main body. In addition to the five clan regiments which
had joined him soon after his arrival, the Prince's army now
included the men of other clans who had been recruited during
its southward advance, Among them were the Robertsons, Menzies's,
and MacGregors, and others like the MacLachlans, who had arrived
later from further afield. There were, too, the tenants of
Perthshire landowners, such as Lord Nairne and Oliphant of
Gask, few of whom showed any great enthusiasm for the Cause,
and even William Murray - in Jacobite eyes the rightful Duke
of Atholl - was hard put to it to raise his Whig brother's
men. Except for a small body of between 50 and 40 mounted
troops commanded by William Drummond, Lord Strathallan, the
Prince was without cavalry, and his whole force - like Cope's
- numbered approximately 2,5 50* men.
Reports now began to come in that the royal army was about
to march from Haddington, and amid the skirling pipes the
High- landers hurried to join their regiments, falling-in
as usual in three ranks. When the men were assembled the Prince
called the chiefs together and made them a short speech. Everything,
he said, had been arranged and agreed upon, and all now depended
on their order and conduct. He wished for success as much
on their account as on that of his father or his own, so that
they might be delivered from their present slavery, and reminded
them that they were fighting for a good cause, unlike their
enemies, who by the knowledge that they were fighting against
their King and country would be already half- defeated. Finally,
drawing his sword, he exclaimed dramatically: * Gentlemen,
I have flung away the scabbard; with God's help I will make
you a free and happy people 1' On his words being repeated
to the men,' all the Bonnets were in the Air, & such a Cry,
yt it wou'd be wherewithall to frighten any enemy ...'. The
Prince then raised his hand in signal, and the Highland army
marched off.
It was now between 9 and 10 o'clock, and led by Lord George
Murray, with Lochiel and his Camerons in the van, the Highlanders
in one long column of threes made their way eastwards towards
Musselburgh. Ahead of them Lord Strathallan's troopers rode
for- ward as an advance-guard, but so rapid was the movement
of the main body that it had crossed the old bridge over the
Esk at Mussel- burgh, and had reached a point a little to
the south of Pinkie House |
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