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The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'
The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'
The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'
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The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'

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In bidding farewell to this book before publication, I am most anxious to thank with hearty sincerity all those who, as past or present officers and friends of this historic regiment, have helped my efforts. There are two names above all that I must most particularly record— that of Colonel Coventry Williams, lately commanding the Greys, who has helped in so many details, though I can only particularly refer readers to pages 291, 292 and 293. Colonel Williams is the half-brother of Captain Williams, a portrait of whom, as he stands by his charger, I have been able to include in this volume, and who, as named by Kinglake (quoted on page 78), brought the Greys out of action at Balaclava. There, too, Kinglake refers to the anonymous officer whose Crimean recollections are given on pages 80 to 84. That officer has since died, and so, too, has Russell, the famous Times correspondent, with whom he was exchanging affectionate greetings. In the next place I must record my gratitude to Major Lindsay, who has shown the keen instinct native to the noble house of Crawford. His grandfather opened his famous record with this quotation from "Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont allias lyoun herauld king of Armes":—
LanguageEnglish
Publisheranboco
Release dateAug 22, 2016
ISBN9783736407688
The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'

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    The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys' - Edward Almack

    APPENDIX

    THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND DRAGOONS Royal Scots Greys

    BY EDWARD ALMACK, F.S.A.

    LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

    Aberdeen University Library, per P. J. Anderson, Esq., Librarian

    Edward Almack, Esq., F.S.A.

    Mrs. E. Almack

    E. P. Almack, Esq., R.F.A.

    Miss V. A. B. Almack

    Miss G. E. C. Almack

    W. W. C. Almack, Esq.

    Charles W. Almack, Esq.

    Army & Navy Stores, Ltd., London, S.W.

    Lieut.-Col. Ashburner, late Queen's Bays

    His Grace The Duke of Atholl, K.T., etc., etc.

    C. B. Balfour, Esq.

    G. F. Barwick, Esq., Superintendent, Reading Room, British Museum

    Lieut. E. H. Bonham, Royal Scots Greys

    Lieut. M. Borwick, Royal Scots Greys

    Messrs. Bowering & Co., Booksellers, Plymouth

    Mr. W. Brown, Bookseller, Edinburgh

    Major C. B. Bulkeley-Johnson, Royal Scots Greys

    Messrs. Cazenove & Son, London, W.C.

    Major Edward F. Coates, M.P., Tayles Hill, Ewell, Surrey

    Major W. F. Collins, Royal Scots Greys

    W. J. Collins, Esq., Royal Scots Greys

    Capt. H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.G., G.C.V.O., Royal Scots Greys

    The Hon. Henry H. Dalrymple, Lochinch, Castle Kennedy, Wigtonshire

    Cyril Davenport, Esq., F.S.A.

    J. Barrington Deacon, Esq., Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth

    Messrs. Douglas & Foulis, Booksellers, Edinburgh

    E. H. Druce, Esq.

    Second Lieut. Viscount Ebrington, Royal Scots Greys

    Mr. Francis Edwards, Bookseller, London, W.

    Lord Eglinton, Eglinton Castle, Irvine, N.B.

    Lieut. T. E. Estcourt, Royal Scots Greys

    Capt. R. D. Fordyce, Royal Scots Greys

    Mr. H. G. Gadney, Bookseller, Oxford

    The Galignani Library, Booksellers, Paris

    J. Hamilton, Esq., Houldsworth, Castlebank, Lanark, N.B.

    Second Lieut. E. J. Hardy, Royal Scots Greys

    Lieut. S. J. Hardy, Royal Scots Greys

    Capt. Claudius Shirley Harris, 90, Woodstock Road, Oxford

    Capt. The Hon. A. M. Henley, 5th Lancers, York

    Walter Johnson, Esq., Armcliffe Hall, Northallerton

    Mr. G. P. Johnston, Bookseller, Edinburgh

    Percy R. Laurie, Esq., Royal Scots Greys

    Capt. W. E. Lawrence, Royal Scots Greys

    Major A. Lawson, Royal Scots Greys

    Major The Hon. R. H. Lindsay

    Capt. and Adj. W. Long, D.S.O., Royal Scots Greys

    Lieut. C. J. A. Maberly, 5th Lancers

    Mrs. N. Maberly, 14 The Avenue, Clifton, Bristol

    Messrs. Macniven & Wallace, Booksellers, Edinburgh

    Lieut. W. M. Duguid McCombie, Royal Scots Greys

    Capt. Geo. Middleton, Royal Scots Greys, Wilderness, Kelmarsh, Northampton

    Col. A. D. Miller, D.S.O., Royal Scots Greys

    W. R. Mitchell, Esq., 68, Washington Place, New York, U.S.A.

    Lieut. A. R. Moncrieff, Royal Scots Greys

    Second Lieut. Hon. F. C. Montgomerie, Royal Scots Greys

    Alexander Moring, Esq.

    Clement O. E. Nicholson, Esq., late Royal Scots Greys

    H. Stafford O'Brien, Blatherwyche Park, Wansford, Northamptonshire

    Cecil W. Otway, Esq., Royal Scots Greys

    Second Lieut. H. D. Pender, Royal Scots Greys

    Lieut. F. A. U. Pickering, Royal Scots Greys

    J. J. Readman, Esq.

    Messrs. Robson & Co., Booksellers, London, W.

    The Right Hon. The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., etc., etc.

    Capt. Hon. A. J. M. St. Clair, Royal Scots Greys

    Mrs. Sanderson, Glenlaggan, Parton, N.B.

    Major-General H. Scobell, C.B., Commander 1st Cavalry Brigade, Aldershot

    Capt. A. G. Seymour, Royal Scots Greys

    The Signet Library, Edinburgh

    Col. Smythe, of Methven

    J. M. F. Sprot, Esq., of Riddell, Roxburghshire, Lieut. Royal Scots Greys

    John Stansfeld, Esq., late Capt. Royal Scots Greys, Dunninald, Montrose

    Capt. F. Swetenham, Royal Scots Greys

    Toronto Public Library

    Capt. H. B. Towse, Royal Scots Greys

    Col. F. J. A. Wallace, Arrandale, Ayre, N.B.

    Lieut.-Col. Welby, M.P., 26, Sloane Court, Chelsea, S.W.

    Col. Coventry Williams, late Royal Scots Greys

    Second Lieut. J. M. Wilson, Royal Scots Greys

    A. B. Winch, Esq., Royal Scots Greys

    Ane Account deu be Thomas Dalzell of bins for his fathers funerall, to George Porteous the 2 of Sept 1685.

    A Letter to General Dalzell dated 30th December, 1654, wholly in the King's own hand.

    LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

    Scotland for Ever. By kind permission of the Artist, and by arrangement with the proprietors of the copyright, Messrs. S. Hildesheimer & Co., Ltd.

    Facsimile of Ane Account deu be Thomas Dalzell of Bins for his Fathers funerall, to George Porteous the 2 of Sept 1685

    Facsimile of a letter to General Dalzell, dated 30th December, 1654, wholly in the King's own hand

    Generall Thomas Dalyell who served Charles the Second King of Great Brittaine as Major Generall of his Army at the Battle of Worcester and thereafter being taken prisoner by the Rebells after long imprisonment made his escape out of the Tower of London went to Muscovie where he served the Emperor of Russia as one of the Generals of his Forces against the Polanders and Tartars till the year 1665 when he was recalled by King Charles the second and thereafter did command His Majesties Forces at the defeat of the Rebells at Pentland Hills in Scotland and continued Lieutenant Generall in Scotland when His Majestie had any standing Forces in that Kingdom till the year of his death 1685 in the Raigne of our present Soveraigne James the second of Great Brittaine

    Facsimile of Charles II.'s Commission, dated 19th July, 1666, appointing Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Captaine' of a Troupe of Horse

    Facsimile of Charles II.'s Commission, dated 19th June, 1679, appointing Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over all the Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland

    Facsimile of Charles II.'s Commission, dated 11th November, 1681, appointing Lieutenant Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Colonell' of a Regiment of Dragoones to be formed out of the three Companies of Dragoones already standing in that our Kingdome

    Facsimile of Warrant of Charles II., granting certain revenues to Thomas Dalzell as Lieutenant Generall in command of the Forces in Scotland

    Facsimile of James II.'s Commission, dated 30th March, 1685, appointing Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over all our Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland

    Facsimile of Warrant of William and Mary, 1692, confirming the title Our Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons

    His Excellency, John, Earl of Stair

    Facsimile of Signatures of Colonel Agnew's Troop, for receipt of Bountie Monie for Campaigne of 1704

    Field Marshal John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair, K.T. Born 1673; died 1747. From the painting at Lochinch

    Grenadier Cap of the Scots Greys, 1743, preserved in the Museum of the United Service Institution

    Farm Buildings, Lochinch, Castle Kennedy, Wigtonshire. The farm buildings were used as barracks by the Scots Greys under command of John, Earl of Stair

    Charles Ewart, Sergeant in the Scots Greys, carrying off the Eagle belonging to one of the most distinguished divisions of the French Infantry at the Battle of Waterloo

    The Grave of Ewart, who captured the Eagle at Waterloo

    Facsimile of Muster Role of Waterloo Men 2nd (or R.N.B.) Regiment of Dragoons. Rouen, 11th September, 1815

    Facsimile of Signatures of Officers present of the 2nd (or R.N.B.) Regiment of Dragoons entitled to share of Prize Money granted for the Waterloo Campaign. Canterbury, 29th May, 1817

    Hoof of a Charger of the Greys at Balaclava

    Captain Toosey Williams

    Memorial to the Memory of Fallen Heroes of the Royal Scots Greys, Edinburgh

    From a Coloured Drawing in the British Museum, dated 1742

    General Dalzell's Comb

    General Thomas Dalzell's Dagger and Spoon

    An Officer of the Royal Scots Greys, about 1834. From a rare print kindly lent by Messrs. Robson & Co.

    An Officer in Levée Dress, Crimean period

    Anitchkoff Palace, St. Petersburg, 2nd of February, 1895—The Emperor of Russia accepting the Picture, presented by the Officers, of H.I.M. as Colonel-in-Chief marching past at the head of the Regiment

    Colonel Clarke

    John, Earl of Craufurd

    Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Hankin, present with the Greys at Waterloo

    Lieutenant-Colonel Hippisley

    Lieutenant-Colonel James Charles Maberly

    Lord Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore

    H.I.M. the Emperor of Russia, Colonel-in-Chief of the Scots Greys

    General Nugent

    Colonel Sanderson

    Colonel H. J. Scobell

    The Right Honourable John, Earl of Stair

    Colonel Wallace

    Lieutenant-Colonel Welby

    Lieutenant-Colonel Coventry Williams

    Regimental Standards

    Generall Thomas Dalyell who served Charles the Second King of Great Brittaine as Major Generall of his Army at the Battle of Worcester and thereafter being taken prisoner by the Rebells after long imprisonment made his escape out of the Tower of London went to Muscovie where he served the Emperor of Russia as one of the Generals of his Forces against the Polanders and Tartars till the year 1665 when he was recalled by King Charles the second and thereafter did command His Majesties Forces at the defeat of the Rebells at Pentland Hills in Scotland and continued Lieutenant Generall in Scotland when His Majestie had any standing Forces in that Kingdom till the year of his death 1685 in the Raigne of our present Soveraigne James the second of Great Brittaine.

    CHAPTER I.

    In writing this record of the history of the Royal Scots Greys I have aimed at giving scenes and characters as exactly as possible. I have, therefore, used contemporary language without any modern editing. The book will contain particulars relating to every officer who has ever held a commission in the Regiment.

    Before describing the origin of this famous Regiment, it will be well to refer briefly to the title Dragoon. It will be noticed that in the early official warrants, Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, are always three distinct forces. The Dragoon was nearly allied to the Mounted Infantryman, who, in modern times, has evoked such great public interest. A captain was usually described as appointed to command, not a troop, but a company.

    On the breaking out of the war with Holland in 1672 a regiment of Dragoons was raised; the pay was at a lower rate than the Horse, and the men were armed as Infantry, except that a limited number carried halberds instead of pikes, and the others muskets and bayonets, and a few in each troop had pistols.

    The warrant, dated 2nd April, 1672, requires that the new force—

    shall be armed out of our stoares remaining within Our office of the Ordinance as followeth; that is to say, three corporalls, two serjeants, the gentlemen at armes, and twelve souldiers of each of the said twelve Troopes, are to have and carry each of them one halbard, and one case of pistolls with holsters; and the rest of the souldiers of the several Troopes aforesaid, are to have and to carry each of them one matchlocke musquet, with a collar of bandaliers, and also to have and to carry one bayonet or great knife. That each lieutenant have and carry one partizan, and that two drums be delivered out for each Troope of the said Regiment.

    By warrants dated 21st May, 1678, two independent troops of Dragoons were raised, their respective Captains being John Strachan and John Inglis.

    This was the beginning of the Royal Scots Greys.

    On 23rd September, 1678, Viscount Kingstoun was commissioned to be Captain of a new company of Dragoons appointed by us to be forthwith levyed.

    Four days later, Francis Stuart, of Coldingham, was appointed Lieutenant of this new company.

    On July 24th, 1679, Francis Stuart became Captain of this new company in succession to Viscount Kingstoun who resigned.

    By Royal Warrant on the 25th of November, 1681, three troops were ordered to be added to the three already raised, and the whole six formed into a regiment. See page 13.

    The following extract relates to the state of Scotland and proposed increase of forces there. (State Papers—Scotland—Warrant Books, vol. iv., folio 370):—

    "CHARLES R.

    "Right trusty and welbeloued Cousins and Councellors.—Wee greet you well. After full and satisfactory information from the Lords commissionated by you here, of what has been done by you in our Service, Wee doe againe approve of your proceeding, and thank you for your care, assuring you of our favour, assistance, and protection, upon all occasions; and for the more effectual prosecution thereof, wee find it necessary to signify to you, and by you to our people there, that wee are firmly resolved to owne and assert our authority, so as may equally encourage you and discourage all such as by seditious Practices endeavour in aspersing you to lessen our Prerogative: And finding by good information that the Phanaticks there, expecting encouragement from such as oppose you, and taking advantage of the present juncture of affaires here, have of late with great insolence flocked together frequently and openly in ffield conventicles those Rendevouses of Rebellion, and haue dared to oppose our fforces, though wee neither heed nor doe fear such insolent attempts, yet from a just care of our own authority, and a kindnesse to our good subjects there, we haue thought fit to order that some more fforces may be trained; and for that effect wee haue commanded the Lords of our Treasury to take an effectuall course for providing what money wee shall find necessary for raising and maintaining those Troopes at our charge, And wee expect from you an exact and speedy Account of what number and quality of Troopes may be necessary there upon this occasion; to the end wee may direct commissions, and give such other orders as wee shall find requisite. For doing whereof this shall be your Warrant, and so wee bid you heartily ffarewell.

    Given at our Court at Whitehall the 7th day of May 1678, and of our Reigne the 30th.

    Charles the Second's Commission dated 19th July, 1666,

    Appointing Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Captaine' of a Troupe of Horse, to be raised by you for Our Service, in the Regiment whereof Lieut.-Generall Drumond is Colonell.

    Directed on the back thus:—

    To our right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors ... our Privy Councell of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland.

    The very next warrant makes John Strachan Captain of one of ye two companies of Dragoons to be forthwith leavied. It was followed under the same date by others, one making John Inglis Captain of the other company, one making John Lauder Lieutenant of Strachan's company, and another making William Cleland Lieutenant of Inglis's company. Then followed still two more, one appointing John Livingston Ensign in Strachan's and the other, Henry Dundas, Ensign under Inglis.

    "CHARLES R.

    "Charles the Second by ye grace of God king of Scotland, england, france and Ireland Defender of ye faith &c. to our trusty and welbeloved John Strachan greeting: Wee reposing speciall trust and confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, doe by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Captaine of one of ye two Companies of Dragoones appointed by us to be forthwith leavied for our service in our ancient Kingdome of Scotland, which Company is to consist of one hundred men besides officers. You are therefore carefully to discharge the Duty of a Captaine by exercising ye said Company in Armes, both Officers and soldiers, and keeping them in good order and Discipline. And wee doe hereby command them to obey you as their Captaine, and you likewise exactly to observe and follow all such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from Us, our Privy Councell, the Commander in chiefe of our fforces in that our Kingdome now or for the time being, or any other your superiour officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of Warre, in pursuance of ye trust which wee doe hereby repose in you.

    Given at our Court at Whitehall the 21th day of May 1678—and of our Reigne the 30th year.

    The following order relates in part to the three Independent Troopes of Dragoones. (War Office Miscellany Orders, vol. v., folio 179):—

    "Whereas his Majesty hath thought fitt to order the immediate Raiseing of three Regiments of Horse consisting of eight Troopes each Regiment, and sixty men in each Troope besides Officers: as also three Regiments of Foot consisting of four Companyes each Regiment, and one hundred men in each Company, besides officers; and one Regiment of Dragoons consisting of eight Troopes, and eighty men in each troope, besides officers, and three other Independent Troopes of Dragoons, of the like number; and three Troopes of Horse Granadiers, consisting of eighty men in one of the Troopes, and sixty men in each of the other two Troopes, besides officers.

    "You are to pass and allow the said Regiments, Troopes and Companies, according to the directions following.

    "The first muster of any of the troopes of Horse is to be from the officers first produceing twenty or more good men well mounted to be mustered, and the following musters shall be upon produceing five men with their Horses till the whole Troope be compleated. The officers are to be allowed and enter into Pay from their said first muster of Twenty.

    "The foot are to be mustered as any of them are raised, and the officers of each Company are to be allowed from the time they muster twenty.

    "The first muster of every Troope of Dragoones, is to be upon the officers produceing twenty-five good men suitably mounted, and the officers then are to be allowed, and the following musters shall be of eight men with their Horses till the troope be compleated. The first Muster of the Horse Granadiers is to be upon produceing thirty men well mounted and the officers then to be allowed, and the following Musters to be in the same manner as those of the Dragoons. The field officers of each Regiment are to be allowed from the first muster of their respective Companies, and you are to pay the staff officers from the time appointed for the Regiment to Rendezvous.

    "Given at the Court at Whitehall this 11th day of June 1679.

    "Monmouth.

    To Henry Howard, Esqre., Commissary General of the Musters.

    The next is of varied interest, giving the Duke of Monmouth supreme command, and urging to be kept informed by flying packets. (Vol. v., page 156.)

    "Whitehall, 11th June, 1679, at Midnight.

    "May it please your Lordship I am commanded by his Majesty to acquaint you that in pursuance of his Resolution to send some Supplyes from hence to you for suppressing the Rebellion now amongst the Phanaticks in the West of Scotland, he hath ordered a Regiment of ffoote to be presently embarqued to goe by Sea to Barwick together with cannon and ammunition sufficient, and his Majesty has ordered two Regiments of ffoote more to be presently leauied, the one to be commanded by the Lord Cavendish and the other by the Lord Gray of Wark, as also three Regiments of Horse under the command of the Duke of Monmouth, Duke of Albemarle, the Lord Gerard, Together with eight hundred Dragoons, There is likewise three troopes of Granadiers, and these last are to march towards Scotland to-morrow. The King has also thought fit to name the Duke of Monmouth Generall to command all his fforces so long as his Grace shall remaine in Scotland. His Majesty by this Expedition will be at the charge of upwards of five hundred pounds sterline a day, which is more than £150,000 sterline by year if they continue so long. And seeing the King has so early provided for the preservation of his royall government and your common safety, he has just reason to expect that in the meantime you will bestow your utmost care and diligence as far as possible to suppresse that vile Rebellion. His Majesty presseth much that frequent flying packets may be sent at least every other day that he may know all things that pass, and that they may bear large and exact accounts. All which by his Majesty's command is signified to your Lordship by my Lord, your Lordships most humble and most faithfull servant, Lauderdale.

    To the Right Honble. The Earl of Rothes, Lord high Chancellor of Scotland. To be communicated to the remnant Lords and other of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Councell of that Kingdome.

    The next relates to the rebellion, and to the appointment of Thomas Dalzell to be Lieutenant General of all His Majesty's forces in that his ancient kingdome. (Vol. v., folio 167.)

    "Whitehall, 19th June, 1679.

    "May it please your Lordships. It was yesterday in the evening that your Letter of ye 15th instant (by a flying Packett) came to my hand, and I did immediately waite on the King with it, who after his reading it was pleased to declare that he was very well satisfied with your recommending Generall Thomas Dalzell to be Lieutenant Generall of all his Majesty's Forces in that his ancient Kingdome, and gave me a command for Preparing his Commission for that purpose; wherein I would lose no time, for it was ready this morning for his Royall hand, and he was graciously pleased to signe it, as you have it now hereinclosed. His Majesty is also exceedingly well pleased with the march of his fforces last Munday against the Rebells, and with the extraordinary care and diligence that have appeared in all your consultations and actions since the first notice you had of the breaking out of this Rebellion, which he hopes (by the blessing of God, and the continuance of your faithfull endeavours) will be soone crushed. It was likewise a great satisfaction to his Majesty to know that you were resolved to send fflying Packetts frequently for he has a very earnest desire to be informed as often as possible, of the transactions there, during the continuance of this Rebellion. Your Lordships may be pleased to send this Letter to the Duke of Buccleugh, and this commission to the Lieutenant Generall with all speed.

    "I am My Lords, ...

    "Lauderdale.

    To Earl Rothes....

    Folio 168 contains the Commission.

    All the foregoing are from documents in the Record Office.

    The next extracts are picked from the British Museum copy of a rare autobiography, The Memoirs of Captain John Crichton, written by Himself. Printed in the year 1731. The peculiar interest of the words that follow is that they were written wholly as the experiences of one of the first officers of the Greys.

    Whereupon Mr. Francis Stuart, grandson to the Earl of Bothwell, a private gentleman in the Horse-Guards, like myself, and my intimate acquaintance, was sent for, in haste, by the General; because the Council of Scotland was then writing to the King that his Majesty would be pleased to grant commissions to those persons whose names were to be sent up to London that very night. Mr. Stuart gave me notice of this: whereupon, although I was not sent for, I resolved to go up with him to Edenborough, and solicit for myself.

    The General: Wha' the Deel sent for you up? I answered that I hoped his Excellency would now make good his promise of preferring me ... the General stood my firm friend, and although the sons and brothers of Lords and Baronets and other persons of quality solicited to be made Lieutenants and Cornets, in these new raised Troops, yet the General in regard to my services, prevailed with the Council that I might be appointed Lieutenant to Mr. Stuart, who was then made Captain of Dragoons.

    Soon after this, the Archbishop of St. Andrews was murdered by the Laird of Hackston and Balfour, assisted by four poor weavers.

    Charles the Second's Commission dated 19th June, 1679.

    Appointing Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over all the Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland.

    The Council finding the Rebels daily increasing in their numbers ... his Majesty sent down the Duke of Monmouth ... to be Commander-in-chief.... General Dalziel refused to serve under him, and remained at his lodgings in Edenborough, till his Grace was superseded, which happened about a fortnight after.... The General Officers ... desired his Grace to let them know which way he designed to take to come at the Enemy, the Duke answered, it must be by Bothwell Bridge. Now the bridge lay a short mile to the right of the King's Army, was narrow, and guarded with 3,000 of the Rebels, and strongly barricaded with great stones; but although the Officers were desirous to have passed the river, by easy fords, directly between them and the Rebels and to march to their main body on the moor, before those 3,000, who guarded the bridge, could come to assist them; yet the Duke was obstinate, and would pass no other way than that of the bridge. Pursuant to this preposterous and absurd resolution, he commanded Captain Stuart (whose Lieutenant I was) with his troop of Dragoons, and 80 Musqueteers, together with four small Field-pieces, under cover of the Dragoons, to beat off the party at the bridge. The Duke himself, with David Lesly and Melvill, accompanyed us, and ordered the Field-pieces to be left at the Village of Bothwell, within a musquet-shot of the bridge. When the Duke and his men came near the bridge, the Rebels beat a parly, and sent over a Laird, accompanied with a Kirk Preacher.... While this Parly lasted, the Field-pieces were brought down and planted over against the bridge, without being perceived by the Rebels. The messengers ... they would not lay down their arms unless their conditions were granted them; whereupon the Dragoons and Musqueteers fired all at once upon those who guarded the bridge, and the Field-pieces played so warmly, that some hundreds of the Rebels were slain; the rest flying to the main body on the moor. The Duke, as soon as he had commanded to fire, retired into a hollow from the enemies' shot; ... and continued there till the action was over. Then Captain Stuart ordered the Musqueteers to make way for the Horse, to pass the bridge, by casting into the river the stones which had been placed there to obstruct the passage over it; but the army could not pass in less than five hours; and then marched up in order of battle towards the enemy, who waited for them on the moor, confiding in the superiority of their numbers. Clavers commanded the Horse on the right, and Captain Stuart the Dragoons on the left. The Field-pieces were carried in the centre of the Footguards, while the rest of the Officers commanded at the head of their men; and the Duke, after the enemy was beaten from the bridge, rode at the head of the Army. Upon the first fire, the Rebel Horse turned about.... Sir John Bell, Provost of Glasgow as soon as he saw the Rebels fly, rode into the town; from whence, in a few hours, he sent all the bread he could find, together with an hogshead of drink to each troop and company in the Army, out of the cellars of such townsmen as were found to be abettors or protectors of the Rebels.

    The Pursuers were no sooner returned, and the whole action over, than General Dalziel arrived at the camp from Edenborough, with a commission renewed to be Commander-in-Chief, which he received that very morning by an Express....

    Charles the Second's Commission dated 11th November, 1681.

    Appointing Lieutenant Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Colonell' of a Regiment of Dragoones to be formed out of the three Companies of Dragoones already standing in that our Kingdome, and three Companies more to be added to them.

    On Saturday morning when the army was to march to Glasgow, I desired the General's leave to go with twelve Dragoons in search of some of the Rebels, who might probably pass the Clyde, about Dunlatton, to shelter themselves in the Highlands. With these Dragoons, clad in grey coats and bonnets, I made haste down the side of the river; and about midnight, after travelling twenty-four miles, I came to a church, and while the soldiers stayed to refresh their horses in the churchyard, I spyed a country fellow going by, and asked him in his own dialect, "Whither gang ye this

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