364 , THE HIGHLAND FORTS July A fortnight later he wrote again to his relative, Lord Malton : The Pretender with 3,000 Highlanders is six miles off. We expect hourly to be attacked and I hope shall give a good account of them. Sir John Cope is encamped at Stirling with all the troops in Scotland except our regiment, and we are garrisoned on the forts of communication between the east and west coasts. I have the command of the regiment, and the governor of the Fort being absent I am ordered by Sir John Cope to take that command also upon me. All the roads in this part of the world are so strongly guarded by the enemy that all our expresses are intercepted. 1 Went worth a few days earlier had sent out one of his officers, Captain John Swettenham, to obtain information. Swettenham was surprised by a party of the rebels in an inn, and taken prisoner to the Pretender's camp, where he was civilly treated and presently allowed to depart under parole. Swettenham observed his parole as an officer should do, but his release enabled him by a fortunate accident to render a service of the greatest value to the English general. The march of Sir John Cope northward had diverted the Jacobites from their intended attack on the highland forts to a greater enterprise, which was no less than the ambushing of the whole effective English army. Could Cope reach Fort Augustus it was thought that his coming, even though he could not with the small force of 1,500 men at his disposal pursue the highlanders into the hills, would cast a great damp on the rebellion. 2 On 27 August he was at Dalwhinnie, determined, if he saw an opportunity, to fight. But there came to meet him Captain Swettenham with the news that the rebels in superior numbers were strongly posted in the Pass of Corryairack on the direct road to Fort Augustus. Cope called a council of war as to whether it was advisable to continue the intended march. The council unanimously resolved that it would be unwise to attempt the pass at Corryairack, and that they should proceed direct to Inverness. Thereon Cope turned aside through Garva- more to Ruthven, where he left a small party of the Sixth Foot to hold the barrack, and thence by dint of two forced marches eluded the rebels in the passes between Strath Spey and Strath Nairn and got safe to Inverness on 29 August. 3 A part of the highlanders, disappointed of their hoped-for am- bush, followed Cope, and on 29 August appeared before Ruthven. Sergeant Molloy, who was in command, wrote next day to Cope : Hon. General. This goes to acqaint you that yesterday there appeared 1 State Papers, Domestic, George II, 67, no. 41. 2 State Papers, Scotland, ii. 25, no. 82. The duke of Argyll from Edinburgh on 19 August. 3 Ibid. nos. 100, 101 ; State Papers, Domestic, George II, 67, no. 37.
