1745.

PRINCE CHARLES ON CORRY ARRACK.

217

numbers and appearance. But on arriving at Dalwhinnie, he found the pass of Corry Arrack, that lay between him and Fort Augustus, already in possession of his enemy.

Corry Arrack is a huge precipitous mountain, ascended by a part of Marshal Wade's military road, which winds up in seventeen zig-zags or traverses, before it attains the rugged heights. The pass was known to the country people by the name of the Devil's Staircase, and afforded a most excellent position for defence. Charles, discerning its importance, had determined to occupy it as soon as he heard of Cope's approach; and made a forced march for that object, burning and destroying all incumbrances which could impede his progress, and, that his men might not complain, sacrificing his own personal baggage. Early on the 27th he stood on the north side of Corry Arrack, and hastened to ascend it, expecting an attack that afternoon, and exulting in the expectation. It is recorded, that as he put on his new Highland brogues that morning, he exclaimed with delight, "Before these are unloosed, I "shall be up with Mr. Cope!"* As he walked up he sent forward Macdonald of Lochgarry, and Secretary Murray, expecting that they would see the British troops beginning their ascent on the opposite side. But when they reached the summit, instead of beholding the numerous windings filled with the ascending files of Sir John Cope's army, they gazed on utter solitude. Not a single man appeared. At length, they observed several Highlanders, whom they supposed some of Lord Loudon's, and the British van-guard; but who proved to be deserters, bringing the surprising intelligence that the General had entirely changed his course, and, avoiding the expected battle, was in full march for Inverness.†

For this and for his subsequent conduct, Sir John Cope has sometimes been called a coward, and sometimes a traitor. He was neither. He was a plain, dull officer, of indisputable fidelity and courage, who had been previously in action, and behaved respectably under a superior; but endowed with very moderate abilities, and overwhelmed

* Mr. T. Fraser to the Lord President, August 29. 1745. Culloden Papers.

f Tales of a Grandfather, vol. ii. p. 270.

On

by the feeling of his own responsibility as chief. this occasion he felt that it was in vain to attack the rebels upon Corry Arrack: to remain at Dalwhinnie seemed inactive, to return to Stirling ignominious. What other course then was left but a march to Inverness to join the well-affected clans, with the prospect that the insurgents must be drawn towards the same direction, and would not venture to descend upon the Lowlands while Cope remained in their rear? But Sir John did not trust to his judgment only; he adopted that favourite resource of incapable commanders - a Council of War. No officer was found to advocate remaining near Dalwhinnie; only one urged the alternative of a retreat to Stirling; all the others, concurring with their General, gave their signs manual to the plan he proposed. Yet, it certainly was by far the worst of the three; and had the King's troops but kept their ground in front of the rebels, the latter would, probably, either have been checked in their advance, and cooped up in their mountains, or else been obliged to hazard a battle upon equal terms.†

The news of Cope's flight (for such it was considered) filled the Highland host with exultation. The greater number wished to follow and give him battle — a less hazardous course, perhaps, than to march onwards, leaving his army unconquered, to cut off their retreat; but Charles, seeing the superior importance of a descent upon the Lowlands, wisely decided for the latter scheme. It was immediately put into execution. Two days carried him through the rugged mountains of Badenoch; on the third he beheld the pleasant vale of Athol, expanding to his view. The Grants, of Glenmorriston, to the number of one hundred men, had already come in at Corry Arrack; and as the Highland army descended to the plain, they were

* On Cope's character, see Quarterly Review, No. lxxi. p 177. and also the proceedings on Cope's trial.

t "The military men here think that, though it might not have "been fit for his Majesty's service for Sir John Cope to attack the rebels, yet that he ought to have staid somewhere about Dalwhinnie; "and, in that case, it would not have been easy for the rebels to have "made such a progress into the south before him. But as the matter " is now over, it is needless to enter into a discussion." (Lord Tweeddale to the Lord President, September 10. 1745.)

1745.

LORD LOVAT.

219*

joined, like one of their own rivers, by accessions of strength at the mouths of all the little glens which they passed.* Charles was especially eager to secure Lord Lovat, and sent him the most pressing solicitations through Lochiel, together with his patents as Duke of Fraser, and Lord Lieutenant of the northern counties. But the wily old Chief still kept aloof and unengaged: on the one hand, continuing the strongest professions of his allegiance to his neighbour, the Lord President; and at the same time writing to Lochiel, "My service to the Prince; I will aid "you what I can; but my prayers are all I can give at "present."Prayers! from such a saint of course doubly precious!-By this conduct, Lovat expected to reap profit whichever party prevailed; by this conduct did he ultimately bring his head to the scaffold, and his name to lasting disgrace. When will mankind become convinced that the dirtiest path is always the most slippery!

Charles, however, derived some compensation from one of his detachments, which, after an unsuccessful attempt on the barracks of Ruthven, carried off as a prisoner, perhaps no unwilling one, Lovat's son-in-law, Macpherson of Cluny, the head of a powerful clan. Cluny had been appointed by the Government Captain of an independent Company, but now, after several conversations with Charles, consented to return and raise his men in the Prince's cause. As an apology for his change, he declared to a friend that "even an angel could not resist such "soothing, close applications!" Indeed, the fascination of Charles was acknowledged by every one around him. The Highlanders were delighted at his athletic form and untired energy; like one of Homer's heroes, he overtopped them all in stature §, and they found that he never required from them any hardship or exertion that he was not willing to share. Thus, at Dalwhinnie, he slept with

* Chambers's History, vol. i. p. 79.

† Lord Lovat to the Laird of Lochiel, September, 1745. See Culloden Papers, p. 412.

One of Sir John Cope's spies from Perth described to him the Chevalier, as "in a fine Highland dress laced with gold, wears a "bonnet laced, wears a broadsword, had a green riband, but did not see the star; a well made man, taller than any in his company." (Sir John Cope to the Lord President, September 12. 1745.)

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them upon the open moor, sheltered only by his plaid. Every day he marched alongside some one or other of their bands, inquiring into their national legends, or listening to their traditionary songs. At table, he partook only of their country dishes, seeming to prefer them to all others: he wished to be, as he said, ". a true Highlander," and his few phrases of Gaelic were used whenever occasion offered. On the other hand, the simple and enthusiastic Highlanders were prepared to find or to fancy every possible merit in their long expected Prince. Upon the whole, it might be questioned whether any chief has ever, in so short a period, so greatly endeared himself to his followers.

On the 30th of August, Charles reached Blair, the seat of the Duke of Athol, who hastily fled at his approach, while Tullibardine resumed possession of his paternal halls, and gave a stately banquet to his young master and his ancient vassals. Charles remained at Blair two days, during which he was joined by several gentlemen of note: Mr. Oliphant of Gask, Mr. Mercer of Aldie, Mr. Murray, brother of the Earl of Dunmore, Lord Strathallan, with his son, and Lord Nairn, the son of the Peer who had been attainted and condemned to death in 1716. Still marching onwards, the vanguard of the insurgents arrived at Perth on the 3d of September, and the Prince made his public entry on horseback, and amidst loud acclamations, the next day. Unlike his father, he did not proceed to the neighbouring palace of Scone, but took up his residence at an antique house in the town, belonging, as Scone, to Lord Stormont. Here he remained a week to collect supplies and to muster his men. Of the 4000 louis-d'ors brought with him, he had remaining on the day he came to Perth but a single one, which he showed to Mr. Kelly, saying that he would soon get more. Accordingly, he sent out parties through Angus and Fife, who, while they proclaimed "King James the Eighth" in the principal towns, enlisted a few men and levied a little public money. From the city of Perth he obtained 500l., and several voluntary offerings reached him from his partisans at Edinburgh. All the strangers, however,

* Home's History, p. 75. note.

*

1745.

PRINCE CHARLES AT PERTH.

221

whom Charles found at Perth attending the fair, received his passports, to protect their persons and goods from depredation; and with several of them he courteously conversed, amongst others with a linen-draper from London, whom he desired to inform his fellow-citizens that he expected to see them at St. James's in the course of two months. Nor was he less busily employed in bringing into some degree of order, the ill-assorted elements of his little army: one day he held a public review upon the North Inch, and could not suppress a smile at the awkwardness of some of the new recruits. Every morning he rose early to drill the troops; and it is recorded that one night, when invited to a great ball by the ladies of Perth, he had no sooner danced one measure than he made his bow and withdrew, alleging the necessity of visiting his sentry posts. It is added, that the Perth ladies—thinking, of course, that no business could possibly be so important as their ball-were grievously surprised and offended at the shortness of his stay.*

At this period Charles received two most valuable accessions to his cause, in the Duke of Perth and Lord George Murray. The former brought with him about 200 of his men; the latter was of great use in raising the tenantry of his brother, the Duke of Athol; and both were created Lieutenant Generals in the Prince's service. James Drummond, titular Duke of Perth, was grandson of the Chancellor of James the Second in Scotland, and had received his education in France.† His character was amiable rather than able, of courtly manners, conciliatory temper, and dauntless bravery, but very young, and unskilled either in politics or war. A warrant had been issued for his apprehension by the Government, as a suspected person, about the time of Charles's landing. Captain Campbell, who was charged with the execution of this warrant, had first, in a spirit very unlike a British officer's, procured for himself an invitation to dine at

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*Chambers's History, vol. i. p. 87.

"The Duchess of Perth carried off her sons to France (in 1720) as soon as she heard of the Duke their father's death." (Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 42.) She was a most vehement Roman Catholic. (Tindal's Hist. vol. ix. p. 165.)