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Lord George Murray, - who had never contemplated any thing
but a surprise, and whose calculation of reaching Nairn by two o'clock in the morning
would have been realised had the whole line marched with the same celerity as the first
four or five regiments, - would have been perfectly justified in the unexpected situation
in which he was placed, in at once ordering a retreat but desirous of ascertaining the
sentiments of the officers about him, he requested them to state their views of the course
they thought it most advisable to adopt. There were several gentlemen present, who, having
joined the Athole brigade as volunteers, had marched all night in the front: and as the
Duke of Perth, Lord John Drummond, and the other officers, seemed at a loss what to
resolve upon, Lord George Murray requested the volunteers to give their free opinion, ass
they were all equally interested in the consequences. Without hesitation all these
gentlemen, eager to come to an engagement, were of a different opinion, in which they were
backed by Lord George Murray, who observed that if they could have made the attack within
the time prescribed they would certainly have succeeded, especially if they could have
surprised the enemy; but to attack in daylight an army that was nearly double their
number, and which would be prepared to receive them, would be considered an act of
madness.
Among the volunteers the most conspicuous
was Mr. Hepburn of Keith. While arguing for an attack with Lord George Murray, the beating
of a drum was heard in the Duke of Cumberland's camp. "Don't you hear," said
Lord George; "the enemy are alarmed; we can't surprise them." "I never
expected," said Hepburn, "to find the red coats asleep; but they will be drunk
after solemnising the Duke of Cumberland's birth-day. It is much better to march on and
attack them than to retreat, for they will most certainly follow, and oblige us to fight
when we shall be in a much worse condition to fight them than we are now." While this
altercation was going on, Mr. John hay, then acting as interim-secretary to the prince
instead of Secretary Murray, who was unwell, came up and informed Lord George that the
line had joined. Gathering from the conversation he overheard that a retreat was resolved
upon, he began to argue against it, but being unsuccessful he immediately rode back to
Charles, who was in the rear of the first column, and told him that unless he came to the
front and ordered Lord George to go on nothing would be done. Charles, who was on
horseback, rode forward immediately towards the front, to ascertain the cause of the halt,
and on his way met the van in full retreat. He was no doubt surprised at this step, and in
a temporary fit of irritation, is said to have remarked that Lord George Murray had
betrayed him.
The army marched back in two columns, by a different but
more direct route than that by which it had advanced. In returning they had a view of the
fires in the Duke of Cumberland's camp. The greater part of the army arrived at Culloden,
whither it had been agreed upon to proceed, about five o'clock in the morning, and the
remainder did not remain long behind. The quick return of the army suggests an idea that
had it marched in double columns towards Nairn by the shortest route, it might have
reached its destination at least an hour sooner than the time contemplated by Lord George
Murray, but there was great danger, that, by adopting such a course, the Duke of
Cumberland would have obtained notice of the advance of the Highlanders.
On arriving at Culloden, the prince gave orders to bring
provisions to the field; but the calls of hunger could not brook delay, and many of the
common men as well as officers slipped off to Inverness and the neighbourhood inquest of
refreshment. Others, from absolute exhaustion, lay down on the ground, and sought a
momentary respite in the arms of sleep. Charles himself, with his principal officers, went
to Culloden house, where, sullen, dejected, and silent, they for a time stared at one
another with amazement, instead of deliberating upon the course they ought to pursue at
this critical juncture. A search was made for food, but with the exception of a little
bread and a small quantity of whisky, which was procured for the prince with great
difficulty, no refreshment of any kind could be obtained.
After a short repose the men were aroused from their
slumbers by their officers, who informed them that the Duke of Cumberland's army was
approaching. There were others whom hunger had kept awake, and who having seized and
killed some cattle and sheep which they found at Culloden, were preparing a repast, but
few of them had time to make any thing ready before the alarm was given. The intelligence
of Cumberland's advance was first brought to Culloden house about eight o'clock by one
Cameron, a lieutenant in Lochiel's regiment, who, having fallen asleep at the place where
the halt was made, had been left behind. As Fitz-James's horse and others had gone to
Inverness to refresh, and as those who remained were, from the hard duty they had
performed for several days and nights, unfit for patrolling, Charles had no means of
ascertaining whether the troops that were approaching were merely an advanced party, or
the whole of the English army. That nothing might be left to conjecture at such an
important crisis, some officers were instantly despatched to Inverness, to bring back the
men whom hunger had driven thither, and the Highlanders at Culloden were got ready as
quickly as possible, and marched through the parks of Culloden in battalions, as they
happened to be lying, to Drummossie moor, on a part of which, about half a mile to the
west of the place where they had been drawn up the day before, the army halted.
Lord George Murray now renewed his proposal to pass the
water of Nairn, and take up a position on the ground which had been surveyed the previous
morning, as being much better fitted for Highlanders than the level on which they stood.
An additional reason for passing the Nairn was, that Macpherson of Cluny, who was expected
every moment with his clan, was to come on the south side. Charles, however, again
rejected this judicious advice, for the reasons he had formerly given. By retiring beyond
Inverness, or among the fastnesses to the south of the water of Nairn, an action might
have been easily avoided for several days; and, as the projected night attack had
miscarried, it would certainly have been a wise course to have shunned an engagement till
the men had recovered their strength and spirits; but Charles, over-sanguine in all his
calculations, and swayed by his creatures and sycophants, was deaf to the suggestions of
wisdom. It seems strange that a retreat to Inverness was not proposed. By retiring into
the town, and occupying the grounds in the neighbourhood, a delay of twenty-four hours
might have been obtained, as it is not likely that the Duke of Cumberland would have
attempted to force the town, or a strong camp, the same day he marched from Nairn. By
postponing the engagement till next day, a very different result might have happened, as
the Highlanders, who were in a starving condition, would have had time to procure
provisions and recruit from their fatigue; and numbers, who were not able to come up in
time to Culloden, would have rejoined the ranks at Inverness. |
