[TG43-1, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 1] (43-1)It was about the middle of December that (43-1)Argyle was residing at his castle of Inverary, in the (43-1)most perfect confidence that the enemy could not (43-1)approach him; for he used to say, he would not (43-1)for a hundred thousand crowns that any one knew (43-1)the passes from the eastward into the country of (43-1)the Campbells. While the powerful Marquis (43-1)was enjoying the fancied security of his feudal (43-1)dominions, he was astounded with the intelligence (43-1)that Montrose, with an army of Highlanders, (43-1)wading through drifts of snow, scaling precipices, (43-1)and traversing the mountain-paths, know to none [TG43-2, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 2] (43-2)save the solitary shepherd or huntsman, had forced (43-2)an entry into Argyleshire, which he was laying (43-2)waste with all the vindictive severity of deadly (43-2)feud. There was neither time nor presence of (43-2)mind for defence. The able-bodied men were (43-2)slaughtered, the cattle driven off, the houses burnt; (43-2)and the invaders had divided themselves into three (43-2)bands, to make the devastation more complete. (43-2)Alarmed by this fierce and unexpected invasion, (43-2)Argyle embarked on board a fishing-boat, and left (43-2)his friends and followers to their fate. Montrose (43-2)continued the work of revenge for nearly a month, (43-2)and then concluding he had destroyed the influence (43-2)which Argyle, by the extent of his power, and the (43-2)supposed strength of his country, had possessed (43-2)over the minds of the Highlanders, he withdrew (43-2)towards Inverness, with the purpose of organizing (43-2)a general gathering of the clans. But he had (43-2)scarce made this movement, when he learned that (43-2)his rival, Argyle, had returned into the Western (43-2)Highlands with some Lowland forces; that he (43-2)had called around him his numerous clan, burning (43-2)to revenge the wrongs which they had sustained, (43-2)and was lying with a strong force near the old (43-2)castle of Inverlochy, situated at the western (43-2)extremity of the chain of lakes through which the (43-2)Caledonian Canal is now conducted. (43-2) The news at once altered Montrose's plans. (43-2)He returned upon Argyle by a succession of the (43-2)most difficult mountain-passes covered with snow; [TG43-3, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 3] (43-3)and the vanguard of the Campbells saw themselves (43-3)suddenly engaged with that of their implacable (43-3)enemy. Both parties lay all night on (43-3)their arms; by, by break of day, Argyle (43-3)betook himself to his galley, and rowing (43-3)off shore, remained a spectator of the combat, (43-3)when, by all the rules of duty and gratitude, he (43-3)ought to have been at the head of his devoted (43-3)followers.(2nd Feb. 1645) His unfortunate clansmen supported the (43-3)honour of the name with the greatest courage, and (43-3)many of the most distinguished fell on the field of (43-3)battle. Montrose gained a complete victory, which (43-3)greatly extended his influence over the Highlands, (43-3)and in proportion diminished that of his discomfited (43-3)rival. (43-3) Having collected what force he could, Montrose (43-3)now marched triumphantly to the north-east; and (43-3)in the present successful posture of his affairs, at (43-3)length engaged the Gordons to join him with a (43-3)good body of cavalry, commanded by their young (43-3)chief, Lord Gordon. The Convention of Estates (43-3)were now most seriously alarmed. While (43-3)Montrose had roamed through the Highlands, retreating (43-3)before a superior enemy, and every moment (43-3)apparently on the point of being overwhelmed, his (43-3)progress was regarded as a distant danger. But he (43-3)was now threatening the low country, and the (43-3)ruling party were not so confident of their strength (43-3)there as to set so bold an adventurer at defiance. (43-3)They called from the army in England General (43-3)Baillie, an officer of skill and character, and Sir (43-3)John Urry, or, as the English called him, Hurry, [TG43-4, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 4] (43-4)a brave and good partisan, but a mere soldier of (43-4)fortune, who had changed sides more than once (43-4)during the civil war. (43-4) These generals commanded a body of veteran (43-4)troops, with which they manoeuvred to exclude (43-4)Montrose from the southern districts, and prevent (43-4)his crossing the Tay, or Forth. At the same time, (43-4)the mandate of the Marquis of Huntly, or the (43-4)intrigues of Lord Lewis Gordon, again recalled (43-4)most of the Gordons from Montrose's standard, (43-4)and his cavalry was reduced to one hundred and (43-4)fifty. He was compelled once more to retire to (43-4)the mountains, but desirous to dignify his retreat (43-4)by some distinguished action, he resolved to punish (43-4)the town of Dundee for their steady adherence to (43-4)the cause of the Covenant. Accordingly, suddenly (43-4)appearing before it was a chosen body (43-4)selected for the service, he stormed the (43-4)place on three points at once.(4th April) The Highlanders (43-4)and Irish, with incredible fury, broke open the (43-4)gates, and forced an entrance. They were dispersing (43-4)in quest of liquor and plunder, when at the (43-4)very moment that Montrose threatened to set the (43-4)town on fire, he received intelligence that Baillie (43-4)and Urry, with four thousand men, were within a (43-4)mile of the place. The crisis required all the activity [TG43-5, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 5] (43-5)of Montrose; and probably no other authority (43-5)than his would have been able to withdraw the (43-5)men from their revelling and plundering, to get (43-5)his army into order, and to effect a retreat to the (43-5)mountains, which he safely accomplished in the (43-5)face of his numerous enemies, and with a degree (43-5)of skill which established his military character as (43-5)firmly as any of his victories. (43-5) Montrose was well seconded in this difficulty, by (43-5)the hardihood and resolution of his men, who are (43-5)said to have marched about sixty miles, and to (43-5)have passed three days and two nights in manoeuvring (43-5)and fighting, without either food or refreshment. (43-5)In this manner that leader repeatedly (43-5)baffled the numerous forces and able generals who (43-5)were employed against him. The great check upon (43-5)his enterprise was the restlessness of the (43-5)Highlanders, and the caprice of the gentlemen who (43-5)formed his cavalry, who all went and came at their (43-5)own pleasure. (43-5) I have told you that the Gordons had been (43-5)withdrawn from Montrose's standard, contrary to their (43-5)own inclinations, by the command of Huntly, or [TG43-6, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 6] (43-6)the address of Lord Lewis Gordon. By employing (43-6)his followers in enterprises in which the plunder (43-6)was certain and the danger small, this young (43-6)nobleman collected under his standard all those (43-6)who were reluctant to share the toilsome marches, (43-6)military hardships, and bloody fights to which they (43-6)were led under that of Montrose. Hence a rhyme, (43-6)not yet forgotten in Aberdeenshire, (43-6) "If you with Lord Lewis go, (43-6) You'll get reif and prey enough; (43-6) If you with Montrose go, (43-6) You'll get grief and wae enough." (43-6) But the Lord Gordon, Lewis's elder brother, (43-6)continuing attached in the warmest manner to (43-6)Montrose, was despatched by him to bring back (43-6)the gentlemen of his warlike family, and his (43-6)influence soon assembled considerable forces. General (43-6)Baillie, learning this, detached Urry, his (43-6)colleague, with a force which he thought sufficient to (43-6)destroy Lord Gordon, while he himself proposed (43-6)to engage the attention of Montrose till that point (43-6)was gained. (43-6) But Montrose, penetrating the intention of the (43-6)Covenanting generals, eluded Baillie's attempts to (43-6)bring him to action, and traversed the mountains (43-6)of the North like a whirlwind, to support Lord (43-6)Gordon, and crush Urry. He accomplished his (43-6)first object; the second appeared more difficult. (43-6)Urry had been joined by the Covenanters of the (43-6)shire of Moray, with the Earls of Seaforth, Sutherland, (43-6)and others who maintained the same cause, (43-6)and had thus collected an army more numerous [TG43-7, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 43, p. 7] (43-7)than that of Montrose, even when united to Lord (43-7)Gordon.