Cadell's Evaluation of Sir John Cope's Role in the '45

Local General Sir Robert Cadell's Book to be republished in 2008

One of the best evaluative accounts of the role Sir John Cope personally played in the '45 was published as late as 1898 - shortly after the author's death, with a Preface by his brother. It was written by General Sir Robert Cadell KCB who served in the Crimea and India, latterly with the Royal [Madras] Artillery.

The Cadells were for many years a very important local family living at Cockenzie House and industrial leaders especially for pottery and the waggonway from Tranent. The General himself was brought up in Cockenzie.

The book's particular significance is that General Cadell sought at that late stage to assemble the often conflicting accounts of Cope's campaign and to evaluate them objectively as a senior military officer. In doing so he sought:

"To give a simple narrative of events - all capable of proof - and thereby to show that song-writers, historians and devines have alike been unjust to a good and gallant officer." Chapter VIII explores common 'calumnies about Cope'.

For the facsimile republication Martin Margulies, who has himself recently published The Battle of Prestonpans, will write a new Introduction pinpointing where Cadell's work can be further elucidated from subsequent research and where occasional errors can be corrected. Amongst the issues Margulies resolves is: Who got to the Corrieyarack Pass first? The answrer was Cope but he clearly thought otherwise and headed for Inverness!

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Publishers, as shown below, are the Prestoungrange Arts Festival with Burke's Peerage & Gentry, £19.95 + P&P £2.50.It is now available from The Battle Trust, The Gothnburg, 227 High Street, Prestonpans EH32 9BE Scotland.