Laird of Glengary and Cnoidart, he was an old hero in my first remembrance; he was for some time absent from his people, and in ward in Edinburgh; after him succeeded Angus son of Alexander son of Donald, (Lord Glengarey.) Allan Maconel Dhu, chief of the Clan-Cameron, and latterly the youth Ewen son of John son of Allan, who still lives; George Donn, son of Ken neth Og, Earl of Seaforth, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie; Donald Uabal Macaoi son of Magnus, namely, Lord Megrath head of the clan Morgan; and many other great men whom I need not mention here, who were proprietors of land and chiefs in my time; for I write nothing here but of those men whom I have seen myself, and have known great part of their transactions; you may know, from the histories of those who write in the popular language, an account of the troubles of those times. But what I mean to shew you here is, that the Scots were ready at all times to make war, and more so than either the English or Irish. For after the covenant was made against the king, and episcopacy suppressed, and presbytery set up in its stead, the covenanters sent couriers through all countries, in order to find out proper officers to lead and command their armies, and made choice of Alexander Lesly to be their commander-in-chief, an old hero who had been long in the army abroad in different countries. The covenanters' army marched into England; it was the first they set on foot against King Charles; thus the kingdom was put into confusion in the year 1639. In the heat of these troubles, the Marquis of An trim, young Ronald son of Ronald Arani sent a party of armed men from Ireland to Scotland by the king's orders, and gentlemen of his own kin to command them, namely, Alexander son of Coll son of Gilespie, Colonel James son of Somerled son of James of Banna, and other gentlemen. They took shipping at the town of Ilac in the month of July 1644. They did not stop or take harbour, until they came to the Sound of Mull, where they besieged the castle of Kinloch-alin, took it, and left a party in it, and went from thence to the castle of Mengary, and took it after a great deal of trouble. Alexander (MacColla) Macdonald and his party marched to Caol Reate, and the ship sailed to Loch Eisord in Strath to Sir Donald Macdonald; for the king and the Marquiss of Antrim's orders were for Sir Donald taking the command of the army, and take every man that would rise with them; but Sir Donald died half a year before, upon which Alexander offered the command to Sir James; but he refused it, as he thought the army too few in number, since the whole kingdom was in arms against them, they having five hundred men only; upon which Alexander Macdonald thought of returning to Ireland, since the king's orders were not obeyed; mean time, three large ships of war belonging to the parliament came round from Leith to Loch Eisord, while Alexander's ship lay in the Loch; they fought, but Alexander's ship was taken, which obliged him to remain in the country whatever might happen. He marched off from thence to Caol Reithe, and over the mountains * i. e. In defence of their king and country.-Translator's Note. VOL. V. PART II. 2 D of Cuich, and from thence to Glengary, and encamped there, where they had plenty of beef, and lived very well; but none of the people would rise with them; from thence they went to Badenoch, encamped in it, and threatened the men of that country that if they did not rise with them, they would spoil and burn their country; upon which the clan (Vurich) Macphersons joined with their chief, Ewen Og Macpherson son of Andrew son of Ewen, with three hundred of his own kin, a good band which proved very steady, and who remained in the army while the war continued. The clan (Finlay) Farquharsons of Braemar with their chief, namely, Donald Og son of Donald son of Finlay (also joined.) From thence they went to Athole, where the Marquis of Montrose met them at Blair in Athole in his coat-of-mail, newly come from England with the king's commission of general of the army, and Alexander Macdonald to be major-general. They received him joy fully, and the Athole-men, the clan (Duncan) Robertsons, and the Stewarts of Athole in the beginning of harvest (joined them.) From thence they marched to the low-country, where a great army of covenanters met them near Perth, consisting of eight thou sand men. The king's army consisted only of two thousand foot, yet they obtained a complete victory over them; few of the covenanters escaped, except those who were saved by the swiftness of their horses. They took the town of Perth after the battle, and were very happy in it; fifteen days only intervened betwixt that battle and another which they fought against the covenanters at Aberdeai, where they struggled hard for victory; but these two successful bat tles raised the spirits of the Gael, and inspired them with courage, insomuch that they never refused to fight under any disadvantage. Macallan the Earl of Argyle was one of the heads of the presbyterian faction, and a great supporter of the covenanters against the king; he came to Ardnamurchan, and laid siege to the castle of Mengary, but did not succeed. John Muidart came to Argyle's camp at Argyle's desire, for he wished that John would raise his men of Clanronald to join him against the king; but John did not remain long in Argyle's camp, when he returned and raised all the men of Uist, Eig, and Arasaig, and the first thing they did was the spoiling of Sunard, leaving neither cow nor ewe in it, which they did not carry away to Castle Tirim in Uist, some of which he sent to the relief of the garrison of Castle Mengary. Meantime Alexander Macdonald came from Montrose to relieve the besieged in that castle. Alexander Macdonald and Donald son of John Muidartach, happened to meet there, which made them both very happy at such an accidental meeting, for they never saw one another before. After leaving another garrison there, they came to Castle Tirim. John Muidart went along with them to Arasaig, and sent a message to Macleod, urging him to come to join the king's army as in duty bound, but he refused; from thence they went to Cnoidart, where they met Angus son of Alexander Macdonald, but he refused to join at that time; however, Donald Gorm his uncle joined them, and the greatest part of the men of Cnoidart and Glengary. They went by the end of Lochness by Clachard to Lochaber and the Braes, and Donald Glas (Macronald) Macdonald joined them, and the men of the Braes of Lochaber, the Stewarts of Appin, the MacCeans of Glenco, Gleneivor, and those east of Lochaber of the clan Cameron. From thence they went to Badenoch, and over the mountain of Drumuachdar to Blair in Athole, where they met the Marquis of Montrose, who was exceedingly happy at the great number of men John Muidartach had collected for the king's service. They summoned the council to meet, in order to consult about their winterquarters. The general supposed that they should quarter in the low country; others thought the high lands the best place for the safety of the army. Montrose's aim was to know which was the most proper place for the men to get victuals and proper accommodation; and for that purpose he sent for Angus son of Allan Du of the Glenco-men, to the council. Montrose put the question to him, (since he best knew Argyle's country,) if the men could be properly accommodated there with meat and lodgings during the winter? Angus answered, that there was neither town nor half a town in all Argyle's country, but that they might get good enough houses, and plenty of fat cattle to feed upon; which pleased Montrose so well, that they set off immediately from the Braes of Athole to Argyle by Menzie's Appin, which they burnt. They marched from thence to the end of Loch-Tay, and burnt both sides of it. The clan Macgregor and clan Macnab came to assist the king's army. And John Muidartach, and the men of the high grounds, were sent upon another plundering expe dition by themselves, and went as far as Kilmartin in Glasry, Argyleshire. From that expedition they took a thousand head of cattle to Montrose's camp, for there was no choice but to burn and spoil that country; and 895 of his (i. e. Argyle's) people were killed without any battle or skirmish. The army marched from Argyle to Lorn, and from thence to Innerlochy in Lochaber. But Argyle was not idle all this time; he sent for the Laird of Achinbreck from Ireland, who had been there since the beginning of the war in the Marquis of Antrim's country, possessing and spoiling his lands and large towns with his army. Argyle himself went to the council of Scotland at Edinburgh to complain of Montrose and Macdonald, and observing that these, generals did not wait to give him battle, upon which they sent him five hundred men. Meantime Achinbreck arrived from Ireland, who was highly incensed at seeing his country plundered and destroyed; he, therefore, convened all the clan Campbell, (who were very numerous), and went upon Montrose's tract; which when Montrose heard, (as he was marching north,* and that the Campbells burnt the Braes of Lochaber), he immediately returned from Kilcuming in Abertarf. King Charles' army was commanded by Montrose and Macdonald major-general, and by the gentlemen of Clanronald, John Muidartach son of Donald the son of Allan, and his son Donald; and Angus son of Alexander son of Donald son of Angus, Laird of Glengary, with his kindred, and the three Irish regiments of the good band of the Earl • Sir Lauchlan Maclean and Glengary came to Montrose at Inverlochy.-Orig. Note. of Antrim, his own relations being their officers, namely, Colonel James son of Somerle son of James of Banna son of Somerle Bui, and Ronald Og son of Alexander son of Alexander son of Angus Uabhrach, and Magnus son of Gille Du MacCathan, foster-brother to the Earl of Antrim. As for Sir Lauchlan Maclean, he had only about twelve men along with him for a guard. There was an excellent low-country man with them, Lord Ogilvie, and his son Sir Thomas, a good warrior. We marched back from Killcumin over Larie Thurrard into Glenroy, and over the river Spean, where a party of the enemy met us; we killed a number of them, and those who escaped informed their camp what had happened. It was Saturday evening when we arrived opposite to the enemy. Argyle's men viewed us, and consulted among themselves how they were to attack us; but Argyle himself took to his ship, and left the Laird of Achinbreck to fight the battle. Early upon Sunday morning, being Candlemas day, and first of February 1645, the battle began. Magnus the son of Archibald Du O'Cathan began the attack with other heroes. He was opposed by another party of Argyle's men, and Archibald Og, Laird of Pinginy, who fought but a short time when Argyle's men gave way; but were replaced by a greater number, when great confusion ensued, and Argyle's army were totally routed with great slaughter, besides a number which were drowned at Bunevais. The Laird of Auchin breck, the Laird of Caradale, and the Provost of Kilmun were killed; the Laird of Barbrech, the young Laird of Caradale, and Maciver of Pinginy More, were taken prisoners. Of Montrose's army were killed Thomas Lord Ogilvie, Captain Brand, and two soldiers. Montrose marched with the king's army after the battle to the north, where Mackenzie Earl of Seaforth came to him, and swore that he, with all his men of Lewis and other places, would come and join the king's army. Montrose remained in the north during the spring season strengthening his army. The Gordons, with Lord Gordon, the Marquis of Huntley's son, joined him, he was much the better for them. Meantime the army of the council of Scotland came from the south, and Seaforth came from the north with the men of Lewis and the northern borders, who, contrary to his oath and engagement, joined the parliament army. While Montrose and the royal army lay at Aldearn, Lord Gordon and his good band of both horse and foot being with him, Nathaniel Gordon came to them from Forres, and informed them that the enemy were at hand; he was a good rider and an excellent warrior; Caoch was his other name. A battle ensued, hard fought by the Gael; Nathaniel Gordon lost his right arm. Montrose commanded the right wing, and the brave Sir Alexander the son of Coll Citoch son of Archibald son of Coll son of Alexander son of John Catanach, took the left against the right of the enemy. After Sir Alexander had engaged his men, a gentleman came from the Lord Gordon, and delivered this message to him: "Macdonald, I have heard that there was an agree ment between our ancestors to this purpose, namely, That whatever strife happened among Scotsmen, that they would not strike a stroke flight, which when the enemy perceived, they set upon them furiously. Sir Alexander, therefore, order against one another, neither is the fame of any other tribe greater than theirs; therefore, by way of renewing that agreement, I would requested them to an inclosure which they of you to exchange your foot with mine, to fight for my king on the first day of my service; give me your foot and take mine." Macdonald immediately agreed to that request, and sent ninety men to Lord Gordon of his veteran soldiers inured to hardships, and received in exchange three hundred foot of the men of Bog of Gight, Strathboggy, and upper parts of the county. But it was an ill exchange for Alexander Macdonald, because these men were never engaged in war before; they supposed that the Gordons' cavalry had only to take care of the foot, and defend them from danger. Alexander Macdonald drew up his men, but perceived that he had no more of his own men than one hundred and fifty gentlemen; he put twenty of these in the front rank, and drew up three hundred foot of the Gordons in the middle, and marched before them. The regiment which was opposed to them was that of the Laird of Lawers, men trained to arms, and the valiant gentlemen of Lewis, the Mackenzies, along with them; a stout battle ensued, as is usual in such situations; but the foot companies which Sir Alexander Macdonald got in exchange not being accustomed to such hard work, bowed their heads whenever they heard the whistling of a ball or the sough of an arrow. When Sir Alexander perceived that, he went always backward, and beckoned to them with his hand to take courage, and cause the gentlemen to keep order, but they were hard put to it; I knew men who even killed some of the Gordon's foot to prevent their had forsaken before; but the enemies' pikes and arrows galled them much, and killed a great number of them on both sides of the wall before they got into the inclosure. Macdonald's sword broke; he got another, which he supposed was given him by Davidson of Ardnacross, his brother-in-law, who had given him his own sword; Davidson fell at that instant, being the last man entering along with other good gentlemen about the door, who were waiting to have Macdonald set in before them. As soon as Macdonald got in, he set upon those who were opposed to him, in order to relieve those who were without, one of whom was Ronald the son of Donald the son of Angus Mackennon in Mull. I thought proper to write this much of the deeds of the Gordons, since I happened to be among them. It was not the same side of the wall with the rest of the gentlemen that Macdonald took, for he was among the Gordons. When advancing he put his sèpar about his shoulders, holding his face to the enemy, his sword being on his side, and his shield in his left hand, and a gun in his right hand; he held the gun to the pike-man, who happened to be behind him, because there was a narrow pass before them; hence none of his own men were behind: they all marched before him, by which means there was great slaughter made among the Gordon foot by the archers. The bow-men ran past Ronald, letting their arrows fly at the Gordon soldiers. Sir Alexander Ma |