The Caledonian Mercury
2nd of March Anno Domini 1746
Printed at 17 Orford Street, Edinburgh
1/2d
Fighting continues in Aberdeenshire between Government Forces and Jacobite Rebels.
- By Our Correspondent in Stonehaven Mr. D- W-.
28th of February - In the field with Lord Conway's Infantry Regiment.
Following a detachment of Lord Conway's Regiment from Stonehaven towards the Lair of Hillock we encountered a Jacobite force to the south east of the village of Auchnabother where a brisk engagement ensued between Lt. Grey's platoon and the Rebels.
The engagement began with young Lt Grey leading a section of his platoon towards the Highlanders with his second section in support. However, no sooner had his advanced section moved to within a 100 paces of the Jacobites when those fellows attacked, rushing to the charge and utterly scattering the first section to the four winds despite Lt Grey's efforts to rally them. Seeing this the supporting section stopped and, under the redoubtable Sgt. Wright, moved to behind the stricken force but whether to rally them or cover their headlong flight I know not.
However, the undisciplined Jacobites, having broken the first section entirely, continued their headlong assault and several were shot down. Lt. Grey with some difficulty re-assembled his scattered section around fifty paces from the road but were almost immediately scattered once again by another headlong charge in which the Jacobites advanced almost to our position and several of the government troops fled the field of honour without a backward glance. In a frantic melee several more Jacobites were shot down for the loss of another soldier.
The incontinent Jacobites, as quick to flee as to advance then retreated towards Auchnabother while Sgt Wright's section pursued another to the fence to the north west. Lt Grey, his exertions clear upon his face, gathered his scattered troops once more and advanced towards the east where a force of Jacobite lowlanders waited behind a low wall immediately to the north east of the road. This proved to be difficult to dislodge and several more casualties were incurred including the total destruction of a flanking attack ordered by Lt. Grey. At this point unknown to us the gallant Sgt Wright was slain by a Jacobite beside the fence and his
section milled around beside the fence while the miscreant made his escape.
It was at this crucial point that the heroism of the British Race was to show itself as Lt Grey's stalwarts opened a tremendous fire upon the Jacobites at close range and succeeded in shooting down several so that their defence of the wall became untenable. Their leader called for a retreat which they did with some alacrity and left the field moving off towards Auchnabother in relatively good order.
Lt Grey deplores the loss of Sergeant Wright and Privates Cochrane, Devlin, Newton, Sturridge and Tompkins while several others are said to be lightly wounded. The Jacobites, from Stewart's Company of Lord Lovat's Regiment, and said to be led by their company commander, Alan Breck Stewart, lost around ten Scotch casualties of whom two are wounded prisoners.
Other news -
His Grace the Duke of Cumberland again expressed his displeasure at the fighting of duellos between the officers of his army. After the recent shooting of Lt. Howard-Greene of the 43rd by Captain MacFarlane of the Glasgow Militia he has urged a Spirit of Calm upon his officers and has ordered regimental commanders to curtail the usages of words such a 'fop', 'wretch', 'seducer' and above all 'English catamite' and 'Scotch dog' in their regimental messes.
The government transport ship Chloe was captured by a Scotch Jacobite Privateer off Montrose on Sunday of last week and was taken into Aberdeen where the crew were released without mischief and the cargo of wine and raw spirits sold at the Quayside.
An letter in the London Chronicle has appeared in which Lord George Murray of the Jacobite Army has criticised the 'swarm of incompetent sycophants which have plagued the upper reaches of the army command since December'. The letter, discovered last month on board a captured brig, was intended for the Burgomeister of Rotterdam and goes on to complain that 'fawning sycophancy rather than military or administrative ability is the criteria for advancement under Charles Stuart and I sometimes am at my wits' end dealing with them and their fooleries'.
2nd of March Anno Domini 1746
Printed at 17 Orford Street, Edinburgh
1/2d
Fighting continues in Aberdeenshire between Government Forces and Jacobite Rebels.
- By Our Correspondent in Stonehaven Mr. D- W-.
28th of February - In the field with Lord Conway's Infantry Regiment.
Following a detachment of Lord Conway's Regiment from Stonehaven towards the Lair of Hillock we encountered a Jacobite force to the south east of the village of Auchnabother where a brisk engagement ensued between Lt. Grey's platoon and the Rebels.
The engagement began with young Lt Grey leading a section of his platoon towards the Highlanders with his second section in support. However, no sooner had his advanced section moved to within a 100 paces of the Jacobites when those fellows attacked, rushing to the charge and utterly scattering the first section to the four winds despite Lt Grey's efforts to rally them. Seeing this the supporting section stopped and, under the redoubtable Sgt. Wright, moved to behind the stricken force but whether to rally them or cover their headlong flight I know not.
However, the undisciplined Jacobites, having broken the first section entirely, continued their headlong assault and several were shot down. Lt. Grey with some difficulty re-assembled his scattered section around fifty paces from the road but were almost immediately scattered once again by another headlong charge in which the Jacobites advanced almost to our position and several of the government troops fled the field of honour without a backward glance. In a frantic melee several more Jacobites were shot down for the loss of another soldier.
The incontinent Jacobites, as quick to flee as to advance then retreated towards Auchnabother while Sgt Wright's section pursued another to the fence to the north west. Lt Grey, his exertions clear upon his face, gathered his scattered troops once more and advanced towards the east where a force of Jacobite lowlanders waited behind a low wall immediately to the north east of the road. This proved to be difficult to dislodge and several more casualties were incurred including the total destruction of a flanking attack ordered by Lt. Grey. At this point unknown to us the gallant Sgt Wright was slain by a Jacobite beside the fence and his
section milled around beside the fence while the miscreant made his escape.
It was at this crucial point that the heroism of the British Race was to show itself as Lt Grey's stalwarts opened a tremendous fire upon the Jacobites at close range and succeeded in shooting down several so that their defence of the wall became untenable. Their leader called for a retreat which they did with some alacrity and left the field moving off towards Auchnabother in relatively good order.
Lt Grey deplores the loss of Sergeant Wright and Privates Cochrane, Devlin, Newton, Sturridge and Tompkins while several others are said to be lightly wounded. The Jacobites, from Stewart's Company of Lord Lovat's Regiment, and said to be led by their company commander, Alan Breck Stewart, lost around ten Scotch casualties of whom two are wounded prisoners.
Other news -
His Grace the Duke of Cumberland again expressed his displeasure at the fighting of duellos between the officers of his army. After the recent shooting of Lt. Howard-Greene of the 43rd by Captain MacFarlane of the Glasgow Militia he has urged a Spirit of Calm upon his officers and has ordered regimental commanders to curtail the usages of words such a 'fop', 'wretch', 'seducer' and above all 'English catamite' and 'Scotch dog' in their regimental messes.
The government transport ship Chloe was captured by a Scotch Jacobite Privateer off Montrose on Sunday of last week and was taken into Aberdeen where the crew were released without mischief and the cargo of wine and raw spirits sold at the Quayside.
An letter in the London Chronicle has appeared in which Lord George Murray of the Jacobite Army has criticised the 'swarm of incompetent sycophants which have plagued the upper reaches of the army command since December'. The letter, discovered last month on board a captured brig, was intended for the Burgomeister of Rotterdam and goes on to complain that 'fawning sycophancy rather than military or administrative ability is the criteria for advancement under Charles Stuart and I sometimes am at my wits' end dealing with them and their fooleries'.
