Page:History of the Scottish rebellion, 1745.pdf/20

 line, to induce them to fire. The Highlanders, were onjoined not to fire till the enemy was within musket-shot of them, the moment the cavalry halted discharged their muskets, and killed about 80 men. The cavalry closing their ranks, put spurs to their horses, and rushed upon the Highlanders, breaking their ranks, throwing down every thing before them, and trampling the Highlanders under the feet of their horses. A singular and extraordinary combat now followed. The Highlanders, stretched on the ground, thrust their dirks into the belly of the horses. some seized the riders by the clothes, dragged them down, and stabbed them with their dirks, and several used their pistols: but few of them had sufficient space to handle their swords.

The resistance of the Highlanders was so incredibly obstinate, that the cavalry, after having been for some time engaged with them in their ranks, were repulsed, and forced to retire with great loss. The Highlanders did not neglect the advantage they had obtained, but pursued them keenly with their swords, running as fast as their horses, and not allowing them time to recover from their fright, So that the English cavalry falling back on their infantry, drawn up in order of battle behind, threw them into disorders and carried the right wing of their army, with them in their fight. The clan of Camerons, having attacked at the same time the right of the English army, composed only of infantry, put it also to fight. The Highlanders when descending the hill in pursuit of the enemy, received a volley from three regiments at the foot which they did not perceive till the moment they received their fire which greatly incommoded them but they were also forced to reatreat, which they did in good order, and formed a rear guard to the rest of the army.