of horse posted in
the rear knew nothing of their march; the officer on duty, either
through forgetfulness or that he thought they could be of no service,
neglected to give them orders to march. In this order he marched to the
enemy, passing a deep bog with out the least observation. The right,
composed of the M^cdon^ds of Glengarry and Clanronald, was commanded by
the D. of P.,[89] and the left, commanded by L.G.M.,[90] which had made
the right the preceding day, consisted of the Camerons and Steuarts of
Appin. The third column, which was made up of the Atholl men, was
commanded by My L[ord] N[airn]. So soon as the two first columns had
passed the bog, they formed and marched straight to the enemy, who by
this time had formed and presented themselves in the same order of
battle they had appeared the day before. By this time the third column
had likewise passed and formed themselves about four score yards in the
rear of the first line; rather too near, if the ground would have
allowed of a more regular disposition. The left, when pretty near the
enemy, finding themselves outwinged, made a motion to front the
artillery, which occasioned a gap in the centre, but marching up
briskly, they received one fire of the cannon, which did little hurt,
and then receiving a fire from the foot, they gave a loud huzza,
returning the fire, upon which Gairdner's dragoons run off, and the
Highlanders, throwing away their muskets, attacked the foot with
incredible impetuosity, who immediately gave ground. Upon the left of
the enemy the resistance, if such behaviour merits the name, was much
less, for before the D. of P. was within three score yards of them,
Hamilton's dragoons began to reel and run off before they could receive
his fire; the foot likewise fired too soon, and almost all turned their
backs before the Highlanders could engage them with their swords. In a
few minutes the rout was total; the dragoons on the right run off by the
high road through the town of Preston, and those on the left by the
shore towards the east; the few of the foot that saved themselves
escaped by Preston Park, the wall of which had been broke down the day
before by G^ll Cope's orders. All the baggage of the army was placed in
a yard upon the left of their army, guarded by two companies of L.
Lowdon's regiment, where so soon as the action was over, Cap^t Bazil
Cochran of Coll. Lees[91] was sent by L.G.M. to tell them that if they
would immediately surrend