It was now nearly 2 p.m., and soon afterwards the Highland
army came into view on the brow of Falside Hill, very much
further to the southward than Cope had expected. From the
army's subsequent movements its objective was evidently the
high ground to the south overlooking his position, and satisfied
that all danger of an attack from the west was at an end.
Cope changed front. The position he now took up in the same
order of battle was considerably nearer the enemy, with his
line running parallel to the ditch, his right towards Preston
park walls, and his left towards Seton village.
Cope had no reason for anxiety; instead, the boot was on the
other leg, for having gained the higher ground, the Jacobite
leaders now found it to be of little advantage to them. On
completion of its march the Highland army had taken up position
on a line running westwards along the ridge from the outskirts
of Tranent to a point overlooking Bankton House, the van being
now the right of the line, and the rear the left. At first
sight nothing appeared easier than to charge downhill on the
enemy - the Highlanders' traditional method of attack - but
on closer inspection the 'Tranent Meadows' turned out to be
a singularly unsuitable no-man's land over which to advance.
Local opinion strongly supported this view, but to make assurance
doubly sure. Lord George Murray sent off Colonel Ker of Graden,
an officer who had seen service in the Spanish army, to examine
the ground in detail. This he proceeded to do, mounted on
'a little white pony'. Although fired on by some of Cope's
men, he coolly disregarded their musket-balls, and at one
point dismounted, and having pulled down part of a dry-stone
dyke, led his pony over it. On returning he reported to Lord
George that any attack on the royal army from this direction
was quite impracticable.
Cope has been accused by Sir Walter Scott, among others, of
confining his army in 'a pinfold' of ground, but to Lord George
Murray and the other Jacobite leaders his position appeared
in a very different light. 'Very strong' (Murray); 'Very good'
(0'Sullivan); ' Chosen with a great deal of skill' (Johnstone);
are some of their com- ments, and Johnstone, who as aide-de-camp
to Lord George must have been especially well informed, gives
a vivid summing-up of the Jacobites' dilemma: 'We spent the
afternoon in reconnoitring his position; and the more we examined
it, the more our uneasiness and chagrin increased, as we saw
no possibility of attacking it, without exposing ourselves
to be cut to pieces in a disgraceful manner.' |
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