13
their post, while he formed his infantry in the or- der of battie.
The Highlanders, in the mean time, kept up
to close a fire, and took so good aim, that the assailants being soon broken, retreated with pre- cipitation, and fell in amongst the infantry, who were likewise incommoded by the wind and the rain beating with great violence in their faces. Some of the dragoons rallied, and again advan- ced to the charge with part of the infantry, which had not been engaged; upon which Charles marched up at the head of his corps de reserve consisting of the regiment of Lord John Drum- mond, and the Irish piquets. These joining the Camerons and the Stuarts in the front line, im- mediately obliged the dragoons to give way a second time, and they again disordered the foot in their retreat, so that the King's troops, at length, set fire to their camp, and abandoned Falkirk with their baggage and artillery; the last of which never reached the field of battle. The rebels followed their first blow, and great part of the royal army, after one irregular dis- charge, turned their backs, and fled in the ut- most consternation. Few or none of them, per- haps, would have escaped, had not General Huske and Brigadier Cholmondely rallied part of some regiments, and made a gallant resistance
