Page:Narrative of the Battles of Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge (1).pdf/18

18 in vain he besought, he intreated, he threatened. Our disputes and fiery misguided zeal, my brother, contracted a deep and deadly gult that day. The Whig turned his arm in fierce heat that day against his own vitals. Our Chaplains, Cargil, and King, and Kid, and Douglas, interposed again and again, Cargil mounted the pulpit; he preached concord; he called aloud for mutual forbearance. 'Behold, the banners of the enemy,' cried he. 'hear ye not the fire of the foe, and of our own brethren? Our brothers and fathers are falling beneath their sword. Hasten to their aid. See the flag of the Covenant, See the motto in letters of gold--'Christ's Crown and the Covenant.' Hear the wailings of the bleed-Kirk. Banish discord. And let us, as a band of brothers, present a bold front to the foeman---Follow me, all ye who love your country and the Covenant. I go to die in the fore-front of the battle. All the ministers and officers followed him---amidst a flourish of trumpets---but the great body remained to listen to the harangues of the factious---We sent again and again for ammunition. My men were at the last round. Treachery, or a fatal error, had sen a barrel of raisins instead of powder. My heart sunk within me while I beheld the despair on the faces of my brave fellows, as I struck out the bead of the vessel. Hackstone called his officers to him. We threw ourselves around him.--- 'What must be done?' said he, in an agony of dsspairdespair [sic]. 'Conquor or die-' we said, as if with one voice. 'We have our swords yet. Lead back the men to their places and let the ensign bear down the blue and scarlet colours. Our God and our country be the word.' Hackstone rushed forward, We ran to our respective corps- -we cheered our men, but they were languid and dispirited. Their ammuniton was nearly expended, and they seemed