Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ne C 1656 : 'Account of the State of Scotland'; 20 Oct. 1745.
the Lords Nairn, Ogilby, Elcho, and do not exceed 1500 Men, of no
Account in a Day of Battle. The sole strength of the Rebels consists in
about scarce 3000 Men of the Western Clans, (the 3000 they count besides are old Men & Boys or Retainers to a Camp); and these of Consideration
neither for their Bravery nor Conduct; but only by their Way of fighting
to which regular Troops are not accustom'd. After their first Fire, they
throw down their Piece, rush in Sword in Hand, and break the Ranks.
They receive the Bayonet in their Target, and then weild their Swords.
If their first Shock, which is furious and irregular (as they come on in
Clusters) be withstood, they are utterly undone, for they never rally; and
the first Check will end the Rebellion; Of all which his Majestie's Gener
als are now no doubt sufficiently aware, & have made Dispositions accor
dingly. It were to be wished that a Body of the well-affected Clans -
the Campbells from Argyle, the Mackai's, Macleans, Munroes and
Grants from the Lords Rae, Sutherland and their respective Chieftains -
were mixed with his Majesty's Forces, to keep their Compatriotes a
Minute or two in play. For if the British Regiments have but Time to
re-load, and pour a Second Fire upon them, all the Officers in Europe
will not make them Stand a third. Their Progress hitherto
has been entirely owing (may a Heart-friend to his Majesty tell a sad
Truth) to the fatal Mistake of our Troop's passing the Forth, to the sly
Treachery of a Magistrate who betray'd the Capital, and to the Insuffi
ciency of a General, to whom the Command of Scotland seems to have been
given, as if it had been a Sine-Cure. In other respects their
Situation is very mean: they have neither Money nor Officers; and
have been for some time intent upon raising Contributions; stooping to
triffling Sums scrap'd together from his Majesty's Collectors, or Extorted
by way of Loan from the richer Towns. Part of the Arms & Money aboard
the Elizabeth, disabled by the Lion Man of War was landed the 8th
Instant at Montrose by a Privateer from Dunkirk with Lord
