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

SECESSION FROM MONTROSE S CAMP. 355
ttf tack. Montrose, on the other hand, agreeably to his original plan, kept
his ground, as he did not deem it adviseable to expose his men to thp
fnemy's cavalry by descending from the eminence. With tlie exoejition
of some triHing skirmishes between the advanced posts, the main body
of both armies remained quiescent during the whole day. To supply
his want of shot, Montrose melted down all the pewter dishes he could
i^Uect, including a certain utensil, in reference to which, one of hii?
men, after discharging his musket, jocularly said, " I have certainly broke
one traitor's face with a ch p — "*
Argyle again retired in the evening to the ground ho had occupied
the preceding night, whence he returned the following day, part of
which was spent in the same manner as the former ; but long before
the daj' had expired, he led off his army, " upon fair day light," says
Spalding, " to a considerable distance, leaving Montrose to effect his es-
cape unmolested." A more remarkable instance of utter imbecility, or
rather pusillanimity, than that exhibited in the conduct of Argyle on
the present occasion, it is scarcely possible to conceive ; and it seems
surprising that, after thus incurring " disgrace among his friends, and
contempt from his enemies," he should have still been allowed to retain
a command for which he was evidently altogether unfitted.
Montrose, thus left to follow any course he pleased, marched off after
night-fall towards Strathbogie, plundering Turriff and Rothicraay house
in his route. He selected Strathbogie as the place of his retreat, on ac-
count of the ruggedness of the country and of the numerous dikes with
which it was intersected, which would prevent the operations of Argyle's
cavalry, and where he intended to remain till joined bj' Macdonald,
whom he daily expected from the Highlands with a reinforcement.
When Argyle heard of Montrose's departure on the following morning,
being the last day of October, he, forthwith, proceeded after him with his
army, thinking to bring him to action in the open country, and en-
-iniped at TuUochbeg on the second of November, where he drew out
his army in battle array. He endeavoured to bring Montrose to a gene-
ral engagement, and in order to draw him from a favourable position
he was preparing to occupy, Argyle sent out a skirmishing party of his
Highlanders ; but they were soon repulsed, and Montrose took possession
of the ground he had selected.
Baffled in all his attempts to overcome Montrose by force of arms,
Argyle, whose talents were more fitted for the intrigues of the cabinet
than the tactics of the field, had now recourse to negotiation, with the
view of effecting the ruin of his antagonist. For this purpose he pro-
posed a cessation of arms, and that he and Montrose should hold a conference
previous to which arrangements should be entered into for their mu-
tual security. Montrose knew Argyle too well to place any reliance upon
his «ord, and as he had no doubt that Argyle would take advantage,
• Wi,iiail, p. 100.