The Duke’s army was not able to follow, owing to the badness of the roads, and the fatigue of a tedious march; but the next morning he pursued them to Penrith; and from thence to Carlisle, where they left part of their army.
His Royal Highness thought it advisable to reduce this place, and accordingly sent for heavy artillery from Whitehaven, which arriving on the 25th of December, the garrison surrendered on the 30th, and his Royal Highness returned to London. General Wade continued his march for the North, dismissing all the foreigners from his army; and General Hawley on coming from London to take the command, was joined by some regiments which had been withdrawn from Flanders. They marched to Edinburgh; from thence to Falkirk, and pitched their tents on the North-East side of the town, on the 16th of January.
The Highland army being at Torwood, about mid-way between Falkirk and Stirling, and distant from the English camp only about three miles, they could easily discover each other’s camp-lights. The English army lay all night on their arms, in expectation of being attacked; but the van and picquet guards came in on the morning of the 17th, having observed no motions in the rebel camp which shewed any signs of an attack, although they were as near them as safety would permit. Soon after, the enemy were observed to move some of their colours from Torwood, towards Stirling, which made the English suppose that they were retreating; but this motion was a feint to deceive them. However, upon this appearance, the soldiers were ordered to pile their arms, and take some refreshment; and although Lord Kilmarnock was in the rebel army, General Hawley went to breakfast with Lady Kilmarnock, at Callendar House. The enemy, in the mean time, stole a march down a valley Northward, unperceived; but just before the army discovered them, they were seen by a person who ran into the camp, exclaiming, “Gentlemen! what are you about? the Highlanders will be upon you:” on which some of the officers said, “Seize that rascal, he is spreading a false alarm.”—“Will you, then, believe your own eyes?” replied the man; when instantly the truth of his assertion became apparent, by their advancing to the highest ground upon Falkirk moor, the wind blowing strongly in the faces of the English, with a severe rain. At this moment several had left the field as well as the General; but the drums beat to arms, which caused those who were absent to repair instantly to the camp, and the lines were immediately formed.
Captain Thornton’s company was embodied with the matrosses, who were thought too weak; and this was a great disappointment to him, whose intention was to be in the front, whenever an engagement should take place. Metcalf played before them to the field; but the flag cannon sinking in a bog, Captain Thornton exclaimed, “D—n this accident; we shall see no sport to-day:” and leaving his troop to assist the matrosses in bringing up the cannon to their station, he rode up opposite to the horse which were going to engage. The regiments of Hamilton and Gardner were put in the front; and the Highlanders, after firing their pieces, threw them down, and discharged their pistols in the horses’ faces, which caused them to retreat, much confused: and on the Duke of Perth exclaiming aloud, “Although the horse have given way, yet the work is not accomplished,” the enemy pursued with their broad swords, cutting down the men as they fled; and the horses did great mischief, by breaking through their own foot, the men crying out at the same time, “Dear brethren, we shall all be massacred this day!” On their passing the artillery, the Captain of the matrosses seeing their perilous situation, gave orders for all the train horses to be cut from the cannon. General Huske at this time came up with three regiments, and engaged the left wing of the Highlanders, ordering the rear and centre to keep firing, and the front to reserve. The rebels, as was their custom, after the discharge of their pieces, flung them away, and advanced with their broad swords close up to the first line; when the front instantly fired, and being so near, did more than double execution; which caused them to retreat, leaving a great number dead upon the spot.
The General observing a vast body of the rebels on the right, drew up his men nearer Falkirk, and gave orders to keep the town until morning: however, on examining the powder, they had the mortification to find that the heavy rains had damaged it to such a degree, that but few pieces could be fired; and the village being open on all sides, was a circumstance so favourable to the enemy, as induced that General to form the resolution of quitting the town with all expedition, and march to Linlithgow, where there was more shelter under the walls, in case of an attack.—This measure was fully justified by the event; for the enemy pursued so closely, that many were taken by surprise, as, in consequence of the order to keep the town all night, several had gone into the houses to put off their wet cloathes; and those who were apprised of the retreat had no sooner left the place, than the rebels took possession, and made a great many prisoners, amongst whom were twenty of Captain Thornton’s men, with the Lieutenant and Ensign.
Mr. Crofts, the Lieutenant, having eighty guineas in his pocket, begged to make Lord George Murray his treasurer; which office his Lordship accepted, and had afterwards the generosity to return him SIX!
Captain Thornton, also, was in one of the houses, for the purpose before-mentioned, but had not time sufficient to effect his escape; and being alarmed by the bagpipes at the door, he retreated up stairs: in a few minutes several of the rebels rushed up, in search of the fugitives; when one of them came to the very room door behind which he had taken refuge, and overlooking him, said, “There are none of the rascals here.” The woman of the house having seen the Captain go up stairs, went to him soon after, and opening a closet door, entreated him to enter, which he did.—She then brought a dresser, and placed dishes, &c. upon it, which prevented all appearance of a door in that place; and fortunately there was no bed in the room. About ten minutes after he had been fixed in his new quarters, a great number of people, consisting chiefly of Highland officers, amongst whom was Secretary Murray, took possession of the apartment, which being large, they proposed making use of for business during their stay.
We will there leave Captain Thornton, and return to Metcalf, who with the matrosses was retiring from the field of battle.
Knowing that two of his master’s horses had been left at a widow’s house a short distance from the town, he made his way to the place, with intent to secure them. This woman had in the morning expressed great seeming loyalty to King George; but when Metcalf returned in the evening, the wind had changed:—She now extolled prince Charles, and said the defeat of George’s folk was a just judgment.
Metcalf went into the stable and found the horses, saddled them, and was leading out the first, when he was surrounded by a few stragglers of the Highland army: “We must have that beast,” said they; but Metcalf refusing to give him up, they said to one another, “Shoot him.” On hearing two of them cock their pieces, he asked, “What do you want with him?” They answered, that they wanted him for their Prince: “If so, you must have him,” replied he. They took him, and immediately went off. Metcalf then brought out the other; but as he was about to mount, the Captain’s coachman (whose name was Snowden) joined him, and Metcalf inquiring of him the fate of his master, was answered, that he had not seen him since he left the artillery, when he rode up with the horse which were going to engage: this induced them to think that the worst had befallen him. They then thought it advisable to attempt falling in with the rear of the army, and endeavoured to slant the ground for that purpose; but before they had proceeded many yards, their horse sunk up to the saddle-skirts in a bog: however, being strong and plunging out, they mounted again, and soon joined it as they wished; where on making diligent inquiry after their Captain, they were told that he was left behind; on which Snowden returned as far as he could with safety, but without gaining any intelligence, and Metcalf walked on with the army.