| The Duke of Cumberland had been informed of
the night march towards Nairn by some Highland spies whom he had in his pay, and who had
mixed with the insurgents as they marched; but the spies were ignorant of the intended
surprise, which was kept a profound secret from the Highland army. Judging from the
intelligence brought by the last parson that arrived in his camp, that the Highlanders
were coming directly in his front, the duke considered himself free from surprise, as the
Argyleshire men lay on the plain to the west of his camp, while a party of dragoons
patrolled all night between Nairn and the sea. He therefore ordered his men to take some
rest, but to keep their arms in readiness. He appears not to have anticipated an attack
during the night, but to have imagined that Charles merely meant to take ground during the
night, and to attack him early next morning. In expectation of a battle, the duke had
formed his army by break of day, and, having ascertained that the Highland army had
retreated, he began his march towards Inverness about five o'clock. The English army had,
as anticipated, celebrated the birth-day of their commander; but although they were amply
supplied with bread, cheese, and brandy, at the duke's expense, the men had not exceeded
the bounds of moderation. Before commencing the
march, written instructions, which had been communicated to the commanders of the
different regiments, were read at the head of every company in the line. These
instructions were, that if the persons to whom the charge of the train or baggage horses
was entrusted should abscond or leave them, they should be punished with immediate death;
and that if any officer or soldier misconducted himself during the engagement, he should
be sentenced. The infantry marched in three parallel divisions or columns, of five
regiments each, headed by General Huske on the left, Lord Sempill on the right, and
General Mordaunt in the centre. The artillery and baggage followed the first column on the
right, and the dragoons and horse, led by Generals Hawley and Bland, were on the left,
forming a fourth column. Forty of Kingston's horse and Argyleshire men formed the van.
The charge of forming the Highland army in line of battle
on this important occasion was intrusted to O'Sullivan, who acted in the double capacity
of adjutant and Quarter-master general. This officer, in the opinion of Lord George
Murray, a high authority certainly, was exceedingly unfit for such a task, and committed
gross blunders on every occasion of moment. In the present instance, he did not even visit
the ground where the army was to be drawn up, and he committed a "fatal error"
by omitting to throw down some park walls upon the left of the English army, which were
afterwards taken possession of by the Duke of Cumberland, it being found afterwards
impossible to break the English lines, from the destructive flank-fire which was opened
from these walls upon the right of the Highland army, as it advanced to the attack. While
the Duke of Cumberland was forming his line of battle, Lord George Murray was very
desirous to advance and throw down these walls; but as such s movement would have broken
the line, the officers about him considered that the attempt would be dangerous, and he
therefore did not make it. |
