Page:History of the Scottish rebellion, 1745.pdf/13

 troops, continued to cover that city. Secrecy was so well observed that hardly any person in the rebel army had the least idea where the junction would take place; and the march was arranged and executed with such precision, that there was not an interval of 2 hours between the arrival of the different columns, at a short distance from Carlisle.

On the 10th November trenches were opened before this place, under the orders of the Duke of Perth, at the distance of 80 yards from the walls; but having learned that Marshal Wade was on his march to force them to raise the siege of Carlisle, the Prince left the Duke of Perth to conduct the siege, and marched himself against Wade; it being of the greatest importance to give battle before they advanced into England, in order to preserve a free communication with Scotland. The Prince, after waiting some days at Brampton, received positive information that Wade had abandoned Hexham, and fallen back upon Newcastle, on which he returned to Carlisle. On his return, the Prince had the satisfaction to receive the keys of the city. It surrendered the 3d day after the opening of the trenches, by threatening to fire red hot balls upon the town, and reduce it to ashes; but they did not fire a single shot, lest the garrison should become acquainted with the smallness of their cannon, which might have encouraged them to defend themselves. The town first proposed to surrender without the castle; but as the Prince refused to receive the one without the other, the inhabitants became alarmed and obliged the garrison to join in the capitulation.

The Prince's army on being mustered at Carlisle was found to amount to 1500, having