The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

1820.] TllK .STilATHSPF.Y JlIGHLANDlCllS AT KT.GIX. 4G5
ill (lie mitlillc of the iniJ,'lit, with a. note to younjx I'atrick Grant (.losi.Tlljiu^-
Ikav the}' wore situated, and sayin^j^ she was siu'e liis fatlier's smi/ nrere
boy tliougli lie was, would not hear of tlie daughters and sister^i of liis
chief h::nno- insulted as thev were witlnut makinir an elfori for tl)"in to
ga,th : men as qulckiv as possible aisd couie to their relief. .'. siniilai' note
was '..-ritten to Ciotain Grant, Conpisli, the faetor >•!' Strati; -.pey.
Acco. singly instant step? were taken. A tiery cross was sent round, and,
in the course of a few hours, some iive or six liundied men were on their
way from Strathspey to Elgin. Some of the people were assemWing at
their parish churches Avhen the news reached them. But instead of
worshipping, they all joined in the march for Elgin. They got thei'e just
at daybreak, and marched through the town to Grant Lodge, at the gate
of which thev found a pai'ty of the toAvns-people, wdio had j^i-ovided
themselves with baskets fdled with broken bottles to hu.rl at any one who
might attempt a rescue. Seeing the numbers and resolute bearing of the
Highlanders, the burghers histantly iled. The .Stiuthspey men entered the
grounds, wliere they were joyfully welcomed— Lady Anne, cjueendike as
she was, goinu^ about with a Avord of gi-ateful g-reeting to evcrv one. Theii-
blood was up, and the difliculty was to get their men away Avithont sacking
and burnino- the town of EIrrin. It is said that the Provost of Elo-in was so
afraid of this, that he contrived to obtain access by a back entrance to
Grant Lodge. He implored Lady Anne, on his knees, to induce the
Higlilandei-s to spare the towTi, and return to Strathspey. This appeal
was backed by tiie Sheriff of the county, and the persuasions of these
gentlemen, aided by the bagjnpes, prevailed. The Highlanders then
started for Strathspey. Lady Anne sent oi'ders to Eorres, and every inn on
the road, to give the Highlanders anything they wanted. At Forres they
made a regular nio-ht of it, eatinij: and drinking and dancing till mornini;",
and so on to Strathspey without a halt, so that the men from the remoter
parts must have walked fully eighty miles without going to bed. Sir
Patrick adds, " The news spread like wild-tire, and, had the struggle
' Sir Patrick was at this time "a little over intimate communication with Sir James Grant
fifteen ye.irs of age," ami was the son of Major dnriti^ the formation of the 97tli Eegiment or
Grant, Auchterblair, who hail held an active cnm- Strathspey Higlilauclers.
maml in the Strathspey Volunteei-s. ami had much
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