SIR EWEN CAMERON-Continued.-REMARKABLE INCIDENTS IN HIS EARLY CAREER. LOCHIEL, having returned to Lochaber, found Macdonald of Glengarry and Keppoch willing to join him in the common defence of their properties; and for this purpose they met at Glenturrit, when they agreed to raise their men and meet upon a moor above Aberchalder, a few miles from Fort-Augustus, whenever they heard of the enemy's advance. Lochiel, in the meantime, allowed most of his men to separate and go home, but hearing of the approach of the English sooner than he expected, he determined to march for the place of rendezvous with about four hundred of his followers whom he had still about him, thinking that, by the assistance of Glengarry and Keppoch, he might be able to engage the enemy successfully. On his arrival he was disappointed to find only Keppoch there in terms of the agreement previously come to, and that Glengarry was "walking and discoursing with the English Commander in the very centre of his troops," encamped on the plain below, and numbering 1500 men and several troops of horse. Lochiel became exasperated, and expressed his suspicions even of Keppoch's fidelity, with the result that the latter resented the charge by leaving the field and marching his men home. The English soon after raised their camp and marched for a wood at the end of the Pass of Clunes, where they halted, and their Commander, Colonel Brayn, sent a messenger to Lochiel requesting permission to walk peaceably through his country, assuring him that he had no design of injuring either himself or his people, if he was not provoked by their conduct to attack them. Lochiel was personally in favour of attacking the English in the Pass, where he would have great advantages over them and could keep them until more of his men should arrive from their homes. His leading men strongly advised him against this course, and they were supported in their views by General Drummond, who accompanied Lochiel, with the view, it is said, to command the confederated clans when they met, to prevent disputes among themselves; and Lochiel, unwillingly, gave way to the counsel of his friends. He, however, closely watched the movements of the enemy, who, after encamping for a night at Inverlochy, began a return march to Inverness, neither inflicting nor receiving any injury in the district of Lochaber during their long march there and back. In consequence of Glengarry's defection on this occasion, Lochiel and he were never afterwards completely reconciled. When the estates of Glengarry were subsequently forfeited, Argyll got a gift of it, and gave it afterwards to Lochiel, who, notwithstanding the old difference, granted it in turn entire to its original owner.* After this Lochiel joined Glencairn's army, and took part in several lively skirmishes between him and the English soldiery in which the young chief and his followers displayed their usual gallantry, but nothing specially remarkable is recorded of them at this period. In 1654 General Middleton arrived from Holland, and succeeded Glencairn in the command of the King's troops, whereupon he at once wrote to Lochiel as follows: "HONOURED SIR,-The King is very sensible of your affection to him, and I am confident how soone he is in a capacity, will liberally reward your services. I doe * The author of Lochiel's Memoirs says, “Argyll's disposition of it to Lochiel is still extant, and is to be seen in the hands of M'Kenzie of Rose-End." not at all doubt of your constant resolution to prosecute that service vigorously with all your power for the King's interest and your country's honour, and I doe assure you that no man shall be more ready to assist you in anything than, &c. "TOUNG, March 1654." (Signed) "JOHN MIDDletone. "P.S.-I expect that you, with your friends, will not faill to come considerably, to join me, as soon as you are advertized by the Earl of Glencairn of his march towards me." Lochiel soon after joined Middleton "with a full regiment of good men," whom he almost immediately led into action, maintaining their previous renown for intrepidity and courage against the enemy. By General Monk's tactics, who arrived in the North in April 1654, Middleton's forces were reduced to very severe straits, being hemmed in on all sides, without provisions, and having no garrison or safe place of retreat. They were thus constantly obliged to fight and defend themselves in the open country, occasioning many severe conflicts between them and the English. On these occasions young Lochiel was always to the front, and often signally distinguished himself. "His men seemed to be spirited by his example, and in the end became so hardy and resolute that they despised all danger while he was at their head. There was little blood drawn during that campaign where he was not present, for he chose to be in that part of the army that opposed General Morgan, who, being an active and brave officer, seldom allowed rest to his enemies." Lochiel was thus gaining in reputation every day, becoming almost adored by his trusting followers. Monk used every means in his power--terrorism or conciliation, as best suited the circumstances-to divide and break up the Highland army, and, having succeeded with many of the other chiefs, he was naturally anxious to secure Lochiel, the most distinguished for bravery and courage of them all. He spared no temptation to bribe him into submission, and made him so many insinuating offers and proposals "that several of his best friends were surprised that he so much as hesitated to accept them. Among others he offered to buy the estate of Glenlui and Locharkaig for him; to pay all his debts; and to give him whatever post in the army he pleased." All this, however, proved ineffectual, and Monk determined to plant a strong garrison at Inver lochy, in the very heart of the Cameron country, so that Lochiel's estate would thus be entirely at his mercy, or he would force the Chief and his men home to defend it. He succeeded in the latter, for Lochiel, hearing of Monk's intention, marched straight into Lochaber, where he raised additional men, determined to fight the enemy on their way from Inverness, whence, he was informed, they were coming across the country. Meanwhile, however, on the advice of Argyll, who supplied men to pilot them, the English came round by sea, in five ships, and landed safely at Inverlochy, in their own boats, with a year's provision and ample materials to construct a fort. Colonel Brayn, who had led the English through the same country the previous year, was appointed Governor of the garrison, which consisted of 2000 effective troops, commanded by the most skilful and resolute officers in Monk's army, and attended by a large following of workmen, servants, their wives and children. The extensive woods which then abounded in the district. furnished the Governor with such plentiful material that, in less than twenty-four hours after landing, he had his troops fully secured against all danger from attack. Lochiel arrived in the neighbourhood next morning, and, having personally reconnoitred the situation from a neighbouring eminence, he satisfied himself of the impossibility of successful attack, and resolved to retire westward to the woods of Achadalew, three miles from the garrison, on the northern shore of Lochiel. Having taken counsel with his friends here, he resolved upon dismissing his men for a few days to enable them to remove their cattle further away from the enemy, and to obtain provisions for themselves, which, in consequence of their long absence, became quite exhausted. He only kept thirty-two young gentlemen and his own servants about him as a body-guard, numbering in all thirty-five, or, as another authority says, thirty-eight persons. He could not have fixed on a more suitable place to await the return of his followers, not only having, where he halted, a means of safe retreat into the wood, in case of a sudden surprise, but having the English garrison so well in view that the smallest party could not be sent out of it without his having timely notice of its proceedings. At the same time, he managed to get spies admitted into the garrison who kept him fully informed of everything that took place, though by their cunning familiarity with the soldiers, and frank offers of their services in any capacity in which they could be of use, they were never in the least suspected. Through these emissaries he received private notice that the Governor, encouraged by Lochiel's dismissal of his men, was that very day, the fifth after his arrival, to send out a detachment of 300 men, attended by several workmen, to bring in some fresh provisions, as well as to fell a quantity of old oak trees, which, he was informed, were to be found in great numbers on both sides of Lochiel. Though the Chief was displeased at himself for dismissing so many of his men, yet, pushed on by curiosity, he ascended an eminence, from whence he had a full view of all the enemy's proceedings, and soon after he discovered two ships, full of soldiers, sailing towards the wood, where he and his men were concealed. These vessels, as he afterwards found, each contained an equal number of troops. One of them anchored on his, and the other on the opposite, shore of the Loch. Resolving to have a nearer view, he, under cover of the wood, managed to post himnear the spot where they landed, that he was able to count them as they drew up, their number being about 140 men, besides officers and workmen with axes and other instruments. Having thus fully satisfied himself, he returned to his friends, and asked their opinion as to what was best to be done, "now that such a party of the enemy had offered their throats to be cut," as he expressed himself. The majority of his party were young men, fiery, hot-headed, full of vigour and courage, and fond of every opportunity of pleasing their brave Chief, whom they almost adored. These youthful spirits, discovering his inclinations, were for attacking the English at once at all hazards; but the few older and more experienced attempted to dissuade him from this by all the arguments they could suggest. They said that the great inequality of their number rendered the attempt mad and ridiculous; that, supposing the enemy to be cowards, yet they were strangers, and the very despair of the impossibility of escaping in a strange country by flight would oblige them to fight desperately for their lives; and, being more than four to one, it would be surprising if they did not surround their assailants and cut them to pieces; but in this particular case the combat would be still more hazardous and desperate, for the enemy |