equently up to the ankles, and the
horses in many places extricated themselves with difficulty. In this
manner were we retarded almost the whole of the night; notwithstanding
of which, an uncommon spirit supported itself throughout the army.

It was now the 16th of April, when day began to break about four in the
morning. It was indeed a dreadful knell to us, being as yet above four
long miles from Nairn; nor did we know what sort of road we had yet to
encounter. Appearances became serious, each was whispering to his
neighbour, and, so far as countenances could be descried, disappointment
was evidently marked. During this critical moment of suspense, what was
to be done? A halt took place; a council was called as soon as the
general officers could be got together. The morning was fine, and the
day was ushering in apace; it required but little time to deliberate,
and finding it impossible to attack the Duke by surprise, it was judged
expedient, for the safety of the army, to give up the enterprise, and
return to the field of Culloden. Thus were our hopes disappointed. We
saw, as it were before us, the glorious prize; but we durst not
encounter it, for there is almost a moral certainty that we should have
been cut off to a man. The enemy was early in motion, must have seen us
at a considerable distance, and received us upon the points of their
bayonets.

FOOTNOTES:

[102] Strange, an expert engraver, was printing Jacobite bank-notes.

K. THE BATTLE.

+Source.+--_Idem._, p. 60.

Let us for an instant review the situation of this army.[103] They had,
for many weeks before the battle, been reduced to a short allowance of
bread; when I say bread, I mean oatmeal, for they had no other. Must not
this have enfeebled their bodies? Their treasury-chest had been nearly
exhausted: they had received but little money: of course considerable
arrears were owing them. They had passed the 14th and following night
under arms upon the field of battle, every instant expecting the Duke.
Upon the night of the 15th, which was the eve of the battle, they had
performed the march I have described. Judge, then, what was to be
expected from such an army, worn out with fatigue, and at this moment
short of the common necessaries of life, and outnumbered upwards of two
to one by their enemies; for the Duke's army consisted of at least
eleven thousand men; that of the Prince did not exceed six, of which we
shall find at least a thou