| Lord George Murray, - who had never
contemplated any thing but a surprise, and whose calculation of reaching Nairn by two
o'clock in the morning would have been realised had the whole line marched with the same
celerity as the first four or five regiments, - would have been perfectly justified in the
unexpected situation in which he was placed, in at once ordering a retreat but desirous of
ascertaining the sentiments of the officers about him, he requested them to state their
views of the course they thought it most advisable to adopt. There were several gentlemen
present, who, having joined the Athole brigade as volunteers, had marched all night in the
front: and as the Duke of Perth, Lord John Drummond, and the other officers, seemed at a
loss what to resolve upon, Lord George Murray requested the volunteers to give their free
opinion, ass they were all equally interested in the consequences. Without hesitation all
these gentlemen, eager to come to an engagement, were of a different opinion, in which
they were backed by Lord George Murray, who observed that if they could have made the
attack within the time prescribed they would certainly have succeeded, especially if they
could have surprised the enemy; but to attack in daylight an army that was nearly double
their number, and which would be prepared to receive them, would be considered an act of
madness. Among the volunteers the most conspicuous
was Mr. Hepburn of Keith. While arguing for an attack with Lord George Murray, the beating
of a drum was heard in the Duke of Cumberland's camp. "Don't you hear," said
Lord George; "the enemy are alarmed; we can't surprise them." "I never
expected," said Hepburn, "to find the red coats asleep; but they will be drunk
after solemnising the Duke of Cumberland's birth-day. It is much better to march on and
attack them than to retreat, for they will most certainly follow, and oblige us to fight
when we shall be in a much worse condition to fight them than we are now." While this
altercation was going on, Mr. John hay, then acting as interim-secretary to the prince
instead of Secretary Murray, who was unwell, came up and informed Lord George that the
line had joined. Gathering from the conversation he overheard that a retreat was resolved
upon, he began to argue against it, but being unsuccessful he immediately rode back to
Charles, who was in the rear of the first column, and told him that unless he came to the
front and ordered Lord George to go on nothing would be done. Charles, who was on
horseback, rode forward immediately towards the front, to ascertain the cause of the halt,
and on his way met the van in full retreat. He was no doubt surprised at this step, and in
a temporary fit of irritation, is said to have remarked that Lord George Murray had
betrayed him. |
