Will the Prince finally make it to Fort William?

Can Stitchers achieve what the Prince never did?

The Prince never arrived in Fort William. Inverness and Fort Augustus both succumbed to his campign but not Fort William. On his way past in August 1745 it would have been a time-wasting distraction as he sought to beat Cope to the Corrieyairack Pass; and in the Winter of 1746 it held out. Yet the town's West Highlands Museum has a secret portrait of the Prince and his deathmask plus myriad Jacobite memorabilia - so perhaps?

His main success in 1745 as his campaign got under way was to frustrate Cope's plan to reinforce the garrison there. Twice troops despatched there were intercepted. The first, commanded by Captain Sweetenham, surrendered on the Corrieyairack; the second crossed the Corrieyairack, stayed at Fort Augustus and was on the final stage of their journey when they were engaged at High Bridge by MacDonnell of Tirnadris - finally surrendering to MacDonnell of Keppoch and his party of Glengarrys [depicted in Panel #19].

Sandra Casey, who is stitching Panel #24, The Raising of the Prince's Standard at Glenfinnan on August 19th, feels the Prince's day has come. The Tapestry should be/ must be taken to Fort William! She shared her "boundless" commitment and enthusiasm with Andrew Crummy and Dorie Wilkie when they visited the Fort William Stitchers on April 2nd. Fellow Stitchers from neighbouring Morar and Arisaig were there also, and some of the nearly completed panels were displayed - please note en passant that 6 of the 7 men of Moidart are now clothed!

Andrew Crummy couldn't resist a picture of the snow capped mountains close by.