| In consequence of the unwillingness of the
left to advance first as directed, Lord George Murray had sent the order to attack from
right to left; but, hurried by the impetuosity of the Mackintoshes, the right and centre
did not wait till the order, which required some minutes in the delivery. had been
communicated along the line. Thus the right and centre had the start considerably, and
quickening their pace as they went along, had closed with the front line of the English
army before the left had got half way over the ground that separated the two armies. the
difference between the right and centre and the left was rendered still more considerable
from the circumstance, as noted by an eye-witness, that the two armies were not exactly
parallel to one another, the right of the prince's army being nearer the duke's army than
the left. Nothing could be more unfortunate for the prince than this isolated attack, as
it was only by a general shock of the whole of the English line that he had any chance of
a victory. The clan regiments on the left of the
line, apprehensive that they would be flanked by Pulteney's regiment and the horse which
had been brought up from the corps de reserve, did not advance sword in hand. After
receiving the fire of the regiments opposite to them, they answered it by a general
discharge, and drew their swords for the attack; but observing that the right and centre
had given way, they turned their backs and fled without striking a blow. Stung to the
quick by the misconduct of the Macdonalds, the brave Keppoch, seeing himself abandoned by
his clan, advanced with his drawn sword in one hand and his pistol in the other; but he
had not proceeded far, when he was brought down to the ground by a musket-shot. He was
followed by Donald Roy Macdonald, formerly a lieutenant in his own regiment, and now a
captain in Clanranald's, who, on Keppoch's falling, entreated him not to throw away his
life, assuring him that his wound was not mortal, and that he might easily join his
regiment in the retreat; but Keppoch refused to listen to the solicitations of his
clansman, and, after recommending him to take care of himself, the wounded chief received
another shot, and fell to rise no more.
Fortunately for the Highlanders, the English army did not
follow up the advantages it had gained by an immediate pursuit. Kingston's horse at first
followed the Macdonalds, some of whom were almost surrounded by them, but the horse were
kept in check by the French piquets, who brought them off. The dragoons on the left of the
English line were in like manner kept at bay by Ogilvy's regiment, which faced about upon
them several times. After these ineffectual attempts, the English cavalry on the right and
left met in the centre, and the front line having dressed its ranks, orders were issued
for the whole to advance in pursuit of the Highlanders. |
