before the advance-guard's first report of the enemy's motions
was received. This contained the information that parties
of dragoons had been observed in the neighbourhood of Preston,
and that the rest of the royal army could not be far away.
The report added that it seemed probable that Cope would attempt
to seize the high ground to the west of Tranent, known as
Falside Hill.
Lord George at once determined to forestall any such attempt.
Not only did he know the country well, but he was equally
aware of the value which the Highlanders attached to an elevated
position. Judging by the report there was not a moment to
be lost, and without wasting time in discussion, or in waiting
for orders from Perth or the Prince, he struck off the road
in an easterly direction across the fields. Marching to the
south of the village of Walliford, the Highlanders began to
breast the slopes of Falside Hill, and so fast a pace was
set by the van that the rear of the column had almost to break
into a run to keep up with it. Soon glimpses were to be seen
of the coastal plain below them to the northward, and within
half an hour the leading regiments had gained the top of the
hill, when Lord George slackened speed. Moving along the crest-line
the head of the column rejoined the post-road about half a
mile to the west of Tranent, and now, little more than three-quarters
of a mile off and a hundred feet below, could be clearly seen
the royal army drawn up in order of battle. It was a long-awaited
moment, and the two armies greeted each other with a volley
of shouts.
After sighting the Highland army near Musselburgh, Lord Loudon,
followed by the rest of the officers, had galloped back to
warn Cope of its approach. On their return about noon they
found the royal advance-guard at the eastern end of a flat
and featureless tract of ground lying to the north of the
higher land around Tranent. Running east and west, it was
about a mile and a half in length by three-quarters of a mile
in width, and entirely open and without cover of any sort.
Part of it had been under corn and was now covered with stubble,
and Cope was not long in deciding that here was the ideal
field of battle. 'There is not', he afterwards wrote, 'in
the whole of the Ground between Edinburgh and Dunbar a better
Spot for both Horse and Foot to act upon.'
The position was well protected on three sides. To the north
was the sea, and the villages of Port Seton, Cockenzie, and
Prestonpans, while forming a barrier extending half-way along
its western boun- |
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