right towards Sheriffmuir. The
earl of Mar advanced within two miles of his camp, and remained till
day-break in order of battle; his army consisted of nine thousand
effective men, cavalry as well as infantry. In the morning the duke,
understanding they were in motion, drew up his forces, which did not
exceed three thousand five hundred men, on the heights to the north-east
of Dumblane; but he was outflanked both on the right and left. The
clans that formed part of the centre and right wing of the enemy, with
Glengary and Clanronald at their head, charged the left of the king's
army sword in hand, with such impetuosity that in seven minutes both
horse and foot were totally routed with great slaughter; and general
Whetham, who commanded them, fled at full gallop to Stirling, where he
declared that the royal army was totally defeated. In the meantime the
duke of Argyle, who commanded in person on the right, attacked the left
of the enemy, at the head of Stair's and Evan's dragoons, and drove them
two miles before him, as far as the water of Allan; yet in that space
they wheeled about and attempted to rally ten times; so that he was
obliged to press them hard that they might not recover from their
confusion. Brigadier Wightman followed in order to sustain him with
three battalions of infantry; while the victorious right wing of the
rebels having pursued Whetham a considerable way, returned to the field
and formed in the rear of Wightman to the amount of five thousand men.
The duke of Argyle returning from the pursuit, joined Wightman, who had
faced about and taken possession of some enclosures and mud wails in
expectation of being attacked. In this posture both armies fronted each
other till the evening, when the duke drew off towards Dumblane, and the
rebels retired to Ardoch, without mutual molestation. Next day the duke
marching back to the field of battle, carried off the wounded, with
four pieces of cannon left by the army, and retreated to Stirling. Few
prisoners were taken on either side: the number of the slain might be
about five hundred of each army, and both generals claimed the
victory. This battle was not so fatal to the Highlanders as the loss
of Inverness, from which sir John Mackenzie was driven by Simon Fraser,
lord Lovat, who, contrary to the principles he hitherto professed,
secured this important post for the government; by which means a free
communication was opened with the north of Scotland, where the