A History of the Scottish Highlands

UViaryAnn & tiriecke (Decorati]/ecArt QoCleEtioru STIRLING AND FRAN CINE CLARJC ART INSTITUTE LIBRART 70H1I EE.SEIHE, EAEL OF MJLRR. :. ,v Edinburgh. GRANT. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library http://archive.org/details/historyofscottis002kelt ! mm i IB I i ;!! i !! ill lljii !! - n h amn III! III! 1 11 111 iiil j.j j III! iiiii i iiiii ROBERTSON. WILLIAM DITKK 0? CUMBERLAJTD :; '' A.t -u.il art m .v C° Londnn - - MENZIES, MOVEMENTS OF MONTEOSE AND BAILLIE. 209 as to prevent him from again taking the field. Montrose had advanced as far as Loch Kat- He therefore left Perth during the night of the rine, when a messenger brought him intelli- 7th of April, with his whole army, consisting gence that General Hurry was hi the Enzie of 2,000 foot and 500 horse, with the inten- with a considerable force, that he had been tion of falling upon Montrose by break of day, joined by some of the Moray-men, and, after before he should be aware of his presence ; but plundering and laying waste the country, was Montrose's experience had taught him the ne- preparing to attack Lord Gordon, who had not cessity of being always upon his guard when a sufficient force to oppose him. On receiving so near an enemy's camp, and, accordingly, he this information, Montrose resolved to proceed had drawn up his army, in anticipation of immediately to the north to save the Gordons Baillie's advance, in such order as would en- from the destruction which appeared to hang able hini either to give battle or retreat. over them, hoping that, with such accessions of As soon as he heard of Baillie's approach, force as he might olbtain in his march, united Montrose advanced with his horse to recon- with that under Lord Gordon, he would suc- noitre, and having ascertained the enemy's ceed in defeating Hurry before Baillie should strength and numbers, which were too formi- be aware of his movements. dable to be encountered with his little band, He, therefore, returned through Balquidder, brave as they were, he gave immediate orders marched, with rapid strides, along the side of to his foot to retreat with speed up Strathearn, Loch Tay, through Athole and Angus, and, and to retire into the adjoining passes. To crossing the Grampian hills, proceeded down prevent them from being harassed in their re- the Strath of Glenmuck. In his march, Mon- treat by the enemy's cavalry, Montrose covered trose was joined by the Athole-men and the their rear with his small body of horse, sus- other Highlanders who had obtained, or rather taining a very severe attack, which he warmly taken leave of absence after the battle of Inver- repulsed. After a march of about eight miles, lochy, and also by Macdonald and his party. Montrose's troops arrived at the pass of Strath- On arriving in the neighbourhood of Auchin- earn, of which they took immediate possession, doun, he was met by Lord Gordon, at the head and Baillie, thinking it useless to follow them of 1,000 foot and 200 horse. Montrose crossed into their retreat, discontinued the pursuit, and the Dee on the 1st of May, at the mill of retired with his army towards Perth. Mon- Crathie—having provided himself with ammu- trose passed the night on the banks of Loch nition from a ship in Aberdeen harbour—con- Earn, and marched next morning through Bal- tinued his march towards the Spey, and before quidder, where he was joined, at the ford of Hurry was even aware that the enemy had Cardross, by the Viscount Aboyne, the Master crossed the Grampians, he found them within nf Napier, Hay of Dalgetty, and Stirling of six miles of his camp. The sudden appear- Keir, who, along with the Earl of Nithsdale, ance of Montrose with such a superior force Lord Hemes, and others, had escaped from —for Hurry had only at this time about 1,000 Carlisle, as before stated. foot and 200 horse — greatly alarmed him, No sooner had Baillie returned from the and raising his camp, he crossed the Spey in pursuit of Montrose than intelligence was great haste, with the intention of marching brought him that Macdonald, with the 200 to Inverness, where he would be joined by the men which Montrose had left with him, had troops of the garrison, and receive large rein- burnt the town of Coupar-Angus,—that he had forcements from the neighbouring counties. wasted the lands of Lord Balmerino,—killed Montrose immediately pursued him, and fol- Patrick Lindsay, the minister of Coupar,—and lowed close upon his heels to the distance of finally, after routing some troopers of Lord 14 miles beyond Eorres, when, favoured by the Balcarras, and carrying off their horses and darkness of the night, Hurry effected his escape, arms, had fled to the hills. This occurrence, with little loss, and arrived at Inverness. withdrawing the attention of Baillie from Mon- The panic into which Hurry had been thrown trose's future movements, enabled the latter to soon gave way to a very different feeling, as he proceed to the north without opposition. found the Earls of Seaforth and Sutherland 210 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS. with, their retainers, and the clan Eraser, and trose commanded this wing, he gave the royal others from Moray and Caithness, all assem- standard to Macdonald, intending, when they bled at Inverness, as he had directed. This should get entangled among the bushes and accession of force increased his army to 3,500 dikes, with which the ground to the right was foot and 400 horse. He therefore resolved to covered, to attack them himself with his left act on the offensive, hy giving "battle to Mon- wing; and to. enable him to do so the more trose immediately. effectually, he placed the whole of his horse Montrose had taken up a position at the vil- and the remainder of the foot on the left wing lage of Auldearn, about three miles south-east to the south of the village. The former he from Nairn, on the morning after the pursuit. committed to the charge of Lord Gordon, re- In the course of the day, Hurry advanced with, serving the command of the latter to himself. all his forces, including the garrison of Inver- After placing a few chosen foot with some can- ness, towards Nairn ; and, on ajsproaching non in front of the village, under cover of some Auldearn, formed his army in order of battle. dikes, Montrose firmly awaited the attack of Montrose's force, which had been greatly -weak- the enemy. ened by the return of the Athole-men and Hurry divided his foot and liis horse each into other Highlanders to defend their country from two divisions. On the right wing of the main the depredations of Baillie's army, now con- body of the foot, which was commanded by sisted of only 1,500 foot and 250 horse. It Campbell of Lawers, Hurry placed the regular was not, therefore, without great reluctance, cavalry which he had brought from the south, that he resolved to risk a battle with an enemy and on the left the horse of Moray and the more than double in point of numbers, and north, under the charge of Captain Drummond. composed in great part of veteran troops ; but, The other division of foot was placed behind pressed as he was by Hurry, and in danger of as a reserve, and commanded by Hurry himself. being attacked in his rear by Baillie, who was When Hurry observed the singular position advancing by forced marches to the north, he which Montrose had taken up, he was utterly had no alternative but to hazard a general en- at a loss to guess his designs, and though it gagement. He therefore instantly looked about appeared to him, skilful as he was in the art of him for an advantageous position. war, a most extraordinary and novel sight, yet, The village of Auldearn stands upon a height, from the well known character of Montrose, behind which, or on the east, is a valley, over- he was satisfied that Montrose's arrangements looked by a ridge of little eminences, running were the result of a deep laid scheme. But in a northerly direction, and which almost con- what especially excited the surprise of Hurry, ceals the valley from view. In this hollow was the appearance of the large yellow banner Montrose arranged his forces in order of battle. or royal standard in the midst of a small body Having formed them into two divisions, he of foot stationed among hedges and dikes posted the right wing on the north of the and stones, almost isolated from the horse village, at a place where there was a consider- and the main body of the foot. To attack able number of dikes and ditches. This body, this party, at the head of which he natu- which consisted of 400 men, chiefly Irish, was rally supposed Montrose was, was his first placed under the command of Macdonald. On object. This was precisely what Montrose taking their stations, Montrose gave them strict had wished ; his snare proved successful. injunctions not to leave their position on any With the design of overwhelming at once account, as they were effectually protected by the right whig, Hurry despatched towards the walls around them, not only from the at- it the best of his horse and all his vet- tacks of cavalry, but of foot, and could, with- eran troops, who made a furious attack out much danger to themselves, keep up a upon Macdonald's party, the latter defending galling and destructive fire upon their assailants.

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