Battle of Preston. Click for larger image
Lord George Murray now ordered the left wing to advance, and
sent an aid-de-camp to the Duke of Perth to request him to put the right in motion. The
Highlanders moved with such rapidity that their ranks broke; to recover which, they halted
once or twice before closing with the enemy. When Cope, at daybreak, observed the first
line of the Highland army formed in order of battle, at the distance of two hundred paces
from his position, he mistook it for bushes; but before it had advanced half way, the rays
of the rising sun bursting through the retiring mist showed the armies to each other. The
army of Cope at this time made a formidable appearance; and some of Charles's officers
were heard afterwards to declare, that when they first saw it, and compared the gallant
appearance of horse and foot, with their well-polished arms glittering in the sunbeams,
with their own line broken into irregular clusters, they expected that the Highland army
would be instantly defeated, and swept from the field.
The Highlanders continued to advance in profound silence. As the right wing marched
straight forward without attending to the oblique movement of the Camerons to the left, a
gap took place in the centre of the line. An attempt was made to fill it up with the
second line, which was about fifty paces behind the first, but before this could be
accomplished, the left wing, being the first to move, had advanced beyond the right of the
line, and was now engaged with the enemy. By inclining to the left, the Camerons gained
half the ground originally between them and the main ditch; but this movement brought them
up directly opposite to Cope's cannon. On approaching the cannon the Highlanders fired a
few shots at the artillery guard, which alarmed an old gunner, who had charge of the
cannon, and his assistants to such a degree that they fled, carrying the powder flasks
along with them. To check the advance of the Highlanders, Colonel Whiteford fired off five
of the field pieces with his own hand; but though their left seemed to recoil, they
instantly resumed the rapid pace they had set out with. The artillery guard next fired a
volley with as little effect. Observing the squadron of dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel
Whitney advancing to charge them, the Camerons set up a loud shout, rushed past the
cannon, and after discharging a few shots at the dragoons, which killed several men, and
wounded the lieutenant-colonel, flew upon them sword in hand. When assailed, the squadron
was reeling to and from from the fire; and the Highlanders following an order they had
received, to strike at the noses of the horses without minding the riders, completed the
disorder. In a moment the dragoons wheeled about, rode over the artillery guard, and fled
followed by the guard. The Highlanders continuing to push forward without stopping to take
prisoners, Colonel Gardiner was ordered to advance with his squadron, and charge the
enemy. He accordingly went forward, encouraging his men to stand firm; but this squadron,
before it had advanced many paces, experienced such a reception, that it followed the
example which the other had just set.
After the flight of the dragoons, the Highlanders advanced upon the infantry, who opened a
fire from right to left, which went down the line as far as Murray's regiment. They
received this volley with a loud huzza, and throwing away their muskets, drew their swords
and rushed upon the foot before the latter had time to reload their pieces. Confounded by
the flight of the dragoons, and the furious onset of the Highlanders, the astonished
infantry threw down their arms and took to their heels. Hamilton's dragoons, who were
stationed on Cope's left, displayed even greater pusillanimity than their companions; for
no sooner did they observe the squadrons on the right give way, than they turned their
backs and fled without firing a single shot, or drawing a sword. Murray's regiment being
thus left alone on the field, fired upon the Macdonalds who were advancing, and also fled.
Thus, within a very few minutes after the action had commenced, the whole army of Cope was
put to flight. With the exception of their fire, not the slightest resistance was made by
horse or foot, and not a single bayonet was stained with blood. Such were the impetuosity
and rapidity with which the first line of the Highlanders broke through Cope's ranks, that
they left numbers of his men in their rear who attempted to rally behind them; but on
seeing the second line coming up they endeavoured to make their escape. Though the second
line was not more than fifty paces behind the first, and was always running as fast as it
could to overtake the first line, and near enough never to lose sight of it, yet such was
the rapidity with which the battle was gained, that, according to the Chevalier Johnstone,
who stood by the side of the prince in the second line, he could see no other enemy on the
field of battle than those who were lying on the ground killed or wounded.
Unfortunately for the royal infantry, the walls of the inclosures about the village of
Preston, which formed their great security on their right, now that these were in their
rear, operated as a barrier to their flight. Having disencumbered themselves of their arms
to facilitate their escape, they had deprived themselves of their only means of defence,
and driven as they were upon the walls of the inclosure, they would have all perished
under the swords of the Highlanders, had not Charles and his officers strenuously exerted
themselves to preserve the lives of their discomfited foes. The impetuosity of the royal
army, allowed little leisure for the exercise of humanity, and before the carnage ceased
several hundreds had fallen under the claymores of the Highlanders, and the ruthless
scythes of the Macgregors. Armed with these deadly weapons, which were sharpened and fixed
to poles from seven to eight feet long, to supply the place of other arms, this party
mowed down the affrightened enemy, cut off the legs of horses, and severed, it is said,
the bodies of their riders in twain. Captain James Drummond, alias Macgregor, son of the
celebrated Rob Roy, who commanded this company, fell at the commencement of the action.
When advancing to the charge he received five wounds. Two bullets went through his body,
and laid him prostrate on the ground. That his men might not be discouraged by his fall,
this intrepid officer resting his head upon his hand, called out to them, "My lads, I
am not dead! - by God, I shall see if any of you does not do his duty!". This
singular address had the desired effect, and the Macgregors instantly fell on the flank of
the English infantry, which, being left uncovered and exposed by the flight of the
cavalry, immediately gave way. |
