e on to Nairn on the 14th, and was there
halting. There was even no appearance of his moving, the 15th being his
birthday. In the afternoon of that day, the Prince had summoned a
council of war to be held upon the field, and had proposed a plan of a
march under cloud of night, to attack the Duke's army by surprise, and
to force his camp. This plan was worthy even of any of the greatest
heroes of antiquity, and met with general approbation, particularly
amongst the clans. The council remained long in deliberating in what
manner it was to be conducted. Two essential things, secrecy and
expedition, were the great objects to be observed. There was only one
road to Nairn, which was the high road; and this being covered in many
places with villages, it was essential to avoid it, to prevent any
information being carried to the Duke's army. The next alternative, and
indeed the only one, was to attempt a way along the foot of a ridge of
mountains which fronted the sea, but had scarcely ever been trod by
human foot, and was known by the name of the Moor-road. It would have
brought us in upon that part of the enemy's camp from which they could
apprehend no danger. It lengthened indeed the road, which, in the
sequel, and from the shortness of the night, proved our misfortune.

Before the council broke up, every regiment as it were had his place
assigned him in the order of the march. The van was commanded by Lord
George Murray, who, with about one-third of the army, was to have passed
the water of Nairn about two miles distant from the town, and who,
unexpected by the enemy, was to have invested the Duke's quarters, and
to have made him prisoner. The remaining two-thirds, commanded by the
Duke of Perth and Lord John Drummond, were to have attacked them from
the plain, which, in all probability, would have been carried sword in
hand. It is to be remarked that the same army had been already surprised
at Falkirk.

Night coming on--and not sooner could the army begin its march, to
prevent the country people from being alarmed, or any intelligence being
carried to the enemy,--part of our numbers, weak as we were, was under a
necessity of being left on the field, in order to save appearances, and
light up fires, as had been done the preceding evening, and to prevent
stragglers, if any there were, forming unnecessary conjectures. The
night was favourable to our wishes, but alas! such a road was never
travelled; the men in general were fr