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HISTORY OR ENGLAND.

CHAP.XIII.ltisy.Tho Ca-moroni-anssla-tioned atDunkeld.

The unjust contempt with which the ScotcliPrivy Councillorsregarded Mackay led them into a great error which might wellhave caused a great disaster. The Cameronian regiment wassent to garrison Dunkeld. Of this arrangement Mackay alto-gether disapproved. He knew that at Dunkeld these troopswould be near the enemy; that they would be far from allassistance; that they would be in an open town; that theywould be surrounded by a hostile population; that they werevery imperfectly disciplined, though doubtless brave andzealous; that they were regarded by the whole Jacobite partythroughout Scotland with peculiar malevolence; and that in allprobability some great effort would be made to disgrace anddestroy them.*

The General’s opinion was disregarded; and the Cameramansoccupied the post assigned to them. It soon appeared that hisforebodings were just. The inhabitants of the country roundDunkeld furnished Cannon with intelligence, and urged himto make a bold push. The peasantry of Athol, impatient forspoil, came in great numbers to swell his army. The regimenthourly expected to be attacked, and became discontented andturbulent. The men, intrepid, indeed, both from constitutionand from enthusiasm, but not yet broken to habits of militarysubmission, expostulated with Cleland, who commanded them.They had, they imagined, been recklessly, if not perfidiously,sent to certain destruction. They were protected by no ram-parts: they had a very scanty stock of ammunition: they werehemmed in by enemies. An officer might mount and gallopbeyond reach of danger in an hour; but the private soldier muststay and be butchered. “Neither I,” said Cleland, “nor anyof my officers will, in any extremity, abandon you. Bring outmy horse, all our horses; they shall be shot dead.” Thesewords produced a complete change of feeling. The men* Mackey's Memoirs; Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron.