The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

SU LUDOVICK OKANT, KTGHTII OF K1!IU-('I11E AND OF OlIANT. [IGT.o-
was given to the flames, ('aptaiii Forbes also liiouLj'lit otlier Intelliu-eiiee
whieli only tuo snrely jiroved lliai. Maekay's men Avei'e in league willi llic
enemy, anil the General, aeeenling to his own .statement, now ehielly I'elied
upon tlie Grants for inlbrmation regai'ding the rebel i'' -yes.^
Cajitain Forbc^- ilso stated that as he and his ni' :i murehed through
Dundee's camji, tli. y saw t','- hor.sos saddU'd in readiness for .some expe-
dition, and almost wldlc his narrative was l)eing told, news came that the
enemy was in motion towards the eani]). (ieiieral Maekay sunnnoned his
officers, gave orders for the dis])osition of the men. and prepared to break up
his residence in the Laiid's -'summer dwelling.'' I'.ut while thus making
ready for the march, the General did not foiget his host, (ailing the Laird
to him, he ex])ressed I'egret that this movement would leave the Grant
country exposed to the ravage of the rebels, which ^et he hoped ^voldd lie
but for a lew days. He urged tlie Laird to bid his tenants remove their
cattle out of the enemy's way. That the (Jeneral's ad\'ice was disinterested,
and by no means Avithout foundation, may be shown from his own words
in a letter to Lord Melvill a few davs later. lie writes in view of a
journey south, and states that he will do his best to settle matters in the
north, even if he .shoidd leave it, but, he adds, " Som perticidlar ]nen may
com to suffer, perticullarly the Laird of Grant, at whom thcv have a great
prejudice, as well as at tlie rest of our friends, but he lyes tlie most
exposed of all; but if the whole be saved, the perticular breaches may be
easily made up."'- The General records that to his aiguments the Laird
replied, " Tho' all his interest .should be lost thereby, he would not wLsh the
Genei'al to make one step to the jirejudice of their Majesties' service."
General ]\Iaekay waited until the night began to i'all, and then, when
the enemy were aljout three miles from him, retreated down the Spey,
making a long night march, and did not halt till he reached Balvenv. His
movements for tlie iiext few days do not concern this narrative, but five
days later, having in the interim received reinforcement, he was back again
at Culnakyle, while Dundee was in retreat. On the evening of his arrival
he was threatened by a body of the reliels. and sent out a party of two
hundred horse commanded by an English (_>illcer. The Laird of Freuchie
' Mack-iy's Mtuiuirs, ]>. :;0. ^ /i;,/, Ai.i.eiuUx, p. 230.