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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| IX. | CHAP. IX. |
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 | CHAP. IX. The collected writings of Dougal Graham |  |
CHAP. IX.
King's Army pass the Spey. Battle of Culloden. Defeat of the Rebels, &c.
Upon the eight day of April,
When air and season sweet did smile,
Duke William then began to move,
The time and season to improve;
Towards the Spey he did approach,
By wary steps and easy voy'ge:
His fleet on sea no faster steer'd,
Than he upon the land appear'd,
Until they reach'd the banks of Spey:
On the north side great Charles lay,
To keep the fords was their intent;
But see'ng the cannon durst not resent,
Planted to cover the only pass,
Where the safe passage unto them was:
So in all haste they scowr'd away,
And let them freely pass the Spey.
When air and season sweet did smile,
Duke William then began to move,
The time and season to improve;
Towards the Spey he did approach,
By wary steps and easy voy'ge:
His fleet on sea no faster steer'd,
Than he upon the land appear'd,
Until they reach'd the banks of Spey:
On the north side great Charles lay,
To keep the fords was their intent;
But see'ng the cannon durst not resent,
Planted to cover the only pass,
Where the safe passage unto them was:
So in all haste they scowr'd away,
And let them freely pass the Spey.
158
Argyle's men and lord Kingston's horse,
Did first of all the water cross,
And after them the grenadiers
To keep the front, if need appears:
For the Duke had always in his thought,
That crossing Spey would be dear bought;
But when he found no opposition,
Of other schemes he had suspicion:
Wherein he did conjecture right,
Altho' the plot came not to light:
That in the night he'd be attacked,
Which by ill conduct was not acted.
Thus over Spey all safely came,
That rapid river and stalward stream;
Th'English women not us'd with wading,
Being loth to lift up their plaiding
Went in with petticoats and all,
Which fagg'd their feet and made them fall.
A trooper thinking lives to save,
With them too got a wat'ry grave,
The flood but to men's middle went,
They were with fording unacquaint:
Cold water struck the women's belly,
It made them both prove faint and silly.
One horseman, and four women that day,
Were drown'd in crossing of the Spey:
From other harms cannons did cover,
And still they form'd as they came over,
For to engage kept always ready,
Caus'd pipes play Fair play, Highland laddie.
Did first of all the water cross,
And after them the grenadiers
To keep the front, if need appears:
For the Duke had always in his thought,
That crossing Spey would be dear bought;
But when he found no opposition,
Of other schemes he had suspicion:
Wherein he did conjecture right,
Altho' the plot came not to light:
That in the night he'd be attacked,
Which by ill conduct was not acted.
Thus over Spey all safely came,
That rapid river and stalward stream;
Th'English women not us'd with wading,
Being loth to lift up their plaiding
Went in with petticoats and all,
Which fagg'd their feet and made them fall.
A trooper thinking lives to save,
With them too got a wat'ry grave,
The flood but to men's middle went,
They were with fording unacquaint:
Cold water struck the women's belly,
It made them both prove faint and silly.
One horseman, and four women that day,
Were drown'd in crossing of the Spey:
From other harms cannons did cover,
And still they form'd as they came over,
For to engage kept always ready,
Caus'd pipes play Fair play, Highland laddie.
To Elgin town they march'd that night,
As the Highland core had ta'en their flight,
From thence to Nairn on the next day,
There on the fifteenth encamped lay,
Where the Duke's birth was celebrate,
And Charles' intent was to be at it;
But when near to the camp they came,
They could not execute their plan:
For Murray and Sulli. could not agree,
On what side the attack should be:
For want of courage in such a plight,
They argu'd till the morning light,
Then the Duke's drums fell a beating,
And they thought fit to be retreating:
So this attempt prov'd nought at all,
But saving of their powder and ball.
As the Highland core had ta'en their flight,
From thence to Nairn on the next day,
There on the fifteenth encamped lay,
Where the Duke's birth was celebrate,
And Charles' intent was to be at it;
But when near to the camp they came,
159
For Murray and Sulli. could not agree,
On what side the attack should be:
For want of courage in such a plight,
They argu'd till the morning light,
Then the Duke's drums fell a beating,
And they thought fit to be retreating:
So this attempt prov'd nought at all,
But saving of their powder and ball.
Now Charlie and his noblemen,
In council night and day were then,
And in their schemes could not agree,
Where Achitophels among them be;
Some for this, and some for that,
Long time they in confusion sat:
Some did incline to fight at Spey,
And of all fords to stop the way;
But Tullibardine and Sullivan,
Were quite upon another plan,
To let the Duke free passage have,
And no disturbance there to give;
But lead him to some ugly ground,
Where cannon and horse were useless found:
So pitch'd upon Culloden place,
Where dykes and bogs might vex his Grace;
In hopes, cannon could not get there,
Which was great pain, I must declare,
The way so rough was, and so ill,
But drawn by men were up the hill.
The Duke his march made very slow,
Being form'd in lines as on they go:
In four columns they march'd away,
On cannon and baggage, made them stay,
Did front and rear in a body keep,
Except the Campbells, who ran like sheep,
With Kingston's horse as spies and van,
From hill to hill they skipt and ran,
Back and fore had many a bout,
Act as Jackals to search them out,
And that day near the hour of twelve,
At Culloden house found them all.
—The Highland army here were ranged,
That no position could be changed,
Twelve piece of cannon; but highly mounted;
By which the gunners were affronted:
For should they level ere so low,
Shot, down the hill is loth to go;
And though they ply'd them ne'er so warm
In such a posture could not harm.
In council night and day were then,
And in their schemes could not agree,
Where Achitophels among them be;
Some for this, and some for that,
Long time they in confusion sat:
Some did incline to fight at Spey,
And of all fords to stop the way;
But Tullibardine and Sullivan,
Were quite upon another plan,
To let the Duke free passage have,
And no disturbance there to give;
But lead him to some ugly ground,
Where cannon and horse were useless found:
So pitch'd upon Culloden place,
Where dykes and bogs might vex his Grace;
In hopes, cannon could not get there,
Which was great pain, I must declare,
The way so rough was, and so ill,
But drawn by men were up the hill.
The Duke his march made very slow,
Being form'd in lines as on they go:
In four columns they march'd away,
On cannon and baggage, made them stay,
Did front and rear in a body keep,
Except the Campbells, who ran like sheep,
With Kingston's horse as spies and van,
From hill to hill they skipt and ran,
160
Act as Jackals to search them out,
And that day near the hour of twelve,
At Culloden house found them all.
—The Highland army here were ranged,
That no position could be changed,
Twelve piece of cannon; but highly mounted;
By which the gunners were affronted:
For should they level ere so low,
Shot, down the hill is loth to go;
And though they ply'd them ne'er so warm
In such a posture could not harm.
But the Duke's cannon so conceal'd,
They thought he'd got none on that field,
In the centre-line he did them screen,
That they at all could not be seen.
Straight on their front he did advance,
On right and left his made a stance:
From Charles' batt'ry the fire began
By gunners who no honour wan.
The Duke perceiving that his left,
Would be took weak, for such a drift
Of the stout Clans were coming on them,
Sent Bland and Hawley to wait 'pon them,
With foot and horse and Campbells too,
As good as ere cauld iron drew.
Then seeing all in order right,
The signal gave for bloody fight.
His front to fall some paces back,
And then the cannon began to crack.
Grape them, Grape them, did he cry,
Then rank and file he made them ly;
When bags of balls were fir'd at once,
Where they did spread, hard was the chance:
It hew'd them down, aye, score by score,
As grass doth fall before the mow'r.
Breaches they made as large and broad,
As avenues in thro' a wood;
And then such terror on them fell,
That what to do they could not tell;
Whether that they should fight or flee,
Or with the rest, stand there and die.
They had no conduct to consider,
Or in a body rush together;
But some drew back, others advanc'd,
They all into confusion launch'd.
But M'Phersons, Cam'rons and the Steuarts,
Who did disdain the name of cowards,
All rush'd on, quite void of fright,
And chused death before a flight,
Struck Barrel's regiment on the flank,
For two companies they made a blank,
Wolf's Bligh's and Semple's were attacked;
But sore for this they were corrected.
For Bland and Hawley came on behind 'em,
Campbells and light horse, which so confin'd 'em
Between two fires, and bay'nets fixt,
That few got off being so perplext.
The Campbells threw down a stone wall,
To let the horsemen on them fall,
Who with sword in hand put them to flight,
And could no longer stand the fight.
Yet many, in rage, came rushing on,
Till bay'nets thro' their backs were gone,
The bright points on the other side;
So bravely was their valour try'd.
If all their front had so come on,
I know not how the day had gone;
Their lives they did not sell for nought,
The Duke himself, own'd they were bought.
Those on the left stood still as stupid,
Some would advance, others back skipped:
Dreadful cannons on them did blatter,
Till at the last they're forc'd to scatter.
The French Brigades, who puff'd so hie,
Into a bogue were fain to flee:
Great Stapleton their Brigadier,
In every spaul did quake for fear,
Fitz James's horse, for all their pride,
Unto the rear were fain to ride.
They thought he'd got none on that field,
In the centre-line he did them screen,
That they at all could not be seen.
Straight on their front he did advance,
On right and left his made a stance:
From Charles' batt'ry the fire began
By gunners who no honour wan.
The Duke perceiving that his left,
Would be took weak, for such a drift
Of the stout Clans were coming on them,
Sent Bland and Hawley to wait 'pon them,
With foot and horse and Campbells too,
As good as ere cauld iron drew.
Then seeing all in order right,
The signal gave for bloody fight.
His front to fall some paces back,
And then the cannon began to crack.
Grape them, Grape them, did he cry,
Then rank and file he made them ly;
When bags of balls were fir'd at once,
Where they did spread, hard was the chance:
It hew'd them down, aye, score by score,
As grass doth fall before the mow'r.
Breaches they made as large and broad,
161
And then such terror on them fell,
That what to do they could not tell;
Whether that they should fight or flee,
Or with the rest, stand there and die.
They had no conduct to consider,
Or in a body rush together;
But some drew back, others advanc'd,
They all into confusion launch'd.
But M'Phersons, Cam'rons and the Steuarts,
Who did disdain the name of cowards,
All rush'd on, quite void of fright,
And chused death before a flight,
Struck Barrel's regiment on the flank,
For two companies they made a blank,
Wolf's Bligh's and Semple's were attacked;
But sore for this they were corrected.
For Bland and Hawley came on behind 'em,
Campbells and light horse, which so confin'd 'em
Between two fires, and bay'nets fixt,
That few got off being so perplext.
The Campbells threw down a stone wall,
To let the horsemen on them fall,
Who with sword in hand put them to flight,
And could no longer stand the fight.
Yet many, in rage, came rushing on,
Till bay'nets thro' their backs were gone,
The bright points on the other side;
So bravely was their valour try'd.
If all their front had so come on,
I know not how the day had gone;
Their lives they did not sell for nought,
The Duke himself, own'd they were bought.
Those on the left stood still as stupid,
Some would advance, others back skipped:
Dreadful cannons on them did blatter,
Till at the last they're forc'd to scatter.
164
Into a bogue were fain to flee:
Great Stapleton their Brigadier,
In every spaul did quake for fear,
Fitz James's horse, for all their pride,
Unto the rear were fain to ride.
The Duke's right stood and saw the fun,
Some reg'ments never fir'd a gun;
They only twice or thrice presented,
But seeing them run it was prevented:
For the order was, that fire they don't,
Till within few paces of their front.
So when they see'd them so present,
Back they fled with one consent,
Brandisht their swords and pistols fir'd,
Some threw their durks and then retir'd.
The Hussars likewise took the flight,
And never did presume to fight;
But left their leader on the field,
Who as pris'ner was forc'd to yield.
The noble Earl of Kilmarnock,
Whose head was from his body struck,
Afterwards, upon Tower-hill;
Great pity 'twas this Lord to kill!
Were it but for his lenity
To prisoners before that day,
He favour shew'd to many a hunder
And in no case would hear of plunder.
Some reg'ments never fir'd a gun;
They only twice or thrice presented,
But seeing them run it was prevented:
For the order was, that fire they don't,
Till within few paces of their front.
So when they see'd them so present,
Back they fled with one consent,
Brandisht their swords and pistols fir'd,
Some threw their durks and then retir'd.
The Hussars likewise took the flight,
And never did presume to fight;
But left their leader on the field,
Who as pris'ner was forc'd to yield.
The noble Earl of Kilmarnock,
Whose head was from his body struck,
Afterwards, upon Tower-hill;
Great pity 'twas this Lord to kill!
Were it but for his lenity
To prisoners before that day,
He favour shew'd to many a hunder
And in no case would hear of plunder.
Now Charles, the Prince yet kept the field,
And loth was he to flee or yield:
Major Kennedy with some troops of horse,
Out of the field he did him force,
About five miles from Inverness,
The water of Nairn they did pass,
As they had been for Bad'noch bound;
But spread throughout the country round.
And those behind on field who staid,
Ran ev'ry where, be'ng so afraid;
But those who ran by Inverness,
Were hotly handled in the chase.
Lord Ancram and general Bland,
This fierce pursuit they took in hand.
With Kingston's horse and Kerr's dragoons,
They thro' the bonnets clave their crowns,
Struck with such vigour and desperation,
Some hands were swell'd on this occasion,
Within the hilting of the sword,
That to pull out, they seem'd full gourd.
They would not yield as vanquish'd men,
Such discipline they did not ken,
To ground their arms or turn their sword,
Nor knew they ought of Quarters word;
But madly run, was all their chance,
And never turn'd to make defence.
The pursuers had them at their will,
Nought but follow and safely kill.
Some hundreds who fell that day,
Were a mean of throwing their life away.
Two thousand lay upon the field,
And those who took flight for their bield,
Through Inverness and all about,
Were hew'd down in this bloody rout:
For Kingston's men were young and rude,
Of mercy nought they understood,
When answer'd by a Highland tongue;
But used cruelty all along.
Of prisoners were told and seen,
Full seven hundred and fifteen;
But many more were after this,
Which not into this number is;
Lord Lewis Gordon, marquis of Giles.
And Stapleton this number fills,
Four ladies too, here taken was,
And one of them into man's dress,
Who as a Captain did appear,
In fighting for her Chevalier.
Five thousand stand of arms were found,
Ten brazen cannons, smart and sound,
Twelve stand of colours were ta'en, I know,
'Twas the Royal Standard's fate also
For to be left, that fatal hour,
On the field of Culloden Muir,
With the baggage and milit'ry chest
(Its contents did of nought consist.)
And loth was he to flee or yield:
Major Kennedy with some troops of horse,
Out of the field he did him force,
About five miles from Inverness,
The water of Nairn they did pass,
As they had been for Bad'noch bound;
But spread throughout the country round.
And those behind on field who staid,
165
But those who ran by Inverness,
Were hotly handled in the chase.
Lord Ancram and general Bland,
This fierce pursuit they took in hand.
With Kingston's horse and Kerr's dragoons,
They thro' the bonnets clave their crowns,
Struck with such vigour and desperation,
Some hands were swell'd on this occasion,
Within the hilting of the sword,
That to pull out, they seem'd full gourd.
They would not yield as vanquish'd men,
Such discipline they did not ken,
To ground their arms or turn their sword,
Nor knew they ought of Quarters word;
But madly run, was all their chance,
And never turn'd to make defence.
The pursuers had them at their will,
Nought but follow and safely kill.
Some hundreds who fell that day,
Were a mean of throwing their life away.
Two thousand lay upon the field,
And those who took flight for their bield,
Through Inverness and all about,
Were hew'd down in this bloody rout:
For Kingston's men were young and rude,
Of mercy nought they understood,
When answer'd by a Highland tongue;
But used cruelty all along.
Of prisoners were told and seen,
Full seven hundred and fifteen;
But many more were after this,
Which not into this number is;
Lord Lewis Gordon, marquis of Giles.
And Stapleton this number fills,
Four ladies too, here taken was,
And one of them into man's dress,
166
In fighting for her Chevalier.
Five thousand stand of arms were found,
Ten brazen cannons, smart and sound,
Twelve stand of colours were ta'en, I know,
'Twas the Royal Standard's fate also
For to be left, that fatal hour,
On the field of Culloden Muir,
With the baggage and milit'ry chest
(Its contents did of nought consist.)
Then brigadier Mordaunt was sent,
Nine hundred chosen with him went,
For to subdue all arm'd who were,
Into the Frazer's country there,
Search'd ev'ry corner and each quorum,
Thinking that Charles was still before 'em.
Strathallan fell when on his flight,
Lord Balmarino the next night,
Into the hands of Grant he fell,
Who made him pris'ner, as they tell,
And to the Duke sent him also,
Who soon to London made him go,
And with him many a hundred more,
To English jails and London-tower,
Cargoes by sea were sent away;
But to return ne'er saw the day.
Nine hundred chosen with him went,
For to subdue all arm'd who were,
Into the Frazer's country there,
Search'd ev'ry corner and each quorum,
Thinking that Charles was still before 'em.
Strathallan fell when on his flight,
Lord Balmarino the next night,
Into the hands of Grant he fell,
Who made him pris'ner, as they tell,
And to the Duke sent him also,
Who soon to London made him go,
And with him many a hundred more,
To English jails and London-tower,
Cargoes by sea were sent away;
But to return ne'er saw the day.
Now Charlie safe to Bad'noch rode,
Where council held, and they conclude,
That all of them should sep'rate be,
And differ'nt ways for safety flee,
For the miscarriage of their plan,
They blam'd both Murray and Sullivan,
For sending some brave Clans away,
A hunting of the Gowke that day.
Where council held, and they conclude,
That all of them should sep'rate be,
And differ'nt ways for safety flee,
For the miscarriage of their plan,
They blam'd both Murray and Sullivan,
For sending some brave Clans away,
A hunting of the Gowke that day.
Earl Cromartie and hundreds more,
Were taken that morning before,
Being sent home to's own countrie,
For raising men and more supplie.
Lord Rae's militia, hearing this,
Upon him came at unawares:
As each mischief follow'd another,
Things went to wreck just altogether,
Their parting was at Badenoch,
With wat'ry eyes and loud Och-hoch:
Their bag-pipes mournfully did rore,
And Piperoch Dhonail was no more.
This was a day of lamentation,
Made many brave men leave their nation.
Their eyes were open'd, all was vain,
Now grief and sorrow was their gain.
Were taken that morning before,
Being sent home to's own countrie,
167
Lord Rae's militia, hearing this,
Upon him came at unawares:
As each mischief follow'd another,
Things went to wreck just altogether,
Their parting was at Badenoch,
With wat'ry eyes and loud Och-hoch:
Their bag-pipes mournfully did rore,
And Piperoch Dhonail was no more.
This was a day of lamentation,
Made many brave men leave their nation.
Their eyes were open'd, all was vain,
Now grief and sorrow was their gain.
| CHAP. IX. The collected writings of Dougal Graham | |