The collected writings of Dougal Graham "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow: edited with notes: Together with a Biographical and Bibliographical Introduction, and a Sketch of the Chap Literature of Scotland: by George MacGregor: In two volumes |
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| VIII. | CHAP. VIII. |
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 | CHAP. VIII. The collected writings of Dougal Graham |  |
CHAP. VIII.
Blowing up the Castle of Cargarf by the Earl of Ancram. Skirmishes at Keith and Inverness, &c.
Now while the duke lay at Aberdeen,
From England did his troops maintain,
Brought in his stores ay by the sea,
And laid no stress on that country,
From thence the earl of Ancram went,
One hundred horse were with him sent,
Major Morris with three hundred foot,
Near to the head of Don they got,
To take the Castle of Cargarf,
But ere they came all were run aff,
Wherein was a large magazine
Of amunition, and arms clean,
Which did become the Earl's prey;
But could not get it born away,
No horse he could get to employ,
Most of the spoil he did destroy,
'Bout thirty barrels of powder there,
Made soon that fort fly in the air,
And so returned to Aberdeen,
Long forty miles there were between.
From England did his troops maintain,
149
And laid no stress on that country,
From thence the earl of Ancram went,
One hundred horse were with him sent,
Major Morris with three hundred foot,
Near to the head of Don they got,
To take the Castle of Cargarf,
But ere they came all were run aff,
Wherein was a large magazine
Of amunition, and arms clean,
Which did become the Earl's prey;
But could not get it born away,
No horse he could get to employ,
Most of the spoil he did destroy,
'Bout thirty barrels of powder there,
Made soon that fort fly in the air,
And so returned to Aberdeen,
Long forty miles there were between.
Next Col'nel Stuart of Charlie's band,
At Strathbogie he did command
One thousand foot, beside Hussars,
Who kept that country round as theirs:
Against him were sent on command
The generals Moredant and Bland;
But to Stra'bogie as they drew near,
Stuart did unto Keith retire.
Then captain Holden with volunteers
Follow'd in chase, as it appears,
Seventy Campbells by Bland were sent,
And thirty Kingston's horse too went,
To clear the village of Keith while light,
And to Stra'bogie return that night:
But their presumption ran so high,
They ventur'd there that night to lye,
When Stuart return'd with secret pains,
Enter'd the town at both the ends,
And set upon them unawares,
Till few were left of men and horse:
Their loss was this, you may consider,
Because they were not got together.
The Campbells sold their lives like men,
And of the horsemen left were ten.
This did the Highlandmen revive,
And rais'd their sp'rits for more mischief,
And to the Duke's men gave a caution,
Where to quarter on like occasion.
His army in three divisions lay,
The first at Strathbogie, they say,
Second at Old Meldrum, half-way between
Strathbogie town and Aberdeen,
The last at Aberdeen still lay,
Until April on the eighth day.
At Strathbogie he did command
One thousand foot, beside Hussars,
Who kept that country round as theirs:
Against him were sent on command
The generals Moredant and Bland;
But to Stra'bogie as they drew near,
Stuart did unto Keith retire.
Then captain Holden with volunteers
Follow'd in chase, as it appears,
Seventy Campbells by Bland were sent,
And thirty Kingston's horse too went,
To clear the village of Keith while light,
And to Stra'bogie return that night:
But their presumption ran so high,
They ventur'd there that night to lye,
When Stuart return'd with secret pains,
Enter'd the town at both the ends,
And set upon them unawares,
150
Their loss was this, you may consider,
Because they were not got together.
The Campbells sold their lives like men,
And of the horsemen left were ten.
This did the Highlandmen revive,
And rais'd their sp'rits for more mischief,
And to the Duke's men gave a caution,
Where to quarter on like occasion.
His army in three divisions lay,
The first at Strathbogie, they say,
Second at Old Meldrum, half-way between
Strathbogie town and Aberdeen,
The last at Aberdeen still lay,
Until April on the eighth day.
While Charles must the mountains keep,
Among the goats, cows and sheep,
His army sure was sorely spent,
Ere into Inverness he went,
Having nought but deserts by the way,
Want of meat and scant of pay.
Rivan of Badenoch they took,
And laid it flat on every nuik.
To Inverness when they drew near,
Lord Loudon did from it retire,
Having but sixteen hundred men
All newly rais'd, could not preten'
To face them fairly in open field:
Therefore, Retreat was safest bield
Two companies he left behind,
The fort to major Grant resign'd,
To defend it to extremitie
Strict orders, thus to do or die,
But no sooner did Charles' troops appear,
Than soldiers hearts did quake for fear,
And being threaten'd with a siege
They durst not stand their spiteful rage.
So town and castle became his own,
The fort was levell'd with the groun'.
Lord Loudon fled but little way,
The firth of Murray between them lay,
Perth and Cromartie play'd a brogue,
Assisted by a hazie fog,
Unexpectedly sallying over,
Upon them fell, and would not hover,
Till many they in pieces cut,
Some officers they pris'ners got:
As before them they could not stand,
Being forc'd to flee from Sutherland.
Another party at castle of Blair,
Had beat the Duke's detachment there;
This gave the king's army some pain,
And rais'd their Highland blood again.
Fort Augustus too they did attack,
And in short time beat it to wreck:
Three companies of Guise' therein,
'Gainst Highland fury not worth a pin:
Major Wentworth did here command,
Who had not force them to withstand,
None stood but Fort William now,
And it in haste they 'sieged too.
A large detachment chosen was;
Of artillery the best he has,
Commanded by brave Stapleton,
A French brig'dier of great renown.
Among the goats, cows and sheep,
His army sure was sorely spent,
Ere into Inverness he went,
Having nought but deserts by the way,
Want of meat and scant of pay.
Rivan of Badenoch they took,
And laid it flat on every nuik.
To Inverness when they drew near,
Lord Loudon did from it retire,
Having but sixteen hundred men
All newly rais'd, could not preten'
To face them fairly in open field:
Therefore, Retreat was safest bield
Two companies he left behind,
The fort to major Grant resign'd,
To defend it to extremitie
Strict orders, thus to do or die,
But no sooner did Charles' troops appear,
Than soldiers hearts did quake for fear,
And being threaten'd with a siege
They durst not stand their spiteful rage.
151
The fort was levell'd with the groun'.
Lord Loudon fled but little way,
The firth of Murray between them lay,
Perth and Cromartie play'd a brogue,
Assisted by a hazie fog,
Unexpectedly sallying over,
Upon them fell, and would not hover,
Till many they in pieces cut,
Some officers they pris'ners got:
As before them they could not stand,
Being forc'd to flee from Sutherland.
Another party at castle of Blair,
Had beat the Duke's detachment there;
This gave the king's army some pain,
And rais'd their Highland blood again.
Fort Augustus too they did attack,
And in short time beat it to wreck:
Three companies of Guise' therein,
'Gainst Highland fury not worth a pin:
Major Wentworth did here command,
Who had not force them to withstand,
None stood but Fort William now,
And it in haste they 'sieged too.
A large detachment chosen was;
Of artillery the best he has,
Commanded by brave Stapleton,
A French brig'dier of great renown.
On the third of March at Glenavis,
Which opposite Fort William is,
The first attack began at sea,
Betwixt the Baltimore and he,
A sloop then lying at Fort William,
Into the straits of Carrion,
Stapleton siezing of their boat,
Thought t'master them with num'rous shot:
The Serpent sloop, captain Askew
Caus'd man his boat, with other two,
And soon were master of Carrion,
Where put to flight was Stapleton.
Which opposite Fort William is,
The first attack began at sea,
Betwixt the Baltimore and he,
A sloop then lying at Fort William,
Into the straits of Carrion,
Stapleton siezing of their boat,
Thought t'master them with num'rous shot:
The Serpent sloop, captain Askew
152
And soon were master of Carrion,
Where put to flight was Stapleton.
Their next 'ttempt was Kilmadie barns,
Where many shot were thro' the herns:
Yet the Baltimore she could not stand it,
Nor could their troops at all get landed:
For shells and cannons play'd so fast,
Their engineer they kill'd at last.
The Baltimore she could not take it,
Forc'd to sheer off and so forsake it,
Some prisoners of Guise's men,
In this hurry did liberty gain,
During the time the parties fir'd,
Took to their heels and so retir'd,
And got safe to the garrison,
Without the reach of Stapleton.
Now for some time they stopped were,
Thro' loss of their chief engineer,
And ere another fill'd his place,
The garrison had their wall in case,
Their bastions raised seven feet high,
Ere the besiegers did draw nigh.
Where many shot were thro' the herns:
Yet the Baltimore she could not stand it,
Nor could their troops at all get landed:
For shells and cannons play'd so fast,
Their engineer they kill'd at last.
The Baltimore she could not take it,
Forc'd to sheer off and so forsake it,
Some prisoners of Guise's men,
In this hurry did liberty gain,
During the time the parties fir'd,
Took to their heels and so retir'd,
And got safe to the garrison,
Without the reach of Stapleton.
Now for some time they stopped were,
Thro' loss of their chief engineer,
And ere another fill'd his place,
The garrison had their wall in case,
Their bastions raised seven feet high,
Ere the besiegers did draw nigh.
It was on March the twenti'th day,
Their battery began to play,
From a hill top, call'd Sugar loaf,
Eight hundred yards, or thereby off:
Their shots fell weak and came too short,
Some fell before they reach'd the fort:
Cohorns, bombs and a twelve pounder
In vain at such a distance thunder.
Finding their batt'ry was too far,
They erect another half way nigh'r;
But being in a hollower place,
It did not alter much the case,
Except the cohorns and some bombs
Broke some roofs, beat down two lums;
Three men indeed they did dissable,
And kill'd a poor horse in a stable.
Stapleton a French Tambour sent,
Beating a parly on he went:
The captain ask'd for what he came?
He said, From gen'ral Stapleton,
To you, Sir Governor, with this letter,
'Tis to surrender, You can't do better.
Then to your Gen'ral this answer give,
“No letters from rebels I'll receive,
“I shall do better, and him defy,
“Ev'n to the last extremity.”
The drummer return'd to Stapleton,
O then a fierce bombard went on,
For several hours on either side,
At last the garrison laid their pride,
By tearing their chief battery,
Flat with the ground they made it ly,
And many buried were therein,
Besides the wounded that did run,
The people within the garrison,
Without the houses keeped none,
For being wounded with the slate,
During the hurry of this heat:
The rest behind the ramparts stood,
And so were free from wounds and blood.
Thus in a rage, before they tir'd,
Near two hundred royal were fir'd,
With sixteen cannons, 'gainst the fort,
As afterwards they did report:
Yet did no harm was worth a fig,
But a poor soldier lost his leg.
And on the morrow when day appear'd,
The garrison their trenches clear'd.
Then for a day they let them slack,
Another batt'ry to erect,
Nearer the Fort one hundred yard
At which no labour there was spar'd.
At this time, a party sallied out
To make provision in, no doubt,
Who spar'd no bullock, sheep or cow,
Some prisoners they in brought too
From the laird of Apin's estate,
Burnt every house came in their gate,
And those who did resistance shew,
They made no stop to run them thro'.
Their ships came in with meal and bread
So to hold out they had no dread.
Their battery began to play,
From a hill top, call'd Sugar loaf,
Eight hundred yards, or thereby off:
Their shots fell weak and came too short,
Some fell before they reach'd the fort:
Cohorns, bombs and a twelve pounder
In vain at such a distance thunder.
Finding their batt'ry was too far,
They erect another half way nigh'r;
But being in a hollower place,
It did not alter much the case,
Except the cohorns and some bombs
Broke some roofs, beat down two lums;
153
And kill'd a poor horse in a stable.
Stapleton a French Tambour sent,
Beating a parly on he went:
The captain ask'd for what he came?
He said, From gen'ral Stapleton,
To you, Sir Governor, with this letter,
'Tis to surrender, You can't do better.
Then to your Gen'ral this answer give,
“No letters from rebels I'll receive,
“I shall do better, and him defy,
“Ev'n to the last extremity.”
The drummer return'd to Stapleton,
O then a fierce bombard went on,
For several hours on either side,
At last the garrison laid their pride,
By tearing their chief battery,
Flat with the ground they made it ly,
And many buried were therein,
Besides the wounded that did run,
The people within the garrison,
Without the houses keeped none,
For being wounded with the slate,
During the hurry of this heat:
The rest behind the ramparts stood,
And so were free from wounds and blood.
Thus in a rage, before they tir'd,
Near two hundred royal were fir'd,
With sixteen cannons, 'gainst the fort,
As afterwards they did report:
Yet did no harm was worth a fig,
But a poor soldier lost his leg.
And on the morrow when day appear'd,
The garrison their trenches clear'd.
Then for a day they let them slack,
Another batt'ry to erect,
Nearer the Fort one hundred yard
154
At this time, a party sallied out
To make provision in, no doubt,
Who spar'd no bullock, sheep or cow,
Some prisoners they in brought too
From the laird of Apin's estate,
Burnt every house came in their gate,
And those who did resistance shew,
They made no stop to run them thro'.
Their ships came in with meal and bread
So to hold out they had no dread.
Now when the last batt'ry was raised,
To fire again they soon practis'd;
The garrison too began a fresh,
And soon their batt'ry down did thresh.
At last their powder store took fire,
Which dash'd the gunners here and there.
The garrison perceiv'd the case,
And took advantage in short space,
Twelve men out of each companie,
Then sallied out couragiouslie,
And set upon them without dread,
Till many on the place lay dead,
One serjeant of the Campbells slain
The rest victorious turn'd again.
Into the Fort with them they drew
Three brazen cannons and mortars two,
Spik'd up the rest but only five,
At which they could not get a drive:
Yet timely retreat safety procur'd,
Or with numbers they'd been o'erpowr'd.
To fire again they soon practis'd;
The garrison too began a fresh,
And soon their batt'ry down did thresh.
At last their powder store took fire,
Which dash'd the gunners here and there.
The garrison perceiv'd the case,
And took advantage in short space,
Twelve men out of each companie,
Then sallied out couragiouslie,
And set upon them without dread,
Till many on the place lay dead,
One serjeant of the Campbells slain
The rest victorious turn'd again.
Into the Fort with them they drew
Three brazen cannons and mortars two,
Spik'd up the rest but only five,
At which they could not get a drive:
Yet timely retreat safety procur'd,
Or with numbers they'd been o'erpowr'd.
Stapleton did yet again direct
Another batt'ry there to make;
But at that time came an express
Forthwith to march for Inverness.
Thus on the third day of April,
From the third of March a dreary while.
They left their cannon and took the rout
But never more came thereabout.
Another batt'ry there to make;
But at that time came an express
Forthwith to march for Inverness.
Thus on the third day of April,
From the third of March a dreary while.
155
But never more came thereabout.
Now another party prince Charles had
At the castle of Blair prosper'd as bad,
Under lord George Murray's command,
Who took this doughty deed in hand,
For to conquer this castle of Blair:
The duke of Athole oft lived there,
Who was upon the Georgian side,
And had the Stewarts oft aid deny'd.
The garrison therein was few,
Commanded by Andrew Agnew,
An old Scots Worthy, I well may say,
No better soldier was in's day.
He could do more by wiles and flight,
Than those who were five hundred weight;
He did defend them in such ways,
The siege prolong'd for several days.
Till word reach'd the camp at Dunkeld
How with Sir Andrew it befel.
Earl Crawford with the Hessian men,
Two troops of horse to him did sen';
In all great haste they march'd away;
But Murray got other fish to fry:
For he receiv'd a hot express,
Forthwith to come to Inverness,
That very day that Stapleton
Left the siege of Fort-William.
At the castle of Blair prosper'd as bad,
Under lord George Murray's command,
Who took this doughty deed in hand,
For to conquer this castle of Blair:
The duke of Athole oft lived there,
Who was upon the Georgian side,
And had the Stewarts oft aid deny'd.
The garrison therein was few,
Commanded by Andrew Agnew,
An old Scots Worthy, I well may say,
No better soldier was in's day.
He could do more by wiles and flight,
Than those who were five hundred weight;
He did defend them in such ways,
The siege prolong'd for several days.
Till word reach'd the camp at Dunkeld
How with Sir Andrew it befel.
Earl Crawford with the Hessian men,
Two troops of horse to him did sen';
In all great haste they march'd away;
But Murray got other fish to fry:
For he receiv'd a hot express,
Forthwith to come to Inverness,
That very day that Stapleton
Left the siege of Fort-William.
All parties of the Chevalier
Did to their head quarters draw near,
By which Sir Andrew relief had,
And made this siege a fair blockade.
Here the wheel it turn'd, I trow,
And luck to Charles bad adieu.
'Tis oft misfortunes come together,
Or after one mischief another,
His men half mad for want of pay,
Had little to eat, what's worse, I say?
Being hemm'd in on ev'ry side,
Among the hills and muirs so wide.
On the Hazard sloop they did depen',
Which went to France for money and men:
As back and fore she oft did go,
Her name's changed to Prince Charles' Snow:
On her return, unluckilie,
Met with the Sheerness sloop, at sea,
Commanded by Captain O'brian,
With whom she fought but did not gain
The day, nor yet could get away;
But was chas'd into Tongue-bay,
Where she upon the shallows ran,
And in the fight lost many a man.
O'Brian enrag'd still kept the sea,
But mann'd his boat right hastilie:
For fifty leagues they gave her chace,
And forc'd them to land in this place;
Into the country of lord Rea,
From whence they no relief could ha'e.
His lordship's house it was near by,
Just then was there captain Mackay
My lord's son, with Henry Monroe,
Lord Charles Gordon was there also,
Captain MacLeod a trusty han',
And fourscore of lord Loudon's men,
Who had fled there from Inverness
When Perth had put them in distress,
And as the crew came to the land,
As pris'ners they're compell'd to stand,
One hundred men and fifty-six
As prisoners they here did fix,
Soldiers, sailors and gentlemen,
War-officers from France and Spain,
Who were to join Charles the Prince;
But bold O'Brian did them convince,
That such a thing was not to be:
To Aberdeen the whole sent he,
With the crew of a French priv'teer
Who off the Orkney's cruising were.
Besides the arms found in her hold,
Thirteen thousand guineas of gold,
Brave O'Brian thus carry'd away
On March the five and twenti'th day.
Did to their head quarters draw near,
By which Sir Andrew relief had,
And made this siege a fair blockade.
Here the wheel it turn'd, I trow,
And luck to Charles bad adieu.
'Tis oft misfortunes come together,
Or after one mischief another,
His men half mad for want of pay,
156
Being hemm'd in on ev'ry side,
Among the hills and muirs so wide.
On the Hazard sloop they did depen',
Which went to France for money and men:
As back and fore she oft did go,
Her name's changed to Prince Charles' Snow:
On her return, unluckilie,
Met with the Sheerness sloop, at sea,
Commanded by Captain O'brian,
With whom she fought but did not gain
The day, nor yet could get away;
But was chas'd into Tongue-bay,
Where she upon the shallows ran,
And in the fight lost many a man.
O'Brian enrag'd still kept the sea,
But mann'd his boat right hastilie:
For fifty leagues they gave her chace,
And forc'd them to land in this place;
Into the country of lord Rea,
From whence they no relief could ha'e.
His lordship's house it was near by,
Just then was there captain Mackay
My lord's son, with Henry Monroe,
Lord Charles Gordon was there also,
Captain MacLeod a trusty han',
And fourscore of lord Loudon's men,
Who had fled there from Inverness
When Perth had put them in distress,
And as the crew came to the land,
As pris'ners they're compell'd to stand,
One hundred men and fifty-six
As prisoners they here did fix,
Soldiers, sailors and gentlemen,
War-officers from France and Spain,
Who were to join Charles the Prince;
But bold O'Brian did them convince,
157
To Aberdeen the whole sent he,
With the crew of a French priv'teer
Who off the Orkney's cruising were.
Besides the arms found in her hold,
Thirteen thousand guineas of gold,
Brave O'Brian thus carry'd away
On March the five and twenti'th day.
This was bad luck for Charles too;
For wanting money what could he do,
They had no meal, mutton or beef,
Of cheese and butter no relief:
The cry among them night and day,
Was, Give me money, meat or pay.
For wanting money what could he do,
They had no meal, mutton or beef,
Of cheese and butter no relief:
The cry among them night and day,
Was, Give me money, meat or pay.
| CHAP. VIII. The collected writings of Dougal Graham | |