NARRATIVE
OF THE
Battles of Drumclog,
AND
BOTHWELL BRIDGE;
The former fought on the 1st, and the latter on the 22d of June, 1679.
Between the King's Troops, and the Covenanters.
BY THE LAIRD OF TORFOOT,
An Officer in the Presbyterian army.
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FALKIRK:
Printed by T. Johnston
———
1828.
THE
BATTLE OF DRUMCLOG.
———
"IT was on a fair Sabbath morning, 1st June 1679, that an assembly of Covenanters sat down on the heathy mountains of Drumclog. We had assembled not to fight, but to worship the God of our fathers, We were far from the tumult of cities—The long dark heath waved around us; and we disturbed no living creatures, saving the pees-weep and the heather-cock. As usual, we had come armed. It was for self-defence. For desperate and ferocious bands made bloody raids through the country, and, pretending to put down treason, they waged war against religion and morals. They spread ruin and havoc over the face of bleeding Scotland.
The venerable Douglas had commenced the solemnities of the day. He was expatiating on the execrable evils of tyranny. Our souls were on fire at the remembrance of our country's sufferings, and the wrongs of the church. In this moment of intense feeling, our watchman posted on the neighbouring height fired his carabine, and ran toward the congregation. He announced the approach of the enemy. We raised our eyes to the minister. "I have done," said Douglas, with his usual firmness—"You have got the theory.—now for the practice; you know your duty; self-defence is always lawful. But the enemy approaches.' He raised his eyes to heaven and uttered a prayer—brief and emphatic,—like the prayer of Richard Cameron, "Lord, spare the green, and take the ripe."
The officers collected their men, and placed themselves each at the head of those of his own district. Sir Robert Hamilton placed the foot in the centre, in three ranks. A company of horse, well armed and mounted, was placed on the left; and a small squadron also on the left. These were drawn back, and they occupied the more solid ground; as well with a view to have a more firm footing, as to arrest any flanking party that might take them on the wings. A deep morass lay between us and the ground of the enemy. Our aged men, our females, and children retired; but they retired slowly. They had the hearts and the courage of the females and children in those days of intense religious feeling, and of suffering. They manifested more concern for the fate of relatives, for the fate of the church, than for their own personal safety. As Claverhouse descended the opposite mountain, they retired to the rising ground in the rear of our host. The aged men walked with their bonnets io hand. Their long grey locks waved in the breeze. They sang a cheering psalm. The music was that of the well-known tune of "The Martyrs;" and the sentiment breathed defiance—The music floated down on the wind,—our men gave them three cheers as they fell into their ranks. Never did I witness such animation in the looks of men. For me, my spouse and my little children were in the rear. My native plains, and the halls of my father, far below, in the deal of Aven, were in full view, from the heights which we occupied. My country seemed to raise her voice—the bleeding church seemed to waile aloud. 'And these,' I said, as Clavers and his troops winded slowly down the dark mountains' side, 'these are the unworthy slaves, and bloody excctioners, by which the tyrant completes our miseries.'
Hamilton here displayed the hero. His portly figure was seen hastening fron rank to rank. He inspired courage into our raw and undisciplined troops. The brave Hackstone, and Hall of Haughhead, stood at the head of the foot, and re-cchoed the sentiments of their Chief. Burley and Cleland had inflamed the minds of the horsemen on the left to a noble enthusiasm. My small troop on the right needed no exhortation: we were a band of brothers, resolved to conqueror or fall.
The trumpet of Clavers sounded a loud not of defiance—the kettle drum mixed its tumultuous roll—they halted—they made a long pause. We could see an officer with four file, conducting 15 persons from the ranks, to a knoll on their left. I could perceive one in black: it was my friend King, the Chaplain at Lord Cardross, who had been take by Clavers at Hamilton. 'Let them be shot through the head,' said Clavers, in his usual dry way, 'if they should offer to run away.' We could see him view our position with great care. His officers came around him, We soon learned that he wished to treat with us. He never betrayed symptoms of mercy or of justice, nor offered terms of reconciliation unless when he dreaded that he had met his match; and, even then, it was only a manoeuvre to gain time, or to deceive. His flag approached the edge of the bog. Sir Robert held a flag sae-red; had it been borne by Clavers himself, he had honoured it. He demand the purpose for which he came. 'I come,' said he, 'in the name of his sacred Majesty, and of Colonel Graham, to offer you a pardon, on condition that you lay down your arms, and deliver up your ringleaders.'— 'Tell your officer,' said Sir Robert, 'that we are fully aware of the deception he practises. He is not clothed with any powers to treat, nor was he sent out to treat with us, and attempt reconciliation. The Government against whom we have risen, refuses to redress our grievances, or to restore to us our liberties.' Had the tyrant wished to render us justice, he had not sent by the hand of such a ferocious assassin as Claver house. Let him, however, shew his powers, and we refuse not to treat; and we shall lay down our arms to treat, provided that he also lay down his. Thou hast my answer.'—'It is a perfectly hopless, case' said Burley, while he called after the flag-bearer—' Let me add one word, by your leave, General. Get thee up to that bloody dragoon, Clavers, and tell him, that we will spare his life, and the lives of his troops, on condition that he, your Clavers, lay down his arms, and the arms of these troops. We will do more, as we have no prisoners on these wild mountains, we will even let him go on his parole, on condition that he swear never to lift arms against the religion and the liberties of his country.' A loud burst of applause re-echoed from the ranks; and after a long pause in deep silence, the army sung the following verses of a psalm:—
'There, arrows of the bow he brake;
The shield, the sword, the war.
More glorious thou than hills of prey,
More excellent are ar.
Those that were stout of heart are spoil'd,
They slept their sleep outright;
And none of those their hands did find,
That were the men of might.
When the report was made to Claverhouse, he gave the word with a savage ferocity, 'Their blood be on their own heads. Be—no quarter—the word this day.' His fierce dragoons raised a yell, and 'No quarter,' re-echoed from rank to rank, while they galloped down the mountain's side. It is stated that Burleigh was heard to say, 'Then be it so—even let there be 'no quarters---at least in my wing of the host. So God send me a meeting,' cried he aloud, 'with that chief under the white plumbe.---My country would bless my memory, could my sword give his villainous carcase to the crows.
Our raw troops beheld with firmness the approach of the foemen; and at'the moment when the enemy halted to fire, the whole of our foot dropped on the heath. Not a man was seen down when the order was given to rise, and return the fire. The first rank fired, then kneeling down while the second fired. They made each bullet tell. As often as the lazy rolling smoke was carried over the enemy's heads, a shower of bullets fell on his ranks. Many a gallant man tumbled on the heath. The fire was incessant. It resembled one blazing sheet of flame, for several minutes, along the line of the Covenanters. Clavers attempted to cross the morass, and broke our centre. 'Spearmen! to the front,'---I could hear the deep-toned voice of Hamilton say--'Kneel, and place your spears to receivr the enemy's cavalry: and you, my gallant follows fire---God and our country is our word.'----Our officers flew from rank to rank. Not a peasant give way that day. As the smoke rolled off, we could see Clavers urging on his men with the violence of despair. His troops fell in heaps around him, and still the gaps were filled up. A galled trooper would occasionally flinch; but ere he could turn or flee, the sword of Clavers was waving over his head. I could see him, in his fury, strike both man and horse. In the fearful carnage: he himself sometimes reeled. He would stop short in the midst of a movemant then contradict his own orders, and strike the man, because he could not comprehend his meaning.
He ordered flanking parties to take us on our right and left. "In the name of God," cried he, "cross the bog, and charge them on the flanks, till we get over this morass. If this fail, we are lost."
It now fell to my lot to come into action---Hitherto we had fired only some distant shot. A gallant officer led his band down to the borders of the swamp, in search of a proper place to cross. We threw ourselves before him, a severe firing commenced. My gallant men fired with great steadiness. We could sec many tumbling from their saddles. Not content with repelling the foe men, we found our opportunity, to cross, and attack them sword in hand. The Captain, whose name I afterwards ascertained to be Arrol, threw himself in my path. In the first shock, I discharged my pistols. His sudden start in his saddle, told me that one of them had taken effect. With one of the tremendous oaths of Charles II. he closed with me. He fired his steel pistol. I was in front of him;---My sword glanced on the weapon, and gavc a direction to the bullet, which saved my life. By this time, my men had driven the enemy before them, and had left the ground clear for the single combat. As he made a lounge at my breast, I turuod his sword aside, by one of those sweeping blows, which are rather the dictate of a kind of instinct of self defence, than a movement of art,— As our strokes redoubled, my antagonist's dark features put on a look of deep and settled ferocity. No man who has not encountered the steel of his enemy, in the field of battle, can conceive the looks and the manner of the warrior, in the moments of his intense feelings, May I never witness them again ! We fought in silence. My stroke fell on his left shoulder; it cut the belt of his carabine, which fell to the ground. His blow cut me to the rib, glanced along the bone, and rid me also of the weight of my carabine. He had now advanced too near me to be struck with the sword. I grasped him by the collar. I pushed him backwards; and, with an entangled blow of my Ferara, I struck him across his throat. It cut only the strap of his head-piece and it fell off With a sudden spring, he seized me by the sword belt. Our horses reared, and we both came to the ground. We rolled on the heath in deadly conflict. It was in this situation of matters, that my brave fellows had returned from the rout of the flanking party, to look after their commander. One of them was actually rushing on my antagonist, when I called on him to retire. We started to our fcet. Each grasped his sword. We closed on conflict again. After parrying strokes of mine enemy which indicated a hellish ferocity, I told him, my object was to take him prisoner; that sooner than kill him, I should order my men to seize him. 'Sooner let my soul be brandered on my ribs in hell," said he, 'than be captured by a Whigmore. No quarter’ is the word of my Colonel, and my word. Have at the Whig—I dare the whole of you to the combat."—"Leave the madman to me—leave the field instantly," said I to my party, whom I could hardly restrain. My sword fell on his right shoulder.—His sword dropped from his hand.—I lowered my sword, and offered him his life. 'No quarter,' said he with a shriek of despair. He snatched his sword, which I held in my hand, and made a lounge at my breast. I parried his blows till he was nearly exhausted; but, gathering up his huge limbs, he put forth all his energy in a thrust at my heart.—My Andro Ferrara received it, so as to weaken its deadly force; but it made a deep cut. Though I was faint with loss of blood, I left him no time for another blow. My sword glanced on his shoulder, cut through his buff coat, and skin, and flesh; swept through his jaw, and laid open his throat from ear to ear. The fire of his ferocious eye was quenched in a moment. He reeled, and falling with a terrible clash, he poured out his soul, with a torrent of blood, on the heath. I sunk down, insensible for a moment. My faithful men, who never lost sight of me, raised me up. In the fierce combat, the soldier suffers most from thirst. I stooped down, to fill my helmet with the water which oozed through the morass. It was deeply tinged with human blood, which flowed in the conflict above me. I started back with horror; and Gawn Witherspoon bringing up my steed, we sat forward in the tumult of the battle
All this while, the storm of war had raged on our left. Cleland and the fierce Burley had charged the strong company sent to flank them. These officers permitted them to cross the swamp, then, charged them with a terrible shout. 'No quarter', cried the dragoons. 'Be no quarter to you, then, ye murderous loons,' cried Burley; and at one blow he cut their leader through the steel cap, and scattered his brains on his followers. His every blow overthrew a foeman. Their whole forces were now brought up, and they drove the dragoons of Clavers into the swamp. They rolled over each other. All stuck fast. The Covenanters dismounted, and fought on foot. They left not one man to bear the tidings to their Colonel.
The firing of the platoons had long ago ceased, and the dreadful work of death was carried on by the sword. At thit moment, a trumpet was heard in the rear of our army. There was an awful pause, all looked up. It was only the gallant Captain Nesbit, and his guide, Woodburn of Mains: he had no reinforcements for us, but himself was a host. With a loud huzza, and flourish of his sword, he placed himself by the side of Burley, and cried, 'jump the ditch, and charge the enemy,' He and Burley struggled through tne marsh. The men followed as they could. They formed, and marched on the enemy's right flank.
At this instant, Hamilton and Hackstone brought forward the whole line of infantry in front. 'God and our Country' re-echoed from all the ranks.—'No quarters' said the fierce squadrons of Clavers.—Here commenced a bloody scene.
I seized the opportunity this moment offered to me, of makiug a movement to the left of the enemy, to save my friemd King and the other prisoners.—We came in time to save them. Our sword speedily severed the ropes which tyranny had bound on the arms of the men. The weapons of the fallen foe supplied what was lacking of arms; and with great vigour we moved forward to charge the enemy on the left flank. Claverhouse formed a hollow square—himself in tire centre. ; his men fought gallantly; they did all that soldiers could do in their situation. Wherever a gap was made, Clavers thrust the men forward, and speedily filled it up. Three times he rolled headlong on the heath, as he hastened from rank to rank, and as often he remounted. My little band thinned his ranks. He paid us a visit. Here I distinctly saw the features and shape of this far-famed man. He was small of stature, and not well formed; His arms were long in proportion to his legs; he had a complexion unusually dark; his features were not lighted up with sprightliness, as some fabulously reported; they seemed gloomy as hell; his eheeks were lank and deeply furrowed; his eye brows were drawn down, and gathered into a kind of knot at their junctions, and thrown up at their extremities; they had in short, the strong expression given by our painters to those on the face of Judas Iscariot; his eyes were hollow; they had not the lustre of genius nor the fire of vivacity; they were lighted up by that dark fire of wrath which is kindled and fanned by an internal anxiety, and conseiousness of criminal deeds; his irregular and large teeth were presented through a smile, which was very unnatural on his set of features; his mouth seemed to be unusually lar e, from the extremities being drawn backward and downward—as if in the intense application to something cruel and disgusting; in short, his upper teoth projected over his under lip, and on the whole, presented to my view the mouth on the imrge of the Emperor Julian the Apostate.—In one of his rapid courses past us, my sword could only shear off his white plum and a fragment of his buff eoat. In a moment he was at the other side of his square. Our offieers eagerly sought a meeting with him. 'He has the proof of lead.' cried some of our men.—'Take the cold steel or a piece of silver.' 'No,' cried Burley, 'It is his rapid movement on that fine eharger that bids defiance to any thing like an aim in the tumult of the bloody fray. I eould sooner shoot ten heather cooks on the wing, than one flying Clavers' At that moment, Burley, whose eye watched his antagonist' pushed into the hollow square. But Burley was too impatient. His blow was levelled at him before he came within its reach. His heavy sword descended on the head of Clavers'horse, and felled him to the ground.—Burley's men rushed pell-mell on the fallen Clavers, but his faithful dragoons threw themselves upon them, and by their overpowering force drove Burley back. Clavers was in an instant, on a fresh steed. His bugleman recalled the party who were driving back the flanking party of Burley. He collected his whole troops to make his last and desperate attack—He charged our infantry with such force, that they began to reel. It was only for a moment, The gallant Hamilton snatched the white flag of the Covenant, and placed himself in the fore-front of-the battle. Our men shouted 'God and our Country'. and rallied under their flag. They fought like heroes. Clavers fought no less bravely. His blows were aimed at our officers. His steel fell on the helmet of Hackstone, whose sword was entangled in the body of a fierce dragoon who had just wounded him. He was borne by his men into the rear. I directed my men on Clavers. 'Victory or death,' was their reply to me. Clavers received us. He struck a desperate blow at me, as he raised himself, with all his force, in the saddle. My steel cap resisted it. The second stroke I received on my Ferrara and his steel was shivered to pieces. We rushed headlong on each other. His pistol missed fire—it had been soaked in blood. Mine took effect. But the wound was not deadly. Our horses reared. We rolled on the ground. In vain we sought to grasp each other. In the mele, men and horse tumbled on us. We were for a few moments buried under our men, whose eagerness to save their respective officers brought them in multitudes down upon us. By the aid of my faithful man Gawn, I had extricated myself from my fallen horse; and we were rushing on the bloody Clavers, when we were again literally buried under a mass of men; for Hamilton had by this time brought up his whole line, and he had planted his standard where we and Clavers were rolling on the heath. Our men gave three cheers and drove in the troops of Clavers. Here I was borne along with the moving mass of men; and almost suffocated, and faint with the loss of blood, I knew nothing more till I opened my eye on my faithful attendant. He had dragged me from the very grasp of the enemy, and had borne me into the rear, and was bathing my temples with water. We speedly regained our friends; and what a spectacle presented itself!—It seemed that I beheld an immense moving mass heaped up together in the greatest confusion.—Some shrieking, some groaned, some shouted, horses neighed and pranced, swords rung on the steel helmets. I placed around me a few of my hardy men, and we rushed into the thickest of the enemy in search of Clavers, but it was in vain. At that instant his trumpet sounded the loud notes of retreat; and we saw on a knoll Clavers borne away by his men. He threw himself on a horse, and without sword, without helmet, he fled in the first ranks of their retreating host. His troops galloped up the hill in the utmost confusion. My little line closed with that of Burleys, and took a number of prisoners. Our main body pursued the enemy two miles, and strewed the ground with men and horses. I could see the bareheaded Clavers in front of his men kicking and struggling up the steep sides of Calder hill. He halted only a moment on the top to look behind him, then plunged his rowels into his horse, and darted forward: nor did he recover from his panic till he found himself in the city of Glasgow."
'And, my children,' the Laird would say, after he had told the adventures of this bloody day, 'I visited the field of battle next day; I shall never forget the sight. Men and horses lay in their gory beds. I turned away from the horrible spectacle. I passed by the spot where God saved my life in the single combat, and where the unhappy Captain Arrol fell, I observed that, in the subsequent fray, the body had been trampled on by a horse, and his bowels were poured out. Thus, my children, the defence of our lives, and the regaining of our liberty and religion, has subjected us to severe trials. And how great must be the love of liberty, when it carries men forward, under the impulse of self-defence, to witness the most disgusting spectacles, and to encounter the most cruel hardships of war!'
Battle of Bothwell Bridge.
"Heu! victa jacet pietas."
<nowiki>* * *<//nowiki>After the ranks of the patriotic Whigs where broken by overwhelming forces, and while Dalzell and Clavers swept the south and west of Scotland like the blast of the desart, breathing pestilence and death—the individual wanderers betook themselves to the caves and fastnesses of their rugged country. This was their situation chiefly from A. D 1680 to the Revolution. The Laird spent his days in seclusion; but still he fearlessly attended the weekly assemblies in the fields, for the worship of Almighty God. What had he to fear?—His estate had been confiscated. His wife and babes stript by the life-guards of the last remnant of earthly comfort which they could take away; and himself doomed, as an outlaw, to be executed by the military assassins when taken. He became reckless of the world.
'I have lived.' said he in anguish, 'to see a Prince twice, of his own choice, take the oath of the covenants to support religion, and the fundamental laws of the land. I have lived to see that Prince turn traitor to his country, and, with unblushing impiety, order these covenants to be burned by the hands of the executioner. I have seen him subvert the liberty of my country, both civil and religious—I have seen him erect a bloody inquisition. The priest imposed on us by tyranny. instead of wooing us over by the loveliness of religion, have thrown off the bowels of mercy. They occupy seats in the bloody Council. They stimulate the cruelties of Lauderdale, M'Kenzie and York. Their hands are dipt in blood to the wrests. This Council will not permit us to live in peace, Oour property they confiscate. Our houses they convert into barracks, They drag free men into chains. They bring no witnesses of our guilt.—They invent new tortures to convert us. They employ the thum-screws and bootkins. If we are silent they condemn us. If we confess our Christion creed, they doom us to the gibbet. Not only our sentance, but the manner of our execution, is fixed before our trial. Clavers is our judge; his dragoons are our executioners; and these savages do still continue to employ even the sagacity of blood hounds to hunt us down.—My soul turns away from these loathsome spectacles.'
At this moment his brother John entered, with looks which betrayed unusual anxiety. 'My brother,' said h e, a trooper advances at full speed, and he is followed by a dark column. We have not even time to fly'—The mind of the Laird like those of the rest of the wanderers, always brightened up at the approach of danger. 'Let ns reconnoitre,' said he, 'What do I see, but one trooper. And that motley cloud is but a rabble—not a troop. That trooper is not of Clovers' band; nor does he belong to Douglas—nor to Ingles—nor to Strachan’s dragoons. He waves a small flag. I can discover the scarlet and blue colour of the Covenanters' flag—Ha! welcome you, John Howie of Lochgoin— But what news?—Lives our country? Lives the good old cause?—'Glorious news,' exclaimed Howie.' Scotland for ever! She is free. The tyrant James has abdicated. The Stuarts are banished by an indignant nation. Orange triumphs, Our wounds are binding up.—Huzza! Scotland, and King William and the Covenant for ever!
The Laird made no reply. He laid his steel cap on the ground and threw himself on his knees; he uttered a brief prayer, of which this was the close: 'My bleeding country, and thy wailing Kirk, and my brethren in the furnace, have come in remembrance before thee. For ever lauded be thy name., —'Hasten to the meeting at Lesmahagow. Our friends behind me, you see, have already set out,' said Howie. And he set off with enthusiastic ardour to spread the news.
,These news,' said the Laird, after a long pause while his eyes followed the curser over the plains of Aven—' These news are to me as life from the dead. I have a mind to meet my old friends at Lesmahagow. And then, when serious business is dispatched, we can take Bothwell field in our return. It will yield me at least a melancholy pleasure to visit the spot where we fought, I trust, our last battle against the enemies of our country, and of the good old cause.
Serious matters of church and state having been discussed at the public meeting, the brothers found themselves, on the fourth day, on the battle ground of Bothwell.
'On that moor,' said the Laird, after a long silence—and, without being conscious of it, he had, by a kind of instinct, natural enough to a soldier, drawn his sword, and was pointing with it—! 'On that moor the enemy first formed under Monmouth, There, on the right, Clavers led on the life-guards, breathing fury, and resolute to wipe off the disgrace of the affair of Drumclog. Danzell formed his men on that knoll. Lord Livingstone led the van of the foemen. We had taken care to have Bothwell Bridge strongly secured by a barricade, and our little battery of cannon was planted on that spot below us, in order to sweep the bridge. And we did rake it. The foemen's blood streamed there. Again and again the troops of the tyrant marched on, and our cannon annihilated their columns. Sir Robert Hamilton was our Commander-in-Chief.— The gallant General Hackstone stood on that spot with his brave men. Along the river, and above the bridge, Burley's foot and Captain Nesbit's dragoons were stationed. For one hour we kept the enemy in check; they were defeated in every attempt to cross the Clyde. Livingstone sent another strong column to storm the bridge. I shall never forget the effect of one fire from our battery, where my men stood. We saw the line of the foe advance in all the military glory of brave and beautiful men; the horses pranced—the armour gleamed. In one moment nothing was seen but a shocking mass of mortality. Human limbs, and the bodies and limbs of horses were mingled in one huge heap, or blown to a great distance. Another column attempted to cross above the bridge. Some threw themselves into the current. One well-directed fire, from Burley's troops threw them into disorder, and drove them back. Meantime, while we were thus warmly engaged, Hamilton was labouring to bring down the different divisions of our main body into action; but in vain he called on Colonel Cleland's troop—in vain he ordered Henderson's to fall in—in vain he called on Colonel Fleming's. Hackstone flew from troop to troop—all was confusion; in vain he besought, he intreated, he threatened. Our disputes and fiery misguided zeal, my brother, contracted a deep and deadly gult that day. The Whig turned his arm in fierce heat that day against his own vitals. Our Chaplains, Cargil, and King, and Kid, and Douglas, interposed again and again, Cargil mounted the pulpit; he preached concord; he called aloud for mutual forbearance. 'Behold, the banners of the enemy,' cried he. 'hear ye not the fire of the foe, and of our own brethren? Our brothers and fathers are falling beneath their sword. Hasten to their aid. See the flag of the Covenant, See the motto in letters of gold--'Christ's Crown and the Covenant.' Hear the wailings of the bleed-Kirk. Banish discord. And let us, as a band of brothers, present a bold front to the foeman---Follow me, all ye who love your country and the Covenant. I go to die in the fore-front of the battle. All the ministers and officers followed him---amidst a flourish of trumpets---but the great body remained to listen to the harangues of the factious---We sent again and again for ammunition. My men were at the last round. Treachery, or a fatal error, had sen a barrel of raisins instead of powder. My heart sunk within me while I beheld the despair on the faces of my brave fellows, as I struck out the bead of the vessel. Hackstone called his officers to him. We threw ourselves around him.--- 'What must be done?' said he, in an agony of dsspair. 'Conquor or die-' we said, as if with one voice. 'We have our swords yet. Lead back the men to their places and let the ensign bear down the blue and scarlet colours. Our God and our country be the word.' Hackstone rushed forward, We ran to our respective corps- -we cheered our men, but they were languid and dispirited. Their ammuniton was nearly expended, and they seemed (illegible text)s to husband what remained. They fought (illegible text) with their earabines, The cannons eould no (illegible text) be loaded The enemy soon pereeived this. ⟨I⟩ asw a troup of horse approach the bridge. It ⟨was⟩ that of the life-guards. I recognized the plame ⟨of Clavers⟩. They approached in rapid march. A (illegible text) column of infantry followed. I sent a request ⟨to⟩ Captain Nesbit to join his troop to mine. He ⟨was⟩ in an instaint with us.--. We eharged the life-⟨guards⟩. Our swords rung on their steel caps---⟨many⟩ of my brave lads fell on all sides of me. But ⟨we⟩ hewed down the foe. They began to reel.---⟨The⟩ whole column was kept stationary on the ⟨bridge⟩. Clavers' dreadful voiee was heard --more ⟨like⟩ the yell of a savage, than the commanding ⟨voice⟩ of a soldier. He pushed forward his men, ⟨and⟩ again we hewed them down. A third mass ⟨was⟩ pushed up. Our exhausted dragoons fled.---(illegible text) supported, I found myself by the brave Nesbit, ⟨and⟩ Paton, and Hackstone. We looked for a moment's spaee in silence on each other. We galloped in front of our retreating men. We rallied ⟨them⟩. We pointed to the General almost alone. We pointed to the white and to the searlet colours ⟨floating⟩ near him. We eried, 'God and our Country'. They faeed about. We charged Clavers ⟨once⟩ more..-.'Torfoot,' cried Nesbit, I dare you ⟨to⟩ the fore-front of the battle. We rushed up at full gallop. Our men seeing this, followed also at full speed--We broke down the enemy's line, bearing down those files which we eneountered. We cut our way through their ranks. But thoy had now lengthened their front. Superior numbers drove us in They hade gained entire possession of the bridge. Livingstone and Dalzeil were actually taking us on the flank---A band had got between us and Burley's infantry. 'My friends.' said Hackstone to his officers, we are last on the field. We can do no more.—We must retreat.—Let us attempt, at least, to bring aid to the deluded men behind us. They have brought ruin on themselves and on us. Not Monmouth, but our own divisions have scattered us.'
At this moment one of the life-guards aimed ⟨a⟩ blow at Hackstone. My sword received it—and ⟨a⟩ stroke from Nesbit laid the foeman's hand and sword in the dust. He fainted and tumbled from his saddle. We reined our horses, and galloped to our main body. But what a scene presented itself here! These misguided men had their eyes now fully opened on their fatal errors. The enemy where bringing up their whole force against them. I was not long a near spectator of it; for a ball grazed my courser. He plunged and reared—then shot off like an arrow. Several of out officers drew to the same place. On a knoll we faced about— the battle raged below us. We beheld our commander doing evey thing that a brave soldier could do with factous men against an overpowering foe. Burley and his troops were in close conflict with Clavers' dragoons. We saw him dismount three troopers with his own hand. He could not turn the tide of battle, but he was covering the retreat of these misguided men. Before we could rejoin him, a party threw themselves in our way. Kennoway, one of Clavers' officers led them on. 'Would to God that this was Grahame himself,' some of my comrades ejaculated aloud. 'He falls to my share,' said I, 'whoever the officer be.'—I advanced—he met me. I parried several thrust, He received a cut on the left arm; and the swords by the same stroke, shore off one of his horse's ears; it plunged nad reared. We closed again. I received a stroke on the left shoulder. My blow fell on his sword arm. He reined his horse around retreated a few paces, then returned at full gallop My courser reared instinctively as he approached, I received his stroke on the back of my ferrara; and by a back stroke, I gave him a deep cut on the cheek. And before he could recover a position of defence, my sword fell with a terrible blow on his steel cap. Stunned by the blow, he bent himself forward—and, grasping the mane, he tumbled from his saddle, and his steed galloped over the field. I did not repeat the blow. His left hand presented his sword; his right arm was disabled: his life was given to him My companions having disposed of their antagonists, (and some of them had two a piece,) we paused to see the fate of the battle. Dalzell and Livingstone were riding over the field, like furies, cutting down all in their way Monmouth was galloping from rank to rank, and calling on his men to give quarter. Clavers, to wipe off the disgrace of Drumclog, was committing fearful havoc, 'Can we not find Clavers, said Halhead.—'No,' said Captain Paton, 'the gallant Colonel takes care to have a solid gaurd of his rogues about him I have sought him over the field; but I found him, as I now perceive him, with a mass of his guards about him.' At this instant we saw our General, at some distance, disentangling himself from thc men who had tumbled over him in the melt. His face, and hands, and clothes were covered with gore. He had been dismounted, and was fighting on foot. We rushed to the spot, and cheered him. Our party drove back the scattered bands of Dalzell. 'My friends,' said Sir Robert, as we mounted him on a stray horse, 'the day is lost! But—you, Paton; you Brownlee of Torfoot. and you Halhead; let not that flag fall into the hands of these incurnate devils. We have lost the battle, but by the grace of God, neither Dalzel. nor Clavers shall say that he took our colours. My ensign has done his duty He is down. This sword has saved it twice. I leave it to your care. You see its perilous situation.' He pointed with his sword to the spot.— We collected some of our scattered troops, and flew to the place. The standard bearer was down, but he was still fearlessly grasping the flag staff, while he was borne upright by the mass of men who had thrown themselves in fierce contest around it. Its well known blue and scarlet colours, and its motto, 'Christ's crown and covenant,' in brilliant gold letters, inspired us with a sacred enthusiasm.— We gave a loud cheer to the wounded ensign, and rushed into the combat. The redemption of that flag cost the foe many a gallant man. They fell beneath our broad swords; and, with horrible execrations dying on their lips, they gave up their souls to their Judge.
Here I met in front that ferocious dragoon of Clavers, named Tam Halliday, who had more than once, in his raids, plundered my halls; and had snatched the bread from my weeping babes. He had just seized the white staff of the flag. But his tremendous oath of exhultation, (we of the covenant never swear)—his oath had scarcely passed its polluted threshold, when this Andro Ferrarra fell on the guard of his steel and shivered it to pieces. 'Recreant loon?' said I, 'thou shall this day remember thy evil deeds.' Another blow on his helmet laid him at his huge length, and made him bite the dust. In the mele that followed, I lost sight of him. We fought like lions—but with the hearts of Christians. While my gallant companion stemmed the tide of battle, the standard, rent to tatters, fell across my breast. I tore it from the staff, and wrapt it round my body. We cut our way through the enemy, and carried our General off the field.
Having gained a small knoll, we beheld ⟨once⟩ more the dreadful spectacle below. Thick volumes of smock and dust rolled in a lazy cloud over the dark bands mingled in deadly fray. It was no longer a battle, but a massacre. In the struggle of my feelings I turned my eyes on the General and Paton. I saw, in the face of the latter, an indiscribable conflict of passions. His long and shaggy eye-brows were drawn over his eyes. His hand grasped his sword. 'I cannot yet leave the field,' said the undaunted Paton—'With the General's permission, I shall try to save some of our wretched men beset by those hell-hounds. Who will go?—At Kilsyth I saw service. When deserted by my troops, I cut my way through Montrose's men, and reached the spot where Colonels Halket and Strachan were. We left the field together. Fifteen dragoons attacked us. We cut down thirteen, and two fled. Thirteen next assailed us. We left ten on the field, and three fled. Eleven Highlanders next met us. We paused, and cheered each other: 'Now, Jonny,' cried Halket to me. 'put forth your metal, else we are gone,' Nine others we sent after their comrades, and two fled———Now, who will join this raid!'[1] 'I will be your leader.' said Sir Robert, as we fell into the ranks.
We marched on the enemy's flank. 'Yonder is Clavers,' said Paton, while he directed his courser on him. The bloody man was, at that moment, nearly alone, hacking to pieces some poor fellows already on their kness disarmed, and imploring him by the common feelings of humanity to spare their lives. He had just finished his usual oath against their 'feelings of humanity,' when Paton presented himself. He instantly let go his prey and slung back into the midst of his troopers. Having formed them, he advanced.— We formed, and made a furious onset. At our first charge his troop reeled. Clavers was dismounted.— But at that moment Dalzel assailed us on the flank and rear.———Our men fell around us like grass before the mower. The buglemen sounded a retreat. Once more in the mele I fell in with the General and Paton, We were covered with wounds. We directed our flight in the rear of our broken troops. By the direction of the General I had unfurled the standard. It was borne off the field flying at the sword's point. But that honour cost me much. I was assailed by three fierce dragoons; five followed close in the rear. I called to Paton,—in a moment he was by my side. I threw the standard to the General, and we rushed on the foe. They fell beneath our swords; but my faithful steed, which had carried me through all my dangers, was mortally wounded. He fell. I was thrown in among the fallen enemy. I fainted. I opened my eyes on misery. I found myself in the presence of Monmouth—a prisoner—with other wretched creatures, awaiting, in awful suspence, their ultimate destiny. ****
W. C. B
FINIS
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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- ↑ This chivalrous defence is recorded, I find in the life of Captain Paton, in the 'Scots Worthies,' Edin, edit of A.D. 1812. This celebrated Officer was trained up to warfare in the army of Charles Gustavus, King of Sweden. This is a specimen of those heroic Whigs who brought about the Revolution of A.D. 1688.