A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

BATTLF. OF OLENLIVET. 223
militia, and composed, in a great measure, of Catholics, who could noi
be expected to feel very warmly for the Protestant interest, to support
which, tlie expedition was professedly undertaken. Tlie seeds of disaf-
fection, besides, had been already sown in Argyle's camp by the cor-
ruption of the Grants and Campbell of Lochnell.
On hearing of Argyle's approach, the earl of Errol immediately col-
lected a select body of about one hundred horsemen, being gentlemen,
on whose courage and fidelity he could rely, and with these he joined
the earl of Huntly at Strathbogie. The forces of Huntly, after this
junction, amounted, it is said, to nearly fifteea hundred men, almost
altogether horsemen, and with this body he advanced to Carnborrow,
where the two earls and their chief followers made a solemn vow to
conquer, or to die. Marching from thence, Huntly 's army arrived at
Auchindun the same day that Argyle's army reached Drummin. At
Auchindun, Huntly received intelligence that Argyle was on the eve
of descending from the mountains to the lowlands, which induced him,
on the following day, to send captain Thomas Carr and a party of horsemen
to reconnoitre the enemy, while he himself advanced witli his main
army. The reconnoitring party soon fell in, accidentally, with Argyle's
scouts, whom they chased, and some of whom they killed. This oc-
currence, which was looked upon as a prognostic of victory, so encour-
aged Huntly and his men, that he resolved to attack the army of Ar-
gyle before he should be joined by Lord Forbes, and the forces which
were waiting for his appearance in the lowlands. Argyle had now
passed Glenlivet, and had reached the banks of a small brook named
Altchonlachan.
On the other hand, the earl of Argyle had no idea that the earls of
Huntly and Errol would attack him with such an inferior force ; and he
was, therefore, astonished at seeing them approach so near him as they
did. Apprehensive that his numerical superiority in foot would be
counterbalanced by Huntly's cavalry, he held a council of war to deli-
berate whether he sliould at once engage the enemy, or retreat to the
mountains, which were inaccessible to Huntly's horsemen, till his low-
land forces, which were chiefly cavalry, should come up. The council
advised Argjde to wait till the king, who had promised to appear with
a force, should arrive, or, at all events, till he should be joined by the
Erasers and Mackenzies from the north, and the Irvings, Forbesses, and
Leslies from the lowlands with their horse. This opinion, which was
eonsidered judicious by the most experienced of Argyle's army, was
however disregarded by him, and he determined to wait the attack of
the enemy ; and to encourage his men he pointed out to them the small
number of those thej' had to combat with, and the spoils they might
expect after victory. He disposed his army on the declivity of a hill,
betwixt Glenlivet and Glenrinnes in two parallel divisions. The right
wing consisting of the Macleans and Mackintoshes was commanded by
Sir Lauchlan Maclean and Mackintosh—the left, composed of the