Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-08-20

AUGUST 90, Il
been the grandest display of the kind that
ever took place in the Castle or in any part
of Scotland.
In the Esplanade, that is in the level
ground inclosed by the wall but not occu-
pied by buildings, is the statue of Robert
the Bruce, or as we usually say Robert Bruce.
1t stands within few feet of the north wall.
The pedestal, which is six feet square and
ten high, is composed of eleven stones or
blocks of stone which were, l was told,
brought from the Fairloans Quarry, North
cumberland. On this pedestal stands the
satue of Bruce. tits life size-heroic size
being nearly eleven feet high. The hero is
clad in chain armor and his face is turned
toward Bannockburn which he seems to be
viewing with that JOY which an individual
experiences when contemplating trials and
difficulties just overcome and victory just
won. He is in the act of sheathing his
sword. His left hand holds the scabbard
and With his right hand he is pushing the
blade to rest. Livery thing is very express
sive and does lasting honor TO Andrew
Currie, the sculptor who desigRea- II.
Around the whole there is palisade made
of sharp pointed iron bars so that no one
can put his hand on any part of the monu-
ment. On one side of the shaft or centre
block of the pedestal is engraved, "King
Robert the Bruce. June oath, 1914" This
being the date of the Battle of Bannock-
burn. On another side is engraved battle
axe which is said to have been copied ex-
actly from battle axe in the Antiquarian
Museum in Edinburg. This original battle
axe is pointed out to every visitor OF the
Antiquarian Museum and he Is told that
it was found at certain time Il forget
when) on the Field of Bannockburn.
Although the Scotch and English are, so
far as government is concerned, one people,
the Scotch still cherish the memory of
"Robert the Bruce" and to the Field of
Bannockburn they look back with national
pride.
The Field of Bannockburn lies south or
south east of Stirling some five or six miles.
1t takes its name from small stream called
Bannockburn, which empties into the river
was at that time, Q314) and had been for
ten years, in the possession of the English.
1t was however, besieged by Edward Bruce,
the brother of Robert. So hard pressed was
the governor, Sir Philip Mowbry, that he
had proposed truce and agreed to surren-
der on certain day if not relieved. The
time had nearly expired and Edward the
Second was anxious to reinforce the garrl-
son. Bruce was just as anxious that REIN
forcements should not reach the garrison.
Eight hundred cavalry were sent by the
English to relieve the garrison and had
nearly reached the town when they were
met by five hundred infantry under Ran
dolph and defeated. This was on the morn
nockburn. On the evening of the same day
while Robert Bruce was marshaling his
forces Sir Henry DeBohun discovered him,
and thinking that an opportunity was al
forded him for covering himself with glory,
and ending the Scottish war with single
blow with his battle axe or thrust with his
lance, prepared for single encounter with
the Scotch King. With his lance cOuched
he rushed against Bruce. DeBohun rode
a powerful war horse, while Bruce was
mounted upon light, insignificant pony:
Bruce awaited his arrival as if determined
to risk the shock. DeBohun was confident
that he had nothing to do but dash his pow
eriul horse against the pony of Bruce and he
the moment that DeBohun was reaching
Bruce the latter turned his pony little to
the left and DeBohun's horse failed to strike
him. AS DeBohun passed by, Bruce struck
him on the head with his battle axe with
blow which dashed hemlet and head into
fragments and DeBohun lay at his feet a
dead man.
"High on his stirrups stood the king,
And gave his battle axe the swing.
Right on DeBohun, the whiles he passed,
Felt that stern dint-the first the last"
The Scotch mobiles reproved Bruce for his
exposing himself to so great danger. He
stood gazing upon his battle axe and when
they finished their remonstrances he calm
1..o Lo, hrD1, n haiti
The next day, Monday, June Oath, 1914,
The English were one hundred thousand
strong, while, although Bruce had summon
ed all the Scotch to meet him at TolWood, he
was able to muster only forty thousand
men. Bruce selected a position favorable
for a few against many. The English
marched from Falkirk. Bruce formed his
line of battle near the Bannockburn, whose
banks were steep and covered with brush
wood. On his right and left were quag-
mires. The only way by which the En-
glish could approach to make the attack
was over the narrow space four or five hun
dred yards wide between the two quag-
mires. In addition to this they were forced
to cross Bannockburn. The baggage of the
Scotch army and the camp followers of
whom, formerly, there were vast multi
hill, which has ever since been called Gill
lies Hill, from the fact gillie is Gallo word
which means servant or follower Of an
army.
The battle began early in the morning.
AS column after column Of the English
marched forward to the contest, the Abbott
of Inchaffray, bare-footed and bare-headed,
walked along the Scottish line. The SOL
diers kneeled to receive his benedictions.
The king of England asked Umfravlle, a
Scotchman who had joined the English, if
he thought the Scotch would ''abide battle" J"
Umfraville replied they would and advised
the king to retreat, but the king seeing the
Scotch soldiers kneeling jumped to the con.
clusion that "they were craving mercy"
"They are," replied Umfraville, "but it is
from heaven, not from your highness.",
At this instant Edward ordered the attack
to be made. Five hundred chosen English
cavalry dashed against the Scotch line with
maddened fury. 1t was to be cut down by
the Claymores and Lochabar axes. The
English columns began to waver and melt
away. Just at this particular crisis, the mul-
titude of camp followers, led by idle curl
osity, or by something no better but possibly
worse, were seen by the English on the
crest of Gillies' Hill. Mistaking these for
reinforcements which Robert Bruce had
placed in ambush behind the hill, the Eng
lish became panic stricken and fled. Thirty
thousand Englishmen lay dead on the
ground. Edward fled almost alone to Ber-
wick, not covered with honor, but with de.
feat. The immediate effect of the battle of
Bannockburn, was to crush the English and
give confidence to the Scotch. An English
historian, in speaking Of the effect of the
battle of Bannockburn says: "a hundred
English would not be ashamed to fly from
three or four Scottish soldiers, so much had