ood in their ranks on the
edge of the hill. From the opposite side came the Highlanders in three
lines; first the clans (the Macdonalds, of course, on the right), then
the Aberdeenshire and Perthshire regiments, lastly cavalry and Lord John
Drummond's Frenchmen. Undismayed, nay, rather exhilarated by the sight
of the three regiments of dragoons drawn up to receive them, they
advanced at a rapid pace. The dragoons, drawing their sabres, rode on at
full trot to charge the Highlanders. With the steadiness of old
soldiers, the clans came on in their ranks, till within ten yards of the
enemy. Then Lord George gave the signal by presenting his own piece, and
at once a withering volley broke the ranks of the dragoons. About 400
fell under this deadly fire and the rest fled, fled as wildly and
ingloriously as their fellows had done at Coltbridge or Prestonpans. A
wild storm of rain dashing straight in their faces during the attack
added to the confusion and helplessness of the dragoons. The right and
centre of Hawley's infantry were at the same instant driven back by the
other clans, Camerons and Stewarts and Macphersons. The victory would
have been complete but for the good behaviour of three regiments at the
right of Hawley's army, Price's, Ligonier's, and Barrel's. From a point
of vantage on the edge of a ravine they poured such a steady fire on the
left wing of the Highlanders, that they drove them back and forced them
to fly in confusion. Had the victorious Macdonalds only attacked these
three steady regiments, the Highland army would have been victorious all
along the line. Unfortunately they had followed their natural instinct
instead of the word of command, and flinging away their guns, were
pursuing the fugitive dragoons down the ridge. The flight of the
Hanoverians was so sudden that it caused suspicion of an ambush. The
Prince was lost in the darkness and rain. The pipers had thrown their
pipes to their boys, had gone in with the claymore, and could not sound
the rally. It was not a complete victory for Charles, but it was a
sufficiently complete defeat for General Hawley, who lost his guns. The
camp at Falkirk was abandoned after the tents had been set on fire, and
the general with his dismayed and confused followers retired first to
Linlithgow and then to Edinburgh. Hawley tried to make light of his
defeat and to explain it away, though to Cumberland he said that his
heart was broken; but the news of the battle sprea