders in this quarter
completely turned the tables. A large body of the King’s
men, making a wide sweep towards the enemy’s right, had
knocked down some of the buildings, which, as we have
said, sheltered part of the army. As the flank was thus
exposed, the squadrons swept like a torrent into the heart
of the first and second corps of their enemy. Dismayed
at this unexpected disaster, the Jacobites, seeing the
enemy in their midst and being also fiercely assailed in
1 The battle was over in half an hour.
2 The details of the action are inaccurate. It was the Mackintoshes and the
right which first advanced and charged Cumberland’s left.
in the balance.1 Great indeed were the generals in com¬
mand of both armies: on the one hand the Duke of Cumber¬
land, and on the other the Prince of Wales, two young
princes alike in rank, age, birth, and courage, fighting, not
in a private quarrel, but for their state and to uphold the
dignity and the rights of their fathers. Great too was the
object of the battle, great the prize of victory, the kingdom
of England. The King’s men had the advantage in
numbers, the Jacobites in their confidence in their courage,
having been previously victorious. Otherwise, there was
little to choose between them. But all unequal was
fortune, which, though she controls all other human things,
sways more especially the fate of battles.
The battle began with a discharge of artillery. Amid
the awful roar, you could see the black clouds of smoke
cloven by continuous bright flashes. But owing to the
poor skill of the Jacobite gunners only a few of their shots
took effect, whereas the King’s men aimed better and
brought down a greater number of their enemies. Edward,
riding hither and thither, observed the losses. He there¬
fore halted behind his centre and bade his men draw their
swords and charge. At once the Highlanders who were
on the left charged the enemy’s right vigorously,2 as is
their custom, throwing it into confusion. Had it not been
rallied by the immediate advance of the cavalry, the re¬
sulting confusion might have decided the issue of the
battle. But the repulse of the Highlanders in this quarter
completely turned the tables. A large body of the King’s
men, making a wide sweep towards the enemy’s right, had
knocked down some of the buildings, which, as we have
said, sheltered part of the army. As the flank was thus
exposed, the squadrons swept like a torrent into the heart
of the first and second corps of their enemy. Dismayed
at this unexpected disaster, the Jacobites, seeing the
enemy in their midst and being also fiercely assailed in
1 The battle was over in half an hour.
2 The details of the action are inaccurate. It was the Mackintoshes and the
right which first advanced and charged Cumberland’s left.
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| Scottish History Society volumes > Series 3 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (Fourth volume) > (129) Page 116 |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/127653453 |
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| Description | Edinburgh : Printed at the University Press by T. & A. Constable for the Scottish History Society, 1926. Contents: Commentary on the expedition to Scotland made by Charles Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales / by Guilio Cesare Cordara ; edited by Sir Bruce Seton -- The manuscript history of Craignish / by Alexander Campbell ; edited by Herbert Campbell -- Miscellaneous charters, 1165-1399, from transcripts in the collection of the late Sir William Fraser / edited by William Angus. |
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| Shelfmark | SCS.SHS.90 |
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| Description | Over 180 volumes, published by the Scottish History Society, containing original sources on Scotland's history and people. With a wide range of subjects, the books collectively cover all periods from the 12th to 20th centuries, and reflect changing trends in Scottish history. Sources are accompanied by scholarly interpretation, references and bibliographies. Volumes are usually published annually, and more digitised volumes will be added as they become available. |
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