1922 IN THE ' FORTY-FIVE ' 367 cular took up arms and established a sort of blockade of Fort Augustus, cutting it off from Inverness. Still Forbes believed that if only the independent companies could be organized, they would be able to prevent the recruiting by the rebels. Gradually the chiefs of the loyal clans brought in their men from Sutherland and Skye, and by the end of November Loudoun had mustered a force of some 2,000 men, composed of his own regiment of highlanders, the independent companies, and loyal clansmen. His first task was obviously to relieve Fort Augustus. The next, Forbes judged, must be to clear the counties of Moray, Banff, and Aberdeen from the rebels who were busy there levying money and raising recruits. At the beginning of December, in the severest frost that Forbes remembered ever to have seen, Loudoun with a small force marched out to Fort Augustus, and achieved his first purpose. He had intended to go on to Fort William, but the Camerons and Clanronald held the pass at Highbridge and a party of Urquhart's and Glenmoriston's men were gathering in his rear. So he thought it prudent, on 8 Decem- ber, to return to Inverness. Two days later he went out again, and on 11 December brought in Lord Lovat, full of excuses for the conduct of his son and the mad young men whom he could not govern. There was no direct evidence of Lovat's own complicity, and for the time he was allowed to reside at large in the town. When, however, nothing came of Lovat's many promises a guard was put on his house, with the intention to remove him next day to the castle. But during the night of 19-20 December Lovat made his escape by an unsuspected backway. 1 The difficulties of Forbes and Loudoun, due primarily to the lack of supplies, were increased through the encouragement which the Jacobites derived from the landing of John Drummond with a number of French officers. Thus they were able to do little more than maintain some show of authority in their own immediate neighbourhood. 2 Nevertheless the service which they rendered at this time to their cause was of the greatest value, and did much to check the spread of the rebellion. Meanwhile, at Fort William, though something approaching to a blockade was established on the land side and communications with Inverness were impossible, there was no regular siege and the fort could obtain supplies by sea. But though the garrison was strengthened by two companies of Argyllshire militia, little was done to put the defences into a proper state. Duncan Forbes, writing on 22 December, forecasted the future with singular accuracy. I doubt the course of the ^rebels will be to come directly through 1 Ibid. no. 107. Duncan Forbes on 22 December.
- Ibid, and ii. 27, no. 49. Duncan Forbes on 26 January 1745-6.
