Neither side was anxious to come to blows. Macdonnell of Scotus, a man ‘brave, polite, obliging, of fine spirit and sound judgment,’ says the Chevalier Johnstone, had a son with Lord Loudon, and was reluctant to engage. Later, to his intense joy, he took this son a not unwilling prisoner. Meanwhile Barisdale, on March 20, captured the Castle of Dunrobin. The Earl of Sutherland fled, under cover of a fog, and escaped to an English ship. The Countess stayed at home; she was a daughter of the Earl of Wemyss by his third wife, was a young lady, of twenty-eight, and had a young nephew, Lord Elcho, with the Prince. According to the ‘Sutherland Book’ (i. 420), one of Barisdale’s officers threatened her with a dirk, and, some one jogging his elbow, she was actually scratched. To this the Countess, as we shall see, herself bears witness. But it is by no means certain that the lady, coming of a Jacobite family, was an unwilling prisoner of the Prince’s men. It was irksome to her, no doubt, to see her rooms littered with hay on which the Highlanders slept, and to observe the robbery of her plate. But the two following intercepted letters, from the Cumberland Papers, display the Countess as an adorer of Prince Charles, and Barisdale as a preux chevalier.
Letter from The Countess of Sutherland to the Young Pretender, written with MacDonell of Barisdale’s own Hand.
‘March 26, 1746.
‘The treatment I mett with Friday Last oblidges me to presume to oCoast your Royall Hyness For a protection to prevent the Lyke Usadge in the Future. However my Lord Sutherland Acted, It’s known over the most of this Kingdome my particular attachment to your Royall Hyness’ Family, and were itt ordinaire in one of my sex to go to the Field to Fight For my Prince and Country, I would make as aerly ane appearance as anie, and hade not my Coch horses and sadle horses being caryed away I woud presume the Honnaire to waith of your Royall Hyness. Least my letter be too tediouse I will only give one Instance of my usadge, a man holding a drawn durk to my brest gave a scrach of a wound which merk itt well beare: but this day Barisdale coming here, being my aquaintance, in his presence I sent a gentleman to all the men of my Lord Sutherland’s that were in arms desiring them to disperse and return to their homes in order a proper Draught be made of them For your royall Hyness service. My success I can not determine as I can not Depend upon much assistance, but if matters were further att my Disposall all the Fensable men in Sutherland woud be on your Royall Hyness armie as I am quite affrighted. From the Hylanders I beg to petition your Royall Hyness protection how Soone pasable and I always am and ever will,’ &c.
On March 27, 1746, from Tarbat House Lord Cromarty writes in answer to the Countess of Sutherland, acknowledging her letter, and promising protection to all her people who submit.
Then we have Barisdale’s billet to the lady:
Col McDonell to Lady Sutherlande
‘Ardmore: March 27, 1746.
‘My Faire Prisoner,—I presume these with the offer of my most Respectfull humble Duty to my Lady Sutherland, my Regiment is ordered back againe to Sutherland For which I am verrie sorrie, if anie hardships must be used, itt shoud in the Least Fall to my Shaire. I will have one Certaine pleasure in Itt that it well give the oportunity of being For once more my Lady Sutherland’s Saife guard. I Forwarded your Ladyship’s letter by one Captt Lewlessnent, and sent itt Inclosed to his Grace, and held Forth my Lady Sutherland’s zeall For our Cause, and the Friendship she particullarlie expected From him, and represented the Horses taken away, and pleaded For her Interest to have them, att Least my Ladys Favourites, returned. I go this Day to Inverness myself and shall talk to His Royall Hyness in regard to what my Lady Sutherland woud Exspect off Favours From our side, and what is Actuallie Deue to her. After my return, shall have the pleasure of waitting off your Ladyship att Dunrobine, and allways will be Nott onlie your Lady’s prisoner in the strictest Confinement, but your Ladyships most obdtt. and most humble sertt. while