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Forster, with the English lords and their relations, took up their quarters at a house belonging to the dutchess of Buccleuch; but the accommodation for the rest of the army was most miserable. We may also notice here, that after joining the horse, the Highlanders mounted guard and did all the duty, and at Hawick the advance guard about midnight perceived a party of horse patrolling on their front, when they gave the alarm, and all ran cheerfully to arms. It was clear moonlight, which enabled them to form in very good order, and the design being answered, which was only to see if the Highlanders would stand to their arms, they were soon advertised that it was only their friends whom they had mistaken for enemies, and all returned quietly to their quarters, the simple Highlanders probably never in the least suspecting the true reason of the alarm. Next day being Sabbath they marched to Langholm, whence at night they pushed forward a detachment of four hundred horse to Ecclefechan, under the command of the earl of Carnwath, to block up Dumfries, till the main body should arrive to attack it. In the meantime, general Carpenter entered Jedburgh in pursuit of them, and the magistrates of Dumfries, with the assistance of the loyal gentlemen in the neighbourhood, had again made the best dispositions for giving them a warm reception, should they have the temerity to make the threatened attack.*

The marquis of Annandale had fortunately requested of the duke of Argyle a few half-pay officers to assist in training the militia within his lieutenancy, and they had been sent accordingly from Glasgow some days before this. Under the direction of these officers, a great many hands had been set to work to fortify Dumfries, and put it in a condition to resist any sudden attack of an enemy. "All the gates and avenues were built up with stone, except the bridge and Lochmaben gate. A line was drawn from the river to the church-yard-which was strongly fortified on the east and north quarters—and thence through the meadow and grounds to the highway without Lochmaben gate; and on the other side of the same it ran

* Patten's History of the Rebellion, pp. 68, 69.

east, turning round towards the north-west and then to the south-east corner of the Christal Chapel, making a covered way, in form of a half moon and bastion. From the southwest corner of the same chapel another line was drawn some what parallel to the former for the safety and conveniency of the men, in case the enemy should form on the fields between that and the Loreburn, which was also intrenched. The enclosure, or meadow, between that and the highway leading to the townhead-which was built up with stone as above-was sufficiently fortified by a strong trench on the inside of the hedge. And on the other side of the same highway—at the Moat-between it and the river, another trench was cast up in form of a bastion; but these trenches could not be got finished that week."+

The militia had not yet been raised, but the town was reenforced with above two thousand volunteers, ready and willing to venture all in so good a cause. They were not, indeed, without discouragement from traitors among themselves, one of whom had the effrontery to go through the several quarters of the town telling the countrymen who had come in to defend it," that the town would certainly surrender, and they would all be cut off." He was, however, instantly apprehended and committed to prison. Proclamation was also made through the town that whatever malicious stories might be reported by the enemies of his majesty's government, the town would be defended to the last extremity." There were also emissaries of a still more desperate character among them who attempted to set the town on fire; and to provide against such diabolical practices, or to counteract their evil effects, was no small trouble to the magistrates, besides all their other cares.

On the morning of the thirtieth, being the Sabbath, and the rebels having come the length of Langholm, an alarm was beat through Dumfries, making intimation to the workmen, who had scrupled to work on the Lord's day, to repair

• This chapel is so called from having been erected by king Robert Bruce in honour of the Virgin Mary, and in memory of his brother-in-law, Christal Seaton (the third of that name) of Winton, who was beheaded there by king Edward I. of England, because he would not submit to his usurpation.

Rae's History of the Rebellion, p. 274.

to the trenches immediately, which, seeing the necessity of the case, they did with great cheerfulness. "Several trees were cut down in the church-yard in time of sermon, and split into stakes to secure a dam through the mill burn, to raise water to fill the trenches, and stop the passage of the enemy's horse through the meadows." At the same time a number of masons threw down the east and back walls of the chapel, levelling them to a convenient height for resting firelocks on, and the stones being driven down to the highway were built into a redoubt.

Monday morning early, intelligence having arrived that the advance guard of the rebels was at Ecclefechan, only eight miles distant, an alarm was sounded for every one to repair to his place, whether townsman or stranger, which accordingly they did with the most undaunted courage. A corps of reserve, consisting of two hundred men and three pieces of cannon was posted in the centre of the town ready to re-enforce that quarter where the attack should be made. The surgeons also attended at the several posts assigned them with every thing ready for service in case of an engagement. It was on this emergency that an express was sent to Mr. John Hepburn, and those who were with him in arms at Kirkmahoe. Supposing that matters had come to an extremity, and that the town was actually attacked, he hesitated not with his little band, to march instantly to their assistance; and though he did not enter the town, he remained in its vicinity till the danger was over, by the rebels taking the direct road to England.* What would have been the fate of the town had the attack been made, it was impossible then to determine, and it is now useless to inquire. Of military skill there was not a great stock on either side. Numbers were in favour of the citizens, and they would certainly have fought with many advantages. History, too, records many examples of cities less amply provided, defending themselves successfully against armies far more numerous, and at least as well prepared as those infatuated insurgents could possibly be.

After having continued under arms all the Monday, and all

* Rae's History of the Rebellion, p. 272.

the night following, and after the whole body of the rebels had marched two miles from Langholm towards Dumfries, the citizens were saved from making any farther proof of their resolution by some of the leading rebels still insisting upon the great and manifold advantages of marching into England, from which they either had or pretended to have letters inviting them thither, with the assurance of twenty thousand men in Lancashire being ready to join them. This, with an express at the same time setting forth the preparations made in Dumfries for their reception, finally turned the scale; they made a feint on the Blacket Ridge, where they halted a considerable tim waiting for orders, which at last came forth, to march into Cumberland. The detachment at Ecclefechan was ordered to wheel about for Longtown, whither the whole army directed its march the same day, with the exception of five hundred of the Highlanders, who, though their leaders had been gained by fair promises, could on no account be prevailed upon to go over the border, choosing rather, as they said, to surrender themselves prisoners than go forward to certain destruction. The earl of Winton, declaring, "they were taking the way to ruin themselves," also went off with a good part of his troop. He shortly, however, returned, though not at all satisfied with their proceedings. The small pieces of cannon they had brought from Kelso they left at Langholm, having nailed them up so as to render them unfit for service; and they all met at Longtown, within nine miles of Carlisle, after a very fatiguing march.*

In the meantime, the five hundred refractory Highlanders set out for the heads of the Forth, taking their route through the muirs by Lockerby. They were only, however, rushing upon that fate they wished to avoid. Ten of them were taken at Brieryhill by a Robert Jardine and some country people, and brought prisoners to Dumfries. The remainder kept together till they had passed through Moffat; but, unable to find provisions in a body, they dispersed at Erickstone, some of them

* Patten's History of the Rebellion, p. 72. Life of John, Duke of Argyle, p. 216.

taking their way through Crawford muir towards Douglas, and others going on by Lammington. Some countrymen in Annandale, having observed them on their march through that district, posted to Lammington, where they arrived about midnight, with intelligence of the retreat, and that the fugitives were already in their bounds. Expresses were immediately sent to the well affected in the neighbouring parishes of Crawford, Crawfordjohn, Douglas, Roberton, Wistoun, Biggar, Skirling, Coulter, and Kilbucho, to assemble next morning by the rising of the sun at the bridge of Clyde. Accordingly, next morning, November the second, the lairds of Lammington, Nisbet, Gillespine, Mosscastle, Baillie Vallenge from Biggar, Mr. Mitchell, factor to Hertrie, Mr. Baillie, in Moat, and many other gentlemen, with a multitude of people from the foresaid parishes, all well armed and accoutred, assembled at the place appointed, and being there informed that these poor unfortunate wanderers had been seen in the hills above Lammington, they marched thither in several parties, and, after a long search, found upwards of two hundred of them in different bodies, whom they conducted prisoners to the church of Lammington, and sent in next day to Lanark. The miners at Hopeton and Wanlockhead, and the people of Douglas, took up in small parties about sixty more of them, who were likewise sent prisoners to Lanark, and thence to Glasgow.* These, with some few that were taken about Sanquhar, Carnwath, Linton, and other places, made above three hundred that were certainly made prisoners. How many of them fell by famine, by fatigue, or in inglorious struggles with the peasantry, to whom they were peculiarly obnoxious, has not been recorded; but it is probable very few of them ever regained their native hills.

ton.

The main body of the rebels having rested one night at Longtown, proceeded next day, November the first, to BrampHere Forster opened his commission to act as general in England, and took upon him the command accordingly. The pretender was here proclaimed with the usual formalities, and all the public money secured for his use. Here too, Kenmure

* Rae's History of the Rebellion, pp. 278, 279.

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