The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-09-27
kilIiecrankie.

During the battle of Kllliecrankie, or
of Renrorie, as the Highlanders call it,
one of those incidents occurred which
were too frequent in those troubled
times. Sir Even Cameron, of Loehiel,
with his clan, had joined Lord Dundee
in the service of the abdicated King,
while his second son, captain in the
Scotch Fusiliers, was under General
Mackay, on the side of the Govern
ment. As the General was observing
the Highland army drawn up on the
face of hill, little above the house
of Uuard, to the westward of the great
Pass, he turned round to young Cam
eron, who stood next him. and point
ng to the Camerons, said-"Here is
your father, with his wild savages; how
would you like to be with him?' sit
signifies little,' replied the other,
"what l would like: but 1 recommend
you to be prepared, or perhaps my
father and his wild savages may be
nearer to you before night than you
would like"
And so it happened; Dundee de-
layed his attack till, according to an
eyewitness, ''the suns gong down,
when the Highland men advanced nus
like madmen, without shoes or stock
ings, covering themselves from our fire
with their targets. At least they cast
away their muskets, drew their broad
swords and advanced furiously uoon
us, and obliged us to retreat; some fled
to the water, some another way"
Never were such strokes given in
Europe as were given that day by the
Highlanders. ''Many of General Mac
kay's officers and soldiers were cut
down through the skull and neck to the
very breast, others had their skulls cut
off above their ears, like night-caps;
some soldiers had both their bodies and
cross belts cut through at one blow;
and pixies and small-swords were cut
like willows" In short, the charge
was like torrent, and the route COM
plete; but Dundee fell early in the at
tack. The CONSERVATION occasioned
by the death of the General prevented
an immediate pursuit through the great
Pass. If they had been closely fol-
lowed, and if a few men had been
placed at the southern entrance, not a
man of the Kings troops would have
escaped. This uninterrupted retreat
caused General Mackay to conclude
that some misfortune had befallen
Lord Dundee. Certainly" said he,
''Dundee has been killed, or L could
not thus be permitted to retreat" The
force of the attack was irresistible.
After the right of the line had given
way the regiments on the centre and
left (the left being covered by the river
Garry, and the right by woody preci
pice below the house of Urrard) stood
their ground, and for short time
withstood the shock of the Highlanders'
charge with the broadsword; but at
length they gave way on all sides.
Hastings Regiment fed through the
Pass, on the north side. The Fusiliers,
dashing through the river, were fol-
lowed by the Highlanders, one party of
whom pressed on the rear, while the
others climbed up the hills on the south
side of the Pass, and having no
ammunition rolled down stones, and
killed several of the soldiers before
they crossed the river at Invergarry.
This was the only attempt to pursue.
In this battle Lochiel was attended by
the son of his foster-brother. This
faithful adherent followed HIM like his
shadow, ready to assist him with his
sword, or cover him from the shot of
the enemy. Soon after the battle began
the chief missed his friend from his
side, and turning round to look what
had become of him, saw him lying on
his back with his breast pierced by an
arrow. He had hardly breath enough
before he expired to tell Lochiel that
seeing an enemy-a Highlander III
General Mackay's army-aimlng at him
with bow and arrow from the rear,
he sprang behind him and thus shell
tered him from death by receiving
himself the fatal shaft.
"DD 1t fall on the buttered sidep"
asked the landlady of the boarder who
1 dropped a slice of bread on the floor.
Without looking at the fallen piece the
cruel young man replied:
L., q. -