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230 JACOBITE
" Nae mair we'll chase the fleet, fleet roe,
O'er downie glen or mountain brow,
But rush like tempest on the foe,
WT sword an' targe this morning."
" O, Duncan, &c."
were approaching from Aberdeen, and in a Council of War, it was
resolved to march against them, and endeavour to take them by sur-
prise during the night. From various causes, however, the columns
of the Highlanders were retarded on the way, so as to prevent their
arrival at the Duke's camp before sunrise, and they were reluctantly
obliged to measure back their steps. On their return to the position
which they had previously occupied, great numbers of the men
dispersed in quest of provisions, and many overcome with vreariness
and sleep, threw themselves down on the heath, and along the park
walls of Culloden. The repose of the poor fellows was soon interrupted,
and not in the most agreeable manner. Intelligence reached the Prince
that the enemy was in full march to attack him, and he instantly re-
solved to hazard an engagement. The army was accordingly or-
dered to be formed for that purpose. The condition of the troops
at this crisis is thus described by the Chevalier Johnstone.— " Ex-
hausted with hunger, and worn out with the excessive fatigues
of the three last nights, as soon as we reached Culloden I turned off
as fast as I could to Inverness, where, eager to recruit my strength by
a little sleep, I tore off my clothes half asleep all the while; but
when I had already one leg in bed, and was on the point of stretch-
ing myself between the sheets, what was my surprise to hear the
drum beat to arms, and the trumpets of the piquet of Fitzjames,
sounding the call to boot and saddle, which struck me like a clap of
thunder. I hurried on my clothes, my eyes half shut, and mounting
a horse, I instantly repaired to our army, on the eminence on which
we had remained for three days, and from which we saw the English
at the distance of about two miles from us. They appeared at first
disposed to encamp in the position where they then were, many of
their tents being already erected ; but all at once their tents disap-
peared, and we immediately perceived them in movement towards
us. The view of our army making preparations for battle, probably
induced the Duke of Cumberland to change his plan ; and, indeed, he
must have been blind in the extreme, to have delayed attacking us
instantly, in the deplorable situation in which we were, worn out
with hunger and fatigue ; especially when he perceived, from our
manoeuvre, that we were impatient to give battle, under every possi-
ble disadvantage, and well disposed to facilitate our own destruction.
The Duke, we were told, remained ignorant, till it was day, of the
danger to which he had been exposed during the night ; and, as
soon as he knew it, he broke up his camp, and followed us closely."
The Highland army, wearied and exhausted as it was, accordingly
awaited the attack, drawn up in order of battle to the number of
1000 men in thirteen divisions, supplied with some pieces of artillery.