LONDON
Extract of a Letter
from Edinburg, dated April 22.
On Saturday Last the
Jacobites spread abroad the News of our Army's being defeated, and the
Duke taken Prisoner; but Sunday Morning chang'd their Notes and baulk'd
their Wishes: For about 3 O'Clock the Castle and Ships in the Road fired,
upon Information of the Duke's having entirely defeated the Rebels.
Early on Wednesday Morning, Mr. Sullivan advised that they should fall
upon the Duke, as his Army would be overwhelmed with Sleep and Wine the
Day before, being his Royal Highness' Birth Day. But the Rebels were not
a little surprized to find the Duke had Intelligence of their March, and
was ready to receive them. They at first retreated, but feeling the Want
of the Duke's Cannon they returned, and made their Attack in their ordinary
Way by Columns, in some Places 10 or 12 men deep. The Duke's Disposition
was extremely fit to receive them, for he had his Horse on their Flanks,
and Bodies of Infantry behind the Line, ready to oppose any Wedge of the
Enemy. And the Soldiers, by keeping up their Fire, soon ended the Affair,
whole Ranks of the Highlanders falling at once.
The Chevalier fled by the Way of Fort Augustus; He was not within Cannon
shot of the Field of Battle. At the Beginning of our glorious Duke came
up to Cobham's Dragoons, and clapping them on the Shoulders, call'd out,
One Brush, My Lads, for the Honour of old Cobham; upon which, rather like
Devils than Men, they broke thro' the Enemy's Rank, and a total Rout followed.
The Dragoons and light Horse pursued, calling out, Cut hard; pay 'em home,
&c. Mr. Rose, Minister of Nairn, having been instrumental in some Prisoners
making their Escape, was seiz'd by the Rebels, and tied to the Cross,
where they most inhumanely gave him 500 Lashes:
The Duke, as he pass'd his House, said, He felt every loss the poor Gentleman
had receiv'd, and would revenge it. Our Men have really been pretty severe,
and gave little Quarter, being exasperated with the Treatment our Prisoners
met with, they being found in the dark Dungeons at Inverness, almost naked
and eat up with Vermine. We had a Fast Day here on the day of the Battle,
when the Clergy did their Duty, and perhaps their Prayers were not useless.
WHITEHALL. April
29. This Day arrived from his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, the
following Advices
Inverness, April 23.
On Monday Mr. Grant, with 600 of his Followers, came to join us, and for
the present, they are ordered to be quartered in the M'Intoshe's Country.
All the French Officers and Soldiers, who were left here, are now Pirsoners;
and Yesterday 310 of them were shipped off for Newcastle. Almost all of
the Pretender's Son's Servants are come in; and as they were all French,
and had not been with him before he came to France, his Royal Highness
has given them Passports to go Home. Lord Sutherland is with 8 or 900
of his People in the Head of the Frasers Country, and near the Chisolms
of StrathGlass. Lord Loudoun, who is at present with 1300 Men in the Isle
of Skye, is ordered by his Royal Highness to land in the Country of the
Glenranolds, and to march up to Fort Augustus. Lord Cobham's Regiment
is this Day marched for Montrose to guard the Sea Coast.
(From The American
Magazine monthly, Chronicle from the British Colonies, Printed by William
Bradford. Found on microfilm in the American Periodical Series, reel 1
at Edinboro University, Pennsylvania.)
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