Page:History of Prince Charles Edward Stuart.pdf/15

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

15

the troops at Edinburgh, consisting of fourteen battalions of infantry, two regiments of dragoons, nd twelve of Highlanders, from Argyleshire, under the eommand of Colonel Campbell. On the last day of January, his Royal Highness be- gan his mareh to Linlithgow, and the enemy, Who had renewed the siege of Stirling Castle, not only abandoned that enterprişe, but erossed the river Forth with precipitation, while Charles found great difficulty in maintaining his troops, is that part of the country was quite exhausted. Hoping, however, to be reinforced in the High- lands, and to receive supplies of all kinds from Franee and Spain, he retired by Badenoch to- wards Inverness, which the Earl of Loudon a- bandoned on his approach. The fort surrender- ed to him almost without opposition, and here he fixed his head quarters. The Duke of Cum- berland having seeured the important posts of Stirling and Perth with the Hessian battalions advanced with his army to Aberdeen, where he was joined by the Duke of Gordon, and other persons of distinction. While he remained in this place, the rebels surprised, at the village of Keith, a detachment of Kingston's horse, and a- bout seventy Argyleshire Highlanders, who were all either killed or taken. Several advanced parties of the militia met with the same fate in