testified that after being taken prisoner he had been told
'by the Person calling himself the Duke of Perth, and by the
Lords George Murray, Eicho, and Nairne, that the number of
the Rebels was 5,500'; and two other captured officers. Majors
Severn and Talbot, stated that the same figure had been given
them by Perth 'by the Returns he had had the Night before
the Battle . . .'. Yet the Jacobite leaders must have been
well aware that the Highland army's strength was barely half
this number. The fact that this absurd over-estimate was accepted
as correct by Cope and his officers is less surprising in
the light of certain incidents which occurred during the action.
In face of these supposed odds, and despite his strong defensive
position. Cope was determined not to be taken by surprise,
and no fewer than 200 dragoons and 300 infantry were detailed
as out- guards. Of these, 100 dragoons under a Captain and
two subalterns were posted to guard the narrow defile between
Bankton and Preston House, and on the left the same number
was stationed to cover the approaches from Seton and the east
end of the. morass. In support of the dragoons strong infantry
guards were posted well in advance of the line, and two platoons
were later ordered to assist in guarding the southern defile
at the back of Preston House. In rear, the other western route,
between Preston park walls and Preston- pans, was protected
by Gardiner's reserve squadron, while that of Hamilton's covered
the eastern approaches between Seton and the sea. As an additional
precaution against surprise three large fires were lit along
the front of the line.
The night was dark and cold, with an autumnal nip in the air,
but on visiting Colonel Gardiner for the last time Carlyle
found him bivouacking with his regiment on the right of the
line. He was 'grave, but serene and resigned; and he concluded
by praying God to bless me, and that he could not wish for
a better night to lie on the field; and then called for his
cloak and other conveniences for lying down, as he said they
would be awaked early enough in the morning, as he thought,
by the countenance of the enemy. . .'. Among the other calumnies
with which Cope has been loaded is the assertion that, in
contrast to Gardiner, he spent the night in a house in Cockenzie.
Such a statement shows a remarkable lack of insight into Cope's
character, for so anxious-minded a man would have been the
last to put his personal comfort before his duty. In any case
Captain Forbes of Read's (9th) Foot, who was serving as a
volunteer |
Back 