Battle in 1745
Extract from Battles of the '45
by K.Thompson & F.Buist, Batsford 1962
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manded by ex-Lord Provost George Drummond. On Cope's sug-
gestion 16 of them were detailed to reconnoitre the roads
to the west of Haddington during the night, and having been
divided into two shifts they were sent off in pairs, mounted
on post-horses. All returned to report that everything was
quiet, excepting one pair, who were taken prisoner by a Jacobite
patrol while they were enjoying an early morning meal of oysters
and white wine at an inn near Musselburgh. After having been
threatened with hanging as spies, or, alternatively, with
being placed in the forefront of the battle, they were released
the following afternoon through the good offices of a Jacobite
fellow-student.
One volunteer whose services Cope must subsequently have regretted
accepting was a certain Richard Jack, who claimed to be 'a
Professor of Mathematicks' and to have made 'some Improve-
ments in Gunnery'. Of the 40-odd witnesses who testified at
Sir John's 'Examination', Jack's was the only hostile evidence,
and so ridiculous are some of his allegations that it is difficult
to avoid the suspicion that he was briefed to throw as much
mud as possible in the hope that some of it might stick. On
the other hand his so-called evidence is of value in elucidating
certain points which might other- wise have remained obscure.
As the royal army now included the two dragoon regiments,
a new 'Order of Battle' was drawn up and issued to the commanding
officers by Lord Loudon, the Adjutant-General. Like others
of that date it displayed the same regard for symmetry that
is to be found in the final line-up of a Christmas pantomime.
GENERAL Sir John Cope
BRIGADIER Fowke |
| Colonel Gardener |
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Colonel Lascells |
| 2 Sq. Drags, |
2ps. Can. |
2ps. Can. |
2ps. Can. |
2 Sq. Drags. |
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Murray's |
Lascells's, Lee's |
and Cohorns |
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| Corps de Reserve |
| I Squad. Drag. |
Highlanders, Volunteers
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I Squad. Drag. |
In the forthcoming battle this 'Order' was, for various reasons,
to undergo considerable alteration.
At 9 o'clock the following morning (20th September), the royal
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