Page:History of the Scottish rebellion, 1745.pdf/16

 some hours before day break. The Highlanders, conceiving at first that they were on their march to attack the army of the Duke of Cumberland, displayed the utmost joy and cheerfulness; but as soon as the day allowed them to see the objects around them, and they found that they were retracing their steps, nothing was to be heard throughout the whole army but expressions of rage and lamentation. If they had been beaten their grief could not have been greater.

On the 15th they arrived at Kendal, where certain intelligence reached them that they had left Marshal Wade behind and were no longer in danger of having their retreat cut off. Lord George, owing to the breaking down of some ammunition waggons, was retarded in his retreat to Penrith, and with great difficulty got the length of Shap. The delay thus occasioned, allowed the lightest of the Duke's horses to overtake the rear of the retiring army. Early in the morning some of the English chasseurs were seen hovering on the adjoining heights; and about mid-day, as the Highlanders were approaching the enclosures around Clifton Hall, a body of light horse seemed to be forming for attack upon an eminence a little way in front. Lord George Murray ordered the Glengary clan to go forward against these; but, without waiting for an engagement, they immediately retreated. The rear-guard consisted of Colonel Roy Stuart's regiment of two hundred men, of the Glengary clan, and a few companies which attended the ammunition waggons; but it was reinforced on the present occasion by the Camerons, Stewarts of Appin, and Cluny Macpherson's regiment. Lord George, proud of the post of honour which he held, was the last man in the line. Determined