The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

68o The His^hland Monthly.
since the battle ; and
the numerous graves on it can be
easily detected by the slight difference of the level and the
deeper green of the grass. A long burial trench occurs at
the foot of the 500 ft. terrace below Urrard House. Near
at hand is a monolith, probably of the stone circle age. It
happens to mark the spot where " the bauld Pitcur fell in a
fur." It was here that Gen. Mackay placed the baggage
before the battle. But, unfortunately, the best part of the
spoil was not for the victors, but for the idle spect£.tors.
On the morning of the battle two young Highlanders
left Dundee's army 011 Craig Halloch, as they were rather
curious to see the " red coats," whom they had never seen
before. As they were entering a bothy and its adjoining
barn they came in contact with a number of red coat scouts.
In the fray one of the Highlanders fell wounded, and the
other one lost his target ; but he immediately lifted the
upper half of the barn door off the hinges and used it in
Heu of a target. He fought the red coats single-handed,
and killed them. When he went back to his comrades on
the hill he explained that he had now seen the red coats,
and that when he left them they were redder than when he
met them !
•
It is said that Gen. Mackay surveyed the Highland
army posted on the northern ridge, and expressed his
opinion in rather contemptuous terms to a son of Lochiel,
then an officer in the Royal army. " How would you like
to be over yonder with your father and his wild savages ? "
said Mackay. " I am afraid," said young Cameron, " that
you will soon find ' the savages ' nearer you than you would
wish." The Royalists then took up their position on the
higher plateau (500 ft.) three men deep, with the dangerous
defile of Killiecrankie behind them, and the enemy securely
posted on the rocky ridge in front.
It is hoped that the preceding notes will help to show
with some precision the position of the Royalists before the
battle. Mackay's army numbered nearly 4000 men, and
Dundee's about 2000. Most of Dundee's officers, who were