h, and the attack was made before sunrise, yet
when it was light enough to discern what passed. As soon as the enemy
came within gunshot they made a furious fire; and it is said that the
dragoons which constituted the left wing immediately fled. The Colonel,
at the beginning of the onset, which in the whole lasted but a few
minutes, received a wound by a bullet in his left breast, which made him
give a sudden spring in his saddle upon which his servant, who led the
horse, would have persuaded him to retreat, but he said it was only a
wound in the flesh, and fought on, though he presently after received a
shot in his right thigh. In the meantime, it was discerned that some
of the enemy fell by him, and particularly one man, who had made him a
treacherous visit but a few days before, with great profession of zeal
for the present establishment.

'Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of them can
be written, or than it can be read. The Colonel was for a few
moments supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy person
Lieutenant-Colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm here, and a
few months after fell nobly at the battle of Falkirk, and by Lieutenant
West, a man of distinguished bravery, as also by about fifteen dragoons,
who stood by him to the last. But after a faint fire, the regiment in
general was seized with a panic; and though their Colonel and some other
gallant officers did what they could to rally them once or twice, they
at last took a precipitate flight. And just in the moment when Colonel
Gardiner seemed to be making a pause to deliberate what duty required
him to do in such circumstances, an accident happened, which must, I
think, in the judgement of every worthy and generous man, be allowed a
sufficient apology for exposing his life to so great hazard, when his
regiment had left him. He saw a party of the foot, who were then bravely
fighting near him, and whom he was ordered to support, had no officer to
head them; upon which he said eagerly, in the hearing of the person from
whom I had this account, "These brave fellows will be cut to pieces
for want of a commander," or words to that effect; which while he was
speaking, he rode up to them and cried out, "Fire on, my lads, and fear
nothing." But just as the words were out of his mouth, a Highlander
advanced towards him with a scythe fastened to a long pole, with which
he gave him so dreadful a wound on his right arm, that his