Diary of William Smythers Esq. - ‘The First Battle’

8th August 1745
It is my great fortune to encounter General Cope at about 8:30 in the morning. He invited me to follow him and his troops on an expedition into the clan lands of the Chisolms just outside of the fort.

Within the hour a large force of troops marched through the local village rounding up all the menfolk, where menfolk were not to be found the housed were put to the fire as they were likely off with the Prince.

Of the menfolk taken those that were known to have a good reputation were released the others were imprisoned at the Fort with a view to be deported.  As news of such harsh treatment got abroad then bands of clansmen made forays into the town and some serious but low scale fighting took place.

By nightfall the town was clear of all people, the menfolk in prison, the women and children fled. General Cope was extremely happy with the days work, I must admit that it did leave a rancid taste in my mouth, but this is war.

9th August 1745
Another early start and we journey to Inverness  where we hear disturbing news. It appears that the Earl of Cromerty is ralling forces to the east of here.

Many women and children of the Chisholm clan are encountered on the way, Cope and his men pay them little eheed and march on to Inverness where he and his men do terrible slaughter of cattle and men and they torched the dwellings of any family whose men folk were not to be found.

In the evening we hear more news of the rebels and their puny little army, it is in Elgin and has the audacity to off us battle, we will not disappoint.

10th August 1745
We rise at dawn and ride on to Elgin, which is strangely deserted, arriving at mid-day to see a strange sight, the army of the Prince in line of battle.

The Battle of Elgin
Below is a rough sketch of the initial deployments of the armies,

The two government regiments of foot deployed in line one behind the other with the protection of the stream to their front, on their left flank the two regiments of dragoons deployed, one on the road in column , the second in line between their foot and the Town of Elgin. In the town it’s self was the loyalist Grants lead by the Laid himself. Cope ordered the dragoons to ride up the coast road so as to get behind the Jacobite flank as soon as was possible, on the way they picked-up the Grants as support. Meanwhile the Earl of Cromerty lined his foot in one line of battle and had the advance up to the summit of the hill to their west, giving them command of the battlefield.

At this stage all seemed to be going well for the Earl, his line moved into place quickly and Cope’s dragoons seemed to b having some difficulty in advancing along the road, however they eventually reached their desired position. At this very stage the Master of Lovatt’s Regiment arrived on the field, on the flank of the dragoons who had thought that they had out flanked the Earl’s lines.

Hamilton’s Dragoons drew up in line of battle and manoeuvred to charge the advancing Lovatts, however they were not able to do this before the highlanders were able to form their own line of battle and when the dragoons finally charged the highlanders counterchanged. In the resulting melee, the dragoons took a surprisingly high number of casualties and were repelled.
 At this stage there appeared a second Lovatt regiment, this time that of the Lord of Lovatt who lead a loyalist force onto the field, to the rear of the Jacobite Lovatt regiment, see the diagram below….

Dismayed at the poor showing of the dragoons, Cope threw them into battle again, this time supported by the Laird of Grants’ regiment, as these highlanders moved forward all order seemed to degenerate into internal fighting and the regiment split, some 130 men going over to join the Master of Lovatt as allies, the balance of the regiment rallying back to reorganise. This left Hamilton’s dragoons to fight on alone and again their showing was poor, being pushed back again and forced to disengage.

Meanwhile the other Jacobite regiments played a waiting game on the highest hill on the battlefield, no doubt watching the slow deliberate deployment of the redcoat lines towards them from their vantage point.

Finally late in the afternoon the combined attacks of Hamilton’s dragoons and a ferocious charge by the Laird of Grant’s regiment into the Joacobite Lovatts and Grants broke the deadlock and smashed the Jacobite regiment. Much slaughter took place on the battlefield when the loyalist Grants caught up with the former confederates and the Lovatts, word has it that about 300 men were killed, wounded or captured within some 5 minutes.

With the Jacobites rear and right flank threatened, the pace of the battle seemed to escalate quickly. Gardiner’s Dragoons were soon able to bring a charge to bare on the right flank of the main Jacobite battle line. Here the Glenmoriston Grants were initially pushed back but were able to rally to spend some time firing volley after volley into the dragoons as they re-organised themselves. However the die was cast, the Dragoons charged home again and after a prolonged fight were able to put the Grants to flight and pursue with some heavy casualties being inflicted.

With the right of his line of battle in flight Cromerty ordered his little army off the table, they exited without undue problems and travelled south to Grantown.

Offical Rolls – After Battle of Elgin – 11th August 1745


Known Casualties –

Colonel Gardiner – took a rather nasty blow from an axe to his right foot during the pursuit of the Glenmoriston Grants. Word has it that it was from the axe of Glenmoriston’s own tackman who was protecting the body of his fallen master.

Laird of Grant – seriously wounded, was found after the pursuit of the rebel Lovatts and Grants. As yet he has been unable to give details of the circumstances of his wounding – a pistol ball to his right side.

Gardiner’s Dragoons – 250 men reporting for duty, 50 killed, wounded and missing
Hamilton’s Dragoons - 250 men reporting for duty, 50 killed, wounded and missing

Current force under General Cope is as follows…

General Cope – Leader Leadership Value = 8

Guise’s 6th  Regt. – 600 men, Untried
Lascelle’s  Regt. – 600 men, Untried
Detachment 57th Regt. – 150 men, Untried

Gardiner’s  Dragoons. – 250 men, Tried
Hamilton’s  Dragoons. – 250 men, Tried

Laird of Grant’s Regiment. – 150 men, Tried