Chapter 34
Dunrobin - Friday March 21, 1746
The next day, Rob accompanied his father up the spiral stair of the tower house of Dunrobin. They entered the Earl's study. Rob went to the window looking out over the mist bank that shrouded the sea. "A pity,” he murmured "for 'twould be a fine prospect on a good day.'
His father, beside him, responded, "Had yesterday been a good day, we might have been chained in the hold of some stinking sloop today."
They turned into the room. Most of the Jacobite commanders in Sutherland were here already. Loudoun's forces had disappeared. A council had been called.
"My Lord Cromartie, gentlemen, your attention please." The Duke of Perth requested from Lord Sutherland's great chair.
Around the clerk's table, which had been dragged into the centre of the room, sat the Irishman, O'Sullivan, the Earl of Cromartie, MacKinnon, Barrasdale, Clanranald, the Master of Lovat, Stewart of Appin and Glengyle. Their aides, including Rob, stood around the walls.
"Gentlemen," the Duke said again. "We are here today to make our dispositions. As you are aware, My Lord Loudoun and the Lord President are fled beyond Loch Shin. They may continue to Skye, it is thought with MacLeod and Sleat. My Lord Sutherland is fled in a fishing boat, leaving his wife and children in this house. It seems that he has taken the public money with him."
"There is nought like a man with his priorities right.” Barrasdale said, raising a laugh around the table.
"However,” the Duke continued. "We have secured a thousand stand of Lochaber axes in this house and two hundred stand of muskets. At Ferry Oons, my friend of Glengyle, here, has discovered seven hundred stand of musket and a battery of four-pounder cannon. These are to be taken to Inverness. I shall return to Inverness with Mr O’Sullivan. I intend to leave my Lord Cromartie to command in Sutherland. Barrasdale and Glengyle will support Lord Cromartie. The other regiments are to return to Inverness with me."
Cromartie interrupted at this point. "What of Caithness? Am I to proceed there to levy men and food?"
"Aye,” responded the Duke responded. "I conceive that your son should lead the expedition. He is to collect the public money and to raise volunteers. There have been great protests of sympathy to our cause from the Prince’s friends in Caithness, but no aid from that quarter. They claimed that they could rise for fear of my Lord Sutherland. Now they can rise. But first I wish that detachments of your regiment should continue the pursuit of my Lord Loudoun on which it is currently embarked. Thereafter, they shall proceed to Caithness, on our command from Inverness."
"Glengyle,” the Duke continued. "It is my desire that your regiment continue at Ferry Oons. You have boats whereby you may control the crossing. It is therefore your duty to patrol from Dornoch to Golspie."
Glengyle responded, "My Lord, are we to remain aboard the ships? They are mighty well provisioned and defensible."
"Aye, I have inspected them. They are too large for us to risk a sea voyage, so they must remain at anchor there. If they are not well garrisoned then the sloops at sea may attempt to cut them out. Glengyle, you are required to despatch as much of the freight by packhorse as can be made use of by the army to Inverness "
"Barrasdale,” the Duke went on, "it is my command that you remain here at Dunrobin. You should place detachments at Helmsdale and at Clynetradwell, in order that you may guard the passes into the hills."
"Now,” the Duke motioned to the servitor at the door, "please summon my Lady Sutherland to our presence. We would have words with her."
Lady Sutherland entered the room and took the seat that was offered to her. "My Lord Duke," she said frostily, "you requested my presence?"
"Aye, my Lady,” the Duke returned. "I trust that our occupation of your house did not disturb your rest this night."
"What if it did, would you depart?"
"Alas, my Lady, our cause demands sacrifices of us all in this scrape. You still have your feather bed, while your husband, the good Earl, may be at the bottom of yonder cold ocean, if I hear aright the appearance of his boat."
There was a general laugh from around the table at the Duke's words, the countess flushed.
"What is your desire of me?" she asked.
"My Lady, we understand that your husband’s Militia Companies remain in arms in the hills. It is our desire only that all should live in peace. We give any who have borne arms against us free pardon and pass to return to their homes. They should surrender their arms to us and come down from the hills. I desire that you should pass messages to their Captains summoning them to meet my Lord Cromartie here in order to discuss terms."
"My Lord, I am under duress here. I can pass the messages that you demand, but I cannot force these Companies to surrender their arms."
"Very well, my Lady. Would you be so kind as to send the messages arranging a meeting with My Lord of Cromartie at this place three days hence. If you would now be so good as to leave us while we continue our conference."
The Duke and the other Highland officer stood as Lady Sutherland left the room.
"My Lord Cromartie, gentlemen. I conceive that our conference is almost over, except to inform you of an express that I have lately received from the Prince's headquarters at Inverness. The bearer is Mr Petrie, who is sent to assist in the raising of the cess tax. He brings tidings which you will all be glad to hear off.
[there follows an authentic original despatch]
The Duke lifted the despatch and read ‘… a few hours ago, there arrived a gentleman, dispatched by the Duke of York, who brings the strongest assurances of support from the Court of France. This gentleman, who sailed from the Brill on Friday last, assures us that the whole Irish Brigade had actually put to sea; that two ships only had been taken, and none of the rest put back into any of the ports of France. He adds, that there was certainly a fleet of 36 French and Spanish men of war, and 28 large privateers sailed from Brest; which agrees perfectly well with what has been already mentioned in some publick prints. I have the honour, etc, signed by Thomas Sheridan.'
“At last, the promised army from France has set sail,” the Duke said. “When they arrive we shall have a force capable of destroying the usurper’s army and restoring our rightful King. Gentlemen, God save the King! Now, to your duties, this conference is at a close."