Argyle, with his own levies and other troops, undertook
to follow Montrose’s march; so that, in case
he should come to action either with Seaforth, or
with Baillie and Urrie, he might be placed between
two fires by this third army, which, at a secure distance,
was to hang upon his rear.
For this purpose, Argyle once more moved towards Inverary,
having an opportunity, at every step, to deplore the
severities which the hostile clans had exercised on
his dependants and country. Whatever noble qualities
the Highlanders possessed, and they had many, clemency
in treating a hostile country was not of the number;
but even the ravages of hostile troops combined to
swell the number of Argyle’s followers.
It is still a Highland proverb, He whose house is burnt
must become a soldier; and hundreds of the inhabitants
of these unfortunate valleys had now no means of maintenance,
save by exercising upon others the severities they
had themselves sustained, and no future prospect of
happiness, excepting in the gratification of revenge.
His bands were, therefore, augmented by the very circumstances
which had desolated his country, and Argyle soon found
himself at the head of three thousand determined men,
distinguished for activity and courage, and commanded
by gentlemen of his own name, who yielded to none
in those qualities. Under himself, he conferred
the principal command upon Sir Duncan Campbell of
Ardenvohr, and another Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchenbreck,
[This last character is historical] an experienced
and veteran soldier, whom he had recalled from the
wars of Ireland for this purpose. The cold spirit
of Argyle himself, however, clogged the military councils
of his more intrepid assistants; and it was resolved,
notwithstanding their increased force, to observe
the same plan of operations, and to follow Montrose
cautiously, in whatever direction he should march,
avoiding an engagement until an opportunity should
occur of falling upon his rear, while he should be
engaged with another enemy in front.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Piobracht au Donuil-dhu,
Piobrachet au Donuil,
Piobrachet agus S’breittach
Feacht an Innerlochy.
The war-tune of Donald
the Black,
The war-tune of Black
Donald,
The pipes and the banner
Are up in the rendezvous
of Inverlochy.
The military road connecting the chains of forts,
as it is called, and running in the general line of
the present Caledonian Canal, has now completely opened
the great glen, or chasm, extending almost across
the whole island, once doubtless filled by the sea,
and still affording basins for that long line of lakes,
by means of which modern art has united the German
and Atlantic Oceans. The paths or tracks by which
the natives traversed this extensive valley, were,
in 1645-6, in the same situation as when they awaked
the strain of an Irish engineer officer, who had been
employed in converting them into practicable military
roads, and whose eulogium begins, and, for aught I
know, ends, as follows:
