Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ne C 1720 : Letter from George Jonestone, Musselburgh [Midlothian, Scotland], to Henry Pelham; 21 Jan. 1745/6, endorsed 'Account of Action in Scotland, 1745/6'
of Falkirk spyd the Standards of the rebels on a rising
Ground about three miles off and as it appeared by the
moving backwards and forwards of their Standards on
the same Spot of Ground that they were not intending
to come forwards. Our Army judged there was no Occasion
to move being confident there could be no Engagement
till next Day it being now past midday. Our people
had been viewing before this time the adjacent Grounds and
had pitch'd upon a Hill for themselves to draw up on
when the Engagement should happen, but the rebels
were before hand with them and took Possession of this
Hill by a road out of View of our Army whilst they
were amusing them with their Colours and a few Men
on a different Quarter, as I have mentioned above. When
the News of this was brought to the Army and that
the rebels were hard by them, an unexpected Drum
was beat to Arms and the whole Army run up the
Hill like as many Goats. Never was an Army in
greater Spirits and so eager to engage. As the
Highlanders had taken Possession of the Ground
they had intended to form on, In Order to take the next
best Ground the three Regiments of Dragoons being
swifter of Foot were ordered to the left, the Wing at the
greater Distance from whence they set out, to take Possession
of a rising Ground towards the South which they accordingly
did, Pirce's Regiment, the Royal Scots and Wolphs &c being
next to the Dragoons. The Militia, Volunteers, Argyleshire
Highlanders &c made a line behind the left Wing. The
Army being drawn up, their right to the North, their
left to the South and Front to the West, They marched
up in Order & attack'd the rebels. The Day being rainy
and a high Wind from the South West the rebels to get
the Wind of them turn'd to their own right and came
down upon our left Wing with the Wind on their
Backs. The Dragoons suffered exceedingly in this
attack particularly Cobham's regiment Jondon the
