The victory of Falkirk brought but little advantage
to Prince Charles, and dissensions arose among the
officers; Lord George Murray being furious with Lord
John Drummond for preventing the complete destruction
of the English army, while Lord John Drummond severely
criticised Lord George for the confusion which had
taken place among his troops after their success.
Great numbers of the Highlanders, who had spent the
night after the battle in plundering the English camp
and stripping the slain, made off with their booty
to the mountains, and the number of desertions was
increased by the withdrawal of the greater part of
Glengarry’s clansmen. On the day after
the battle the musket of one of the Clanranald clansmen
went off by accident and killed the son of Glengarry.
His clansmen loudly demanded life for life, and Clanranald
having reluctantly consented to surrender his follower,
the poor fellow was immediately led out and shot;
but even this savage act of vengeance was insufficient
to satisfy the Glengarry men, the greater part of
whom at once left the army and returned to their homes.
After the battle the siege of Stirling was renewed;
but owing to the gross incompetence of a French engineer,
who had come over with Lord Drummond, the batteries
were so badly placed that their fire was easily silenced
by that of the castle guns. The prince, in spite
of the advice of Lord George Murray and the other
competent authorities, and listening only to his favourite
councillors, Secretary Murray and Sir Thomas Sheridan,
continued the siege, although on the 3Oth of January
the Duke of Cumberland arrived in Edinburgh and took
the command of the army.
Never had Scotland a more bitter enemy. Relentless
and savage as General Hawley had been, his deeds were
more than rivalled by those of the Duke of Cumberland,
who was justly branded by contemporary historians with
the name of “the butcher.” He was,
however, an able general, of great activity and high
personal courage.
After halting but one night in Edinburgh he set out
at the head of his army to meet the enemy; but these
did not repeat their tactics at Falkirk. Disgusted
at the conduct of the prince in slighting their advice
and listening only to his unworthy counsellors, Lord
George Murray with all the principal military leaders
held a consultation, and presented a memorial to the
prince. In this they stated that, seeing the great
numbers of Highlanders who had gone home, they were
of opinion that another battle could not be fought
with a chance of success, and therefore recommended
that the army should at once retire to the Highlands,
where a sufficient number of men could be kept together
to defy the efforts of the enemy at such a season
of the year, and that in the spring ten thousand Highlanders
could be got together to go wheresoever the prince
might lead them. Prince Charles was struck with
grief and dismay at this decision, but as all the military
leaders had signed it he was forced to give way.
