Bonnie Prince Charlie : a Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden eBook

The first object of the march was Fort Augustus, which he intended to make his central post.  As he advanced he was met by Captain Swetenham, who informed him of the raising of the standard and the gathering he had witnessed.  As, however, only Locheil’s clansmen had arrived before Swetenham left, Cope considered his force ample for the purpose, and continued his march.  In order to reach Fort Augustus, however, he had to pass over Corry Arrack, a lofty and precipitous mountain which was ascended by a military road with fifteen zigzags, known to the country as the devil’s staircase.

Prince Charles, who had received early news of the advance from Stirling, had recognized the importance of the position, and having burned and destroyed all baggage that would impede his progress, made a forced march and reached Corry Arrack on the 27th, before Sir John Cope had commenced his ascent.  As Sir John saw that the formidable position was in the hands of the enemy he felt that it would be in vain to endeavour to force it.  Each zigzag would have to be carried in turn, and the enterprise would be a desperate one.  Success would be of no great advantage, as the Highlanders, lightly clad and active, would make off and defy pursuit; defeat would be disastrous.  He, therefore, called a council of war and asked his officers to decide whether it would be best to remain at Dalwhinnie at the foot of the mountain, to return to Sterling, or to march to Inverness, where they would be joined by the well affected clans.  He himself strongly urged the last course, believing that the prince would not venture to descend into the Lowlands while he remained in his rear.  The council of war adopted his opinion.  No officer advocated remaining inactive at Dalwhinnie, one only supported the alternative of the retreat to Stirling, the rest agreed upon an advance to Inverness.

When it was found that Cope’s army had moved away without fighting, the exultation of the Highlanders was great.  Most of the chiefs wished to follow at once and give battle, urging that it would be hazardous to advance south and leave the enemy to cut off their retreat; but the prince himself saw the supreme importance of a descent into the Lowlands, and that plan of action was decided upon.

CHAPTER XIV:  Prestonpans.

Advancing in high spirits through the mountains of Badenoch, Prince Charles with his army came down into the vale of Athole, and visited, with Tullibardine, the castle of Blair Athole, the noble property of which the marquis had so long been deprived, owing to his constancy to the cause of the Stuarts, but which would again be his own were this great enterprise successful.