Chapter 17
Kirkliston to Corstorphine - Monday 16th September, 1745
Rob rose before dawn. He took his place in Glengyle’s regiment. Lord George had commanded them to stand in lines with columns six deep. Clan Donald were stationed on their right. Ardshiels’s Stewarts and Lochiel’s men stood in battle array on the left. Together the army advanced in order, ready to receive the charge of the dragoons. None came. For several hours they slowly advanced through the fields and parklands of Kirkliston. Finally they halted at Mr. Horn’s house of Todshall. For several hours they waited, in line of battle. The Prince’s small cavalry division searched the countryside for the dragoon regiments that had been observed that morning. They were nowhere to be found. The Prince sent a messenger to the magistrates of Edinburgh, requesting that they surrender the town peacefully to avoid a violent assault.
At about noon the command to advance came once more. The cavalry scouts returned with the news that the dragoons were now at Colt Bridge. Onward the army marched. The need to maintain battle formation slowed them to a crawl. At two in the afternoon they halted again at Corstorphine village.
From his place in the front line, Rob could see the two Hanoverian dragoon regiments standing ahead in a single line of battle. The Prince’s mounted troop cantered forward, from either side of the line, towards the enemy. The two wings came together and halted two hundred paces ahead and some 100 paces from the enemy line.
“Our cavalry are greatly outnumbered,” Glengyle instructed his regiment. “I expect they intend to provoke the dragoons into attacking and to retreat before them. When the dragoons charge we should be prepared to give fire. Wait until they are no more than 50 paces and aim at the horses. Then fire your pistols. Stay in line. Use the dirk on your man when he goes down. Watch that you do not fire on our own horsemen.”
Before Rob could speak there was a deafening thunder of gunfire from the Jacobite horse. The cavalry line disappeared in smoke. As it cleared Rob was surprised to see the Jacobite cavalry had maintained their position. Some horses were moving nervously as their riders brought them under control. Most continued to stand in close line facing their front as before. Rob could not see past them but heard cheering from the Clan Donald regiment which outflanked the line of horsemen on the right. The cheering spread along the line. The dragoons had run! Two or three horses lay dead, several others cantered, riderless towards the south.
After the tension of impending battle came the anticlimactic order to form column of march. Once more Clan Gregor and Ardshiel led the van. Lochiel’s regiment followed close behind. They halted in the late afternoon at Gray’s Mill on the Boroughmuir. Not far ahead were the city walls of Edinburgh.
Rob, James Mòr and Evan MacGregor had entered a house in the suburb of Pleasance to the south-west of the city. The building stood five stories tall, overlooking its neighbours. From the top-most windows they could observe most of the city that lay to the south of the ridge that formed the High street.
“What is that large building just inside the west wall?” Rob asked.
“That is the College and beside it is the Potter-row port.” James Mòr answered. “The houses of the Potter-row suburb surround the gate, but the street within has a high wall on each side. It is narrow and easy to block. On this side of the College lies the Infirmary and the High School.”
Directly beyond the College from their vantage point stood the towering mass of Edinburgh castle on its black rock. They could see threatening black muzzles of cannon protruding from the castle’s embrasures and bastions. The Union flag flew from its flagstaff.
“Could we not scale these walls below us?” Rob asked.
“That is a possibility,” James Mòr answered. “They are nothing compared to the walls of Doune Castle.
“Aye,” Evan interjected. “You did not scale the walls of Doune. Instead you walked through the front door! Most of these walls exceed the height of Inversnaid and there the guard was sleeping. Here you have a city awake and ready for you.”
“Not so,” James Mòr answered. “The town of Edinburgh is not strongly fortified. Look, that valley, over there beyond the High School, is the Cowgate and Grass market. Look farther to the tall buildings along the ridge. That is the High Street and to the east, over there, it continues as the Canongait down to the Palace. Each of the principal building on the High street and Cowgate frontages have long narrow tenement strip behind them. Once they were gardens, but today most tenements contain workshops, stores of merchandise and houses of artisans. Each tenement has a wall at its end. Where the foot of the tenement forms the boundary its wall forms a part of a continuous city wall. The walls are of unequal height and some are no more than eight feet. That is the same as the walls of Inversnaid. The highest walls are eighteen feet. In places buildings have been erected right up against the walls. With a ladder it is possible to climb through windows and enter the city that way. That is a comon way to avoid paying duties at the city gate, when you have tobacco or whisky to trade. You could do well to remember that when this affair is over. Look along the Canongait wall. Buildings outwith the walls command them in many places. See, over there, there is new masonry work and hovels outside the wall have been demolished. The citizens have had a month to repair their neglect of defence.”
“Are there cannon to defend the city?” Rob asked.
“I doubt it,” James Mòr answered. “Cannon need bastions that command an approach and fields of fire uncluttered by buildings. In any case, the governor of the castle probably does not trust the Provost and Council of the town. I expect that he would not release any artillery for us to capture. Look at the nearest part of the wall to our position. There is a round bastion on the corner of St Mary’s Wynd. It makes a good vantage for the town guard, but even the falconet we discovered at Callander House would be ill-served on that platform.”
“What is the name of this gate nearest to us?” Evan asked.
“That is St Mary’s Wynd Port.” James Mòr answered. “It is not a strong point, but we can pass it by crossing the garden walls at the west end of the Canongait. However, that does not give us entry to the city. The Canongait is a separate burgh with its own Council. To pass from the Canongait into Edinburgh it is necessary to take the Netherbow Port. Look beyond the port along the line of St Mary’s Wynd about 500 paces from this house. Do you see the gap in the line of tall buildings along the High Street. That is the Netherbow Port. It is a substantial gate with protected firing positions for musketeers. Let us think on a plan and report back to the camp.
Rob commanded part of the guard of the camp that night. During the evening a party was observed coming out of the town. It comprised a coach escorted by some of the town guard with burning torches to light their way. Leaving his men to continue their watch, Rob escorted the deputation, led by Baillie Hamilton, to meet with the Prince’s secretary, Murray of Broughton.
“We would know,” asked Baillie Hamilton, “what it is that you require of the city?”
“The Prince, my master,” Murray answered, “requires no more than that you open the gates of the city to the army and deliver up the arms of the town and garrison along with the ammunition and military stores. If you comply the liberties of the city shall be preserved and all necessary protection given them.”
The Baillie answered, “In regard to the militia we cannot take it upon ourselves to be responsible, as the militia are not within our power. They received their arms and ammunition from General Guest at the castle. We can deliver up the arms of the town watch. With your consent, I must return and consult with my brethren and desire that you give us time so to do.”
Secretary Murray retired to consult the Prince and army staff, leaving the Baillie standing uncomfortably with Rob. Some of the camp followers fingered the Baillie’s coat. Rob shooed them away.
Secretary Murray returned. “The Prince is prepared to allow you but three hours from your return to the city to consult and return with the answer of the to
wn authorities, but no more. Here is our written declaration. You shall have until two o’clock in the morning to return a positive answer. Upon the expiry of such time, the Prince will think himself obliged to take his measures accordingly. ”
Rob escorted the Baillie back to where his escort waited. Their torches flickered in the darkness as they returned to the city. Glengyle with the rest of the clan, as well as Lochiel’s regiment arrived at Rob’s outpost. “We are commanded to move up close to the city walls.”