The Virginia Gazette Foreign News July 11, 1746

Extract of a Letter from Edinburgh, April 22.

On Saturday last the Jacobites spread abroad the News of our Army's being defeated, and the Duke taken Prisoner; but Sunday Morning changed their Notes and baulk'd their Wishes: for about 3 o'Clock, the Castle and Ships in the Road fired, upon Information of the Duke's having entirely defeated the Rebels.

Early on Wednesday Morning Mr. Sullivan advised, that they should fall upon the Duke as his Army was overwhelmed with Sleep and Wine, the Day before being his Royal Highness's Birth-Day. But the Rebels were not a little surprised to find the Duke had Intelligence of their March, and was ready to receive them. They at first retreated, but soon feeling the Weight of the Duke's Cannon, they returned and made their Attack boldly in their ordinary Way by Columns, in some Places to 10 or 12 Men deep. The Duke's Disposition was extremely fit to receive them, for he had his Horse on their Flanks, and Bodies of In-

Infantry behind the Line ready to oppose any Wedge of the Enemy. And the Soldiers by keeping up their Fire soon ended the Affair, whole Ranks of the Highlanders falling at once. The Chevalier fled by the Way of Fort Augustus; he was not within Cannon-shot of the Field of Battle. At the Beginning, our glorious Duke went up to Cobham's Dragoons, and clapping some of them on the Shoulders, call'd out, One Brush, my Lads, for the Honour of Old Cobham; upon which, rather like Devils than Men, they broke through the Enemy's Rank, and a total Route followed. The Dragoons and Light Horse pursued, calling out, Cut hard, pay 'em home, &c.

The Success has been greatly owing to three Points of Generalship, not thought of in the preceeding Actions, or perhaps, then esteem'd of little Importance: The first is the Manner of placing the Cannon, which were at this Time so disposed among the respective Regiments, that no Impression on any particular Part of the Line could divest us of any significant Part of our Artillery; and by being placed in the Centre of each Regiment, some Pieces were always capable of flanking the Enemy, let their Attack be on which Part of the Line soever. This answered the End proposed effectually, and, as far as we could conceive, more of the Enemy fell by the fire of the Cannon with Cartridge Shot, from our Right, than by the Musquetry and Bayonets on the Left. His Highness had likewise taken Care to observe which Way the Wind sat. This may seem of little Importance to some People; but as many Battles have been lost, or gain'd by it on Land, as well as at Sea, and for exactly the same Reason, and as we have a very remarkable Instance in our View, we can't help esteeming it of Consequence; as those who have the Wind, see the Enemy clearly, and neither have their Nostrils filled with Sulphur, or their Faces burnt with Wadding. The next was the Direction given about the Use of the Bayonet; the Alteration was mighty little, but of the last Consequence: Before this, the Bayonet Man attacked the Sword Man Right-fronting him; now the left Hand Bayonet attack'd the Sword fronting his next Right Hand Man; he was then covered by the Enemies Shield, where open on his Left, and the Enemy's Right open to him. This Manner made an essential Difference, stagger'd the Enemy, who were not prepared to alter their Way of fighting, and destroy'd them in a Manner rather to be conceived than told. The Rebels making some little Impression on Barrel's Regiment, and they giving Ground, prov'd fatal to Lord Robert Kerr; who not observing his Men's giving back, remained a few Yards forward alone. He had struck his Spontoon into the Body of an Highlander Officer; but before he could disengage himself, was surrounded by several, and cut to Pieces; and has only left us to bewail the Fate of a brave young Gentleman. All the Residue of Fitz James's Regiment are come in, and surrendered Prisoners of War. But 'twill be extremely difficult to distinguish such of the common Highlanders who were in Arms, from those who were not, if they throw their Arms away; but it is immaterial, since nothing but their own Pertinacity can occasion their Destruction; his Royal Highness being best pleased, when he finds them disowning their having any Hand in the Battle.

There is just now a strong Rumour spread, that the Pretender's Son is taken, desperately wounded; together with his two Privy Counsellors Sheridan and Sullivan, in a Barn, in the Neighbourhood of Aird; and that Lord Lovat has been found dead near his own House, and by all Appearance shot himself.

Mr. Rose, Minister of Nairn, having been instrumental in some Prisoners making their Escape, was seized by the Rebels and tied to the Cross, where they most inhumanly gave him 100 Lashes. The Duke as he passed his House said, he felt every Lash the poor Gentleman had received, and would revenge it.

Our Men have really been pretty severe, and have gave little Quarter, being exasperated at the Treatment our Prisoners met with, they being found in dark Dungeons at Inverness, almost naked and eat up with Vermin.