The Siege of London (Posteritas)/Chapter 8
THE COMPOSITION OF THE ARMIES OF THE NORTHERN INVADERS.—LOYALTY AND GALLANTRY OF THE HIGHLANDERS.—ARRIVAL OF MORE FRENCH TROOPS.—FAILURE OF THE ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT THEIR LANDING.—THE FRENCH ATTACKED BY TOWNSPEOPLE.—EXTRAORDINARY SCENES.—FORT GEORGE TAKEN.—THE FRENCH MOVE SOUTHWARD.—ATTACK ON STIRLING CASTLE.—GALLANT DEFENCE.—DEFEAT OF THE ENGLISH, WHO FALL BACK ON EDINBURGH.
THE division of the French army of invasion which had landed in Sutherlandshire by what was a veritable coup de main, consisted of about 10,000 men, comprising two brigades of infantry of the line, four batteries of field artillery, a numerous commissariat staff, and land transport corps. As is now well known, the French had for a long time been secretly and quietly planning this mode of invasion. They had surveyed every inch of the coast, and made themselves perfectly acquainted with every obstacle and impediment in their way. They were aware that a part of the country was absolutely without any defences save what nature interposed, and they were not at all calculated to keep back a resolute foe. That foe once landed, there were absolutely no military obstacles worthy the name between him and Edinburgh, with the exception of three forts miserably garrisoned. It is, of course, pretty certain that, had the British navy been strong enough to effectually blockade the sea-board of Great Britain, an invasion might have been defied; but the ludicrously weak state of the navy had long been a theme of comment throughout Europe, while in England itself the subject had attracted the attention and aroused the fears of many thoughtful men. These men, however, had been howled down and taunted with being "alarmists" and "panic-mongers," and so the country was befooled into a sense of security, and the fatal optimism of pot-house politicians was allowed to prevail.
The invading force, having secured a footing, encamped on the beach of the Kyle of Scow, with an effective trench dug and breast-work raised round their position. To the south, at a distance of five miles, lay the small town of Inver, and to the east, a little further off, was the larger borough of Assynt, on the lake of that name. Strong foraging parties were sent to both these places, in order to ascertain if it were possible to purchase provisions, but it was soon found that the Highlanders were not to be tempted from their allegiance to the British Crown. The Bas Breton interpreters employed by the French appealed to them as kindred Celts, but their appeals were in vain; and the country people displayed the most uncompromising hostility to the invaders, who found that all they could get was curses loud and deep. Had the natives been armed, there is little doubt they would have offered a determined resistance to the foe, and probably have held him in check till succour came. Finding that it was hopeless to look for the supplies in the country, the French resolved to remain where they were until the return of their transports. The commissariat was sufficient to last the force for some time, so that there was no pressing difficulty.
The news that a landing had been effected flew like wildfire through the country, and the General Commanding the Forces in North Britain immediately set to work to organise his defence, for with the troops at his disposal, attack was out of the question. Orders were issued for the enrolment of volunteers in every town in Scotland. And with such alacrity was the call responded to, that there were few able-bodied men who were not soon in a position to take the field, and by the end of a week the General found himself at the head of a miscellaneous force of about 11,000 men, consisting of ten battalions of infantry, one regiment of Dragoons (the Scots Greys), and six batteries of field artillery, quartered in different garrisons. In addition to this force, however, there were some well-drilled corps of volunteers, infantry, and artillery, as well as yeomanry cavalry. The reserves were also immediately called out by the War Department, and when this had been done it was considered that an offensive movement might be made, and the invaders driven into the sea if they could be attacked before they were reinforced. A British squadron had also left the Channel in the hope of intercepting the French transports, which, it was known, were conveying troops round Ireland; but the latter were remarkable for speed under sail and steam, and well calculated to outstrip the heavy ironclads sent in pursuit. The Atlantic Ocean, moreover, was a wide enough field for naval manoeuvres to enable fast steamers to elude capture, as was soon proved.
In the meantime, two Highland battalions received orders to march with all speed on the French camp. These battalions moved byway of Assynt, and came in sight of the enemy towards the evening, and prepared to intrench themselves until the reserves came up. The French commander, however, resolved to attack them immediately. He therefore started at midnight with half of his division of infantry and the whole of his artillery. He ascended the heights in his enemy's rear, and at daylight opened a cannonade. The Highlanders, who had bivouacked near the town, were utterly taken by surprise, but springing to arms, they rushed up the slopes to attack the batteries; but the French infantry, masked by the long ridge on which the artillery stood, rapidly deployed, and passed between the Scotch troops and the town of Assynt, thus surrounding the unfortunate Highlanders. The townspeople, sees this, fell upon the foe in fury, but with no effect, and many of the wretched people fell in the streets, even women being amongst the killed and wounded. A circle of great numerical superiority closed upon the devoted Scotchmen with a converging fire. The slaughter was consequently terrific, and the Highlanders being reduced to a mere handful, saw that to struggle longer was hopeless and would involve the loss of every man. They therefore threw down their arms, to avoid further bloodshed, and surrendered themselves as prisoners of war. They were immediately marched to the French camp, and the dead were buried and the wounded on both sides attended to. While this sanguinary conflict was being waged, five battalions from Aberdeen, Perth, Stirling, and Hamilton were rapidly moving up, but they arrived too late to save their unfortunate comrades, and so they immediately proceeded to intrench themselves. On the following morning, on looking seaward, they observed a fleet of vessels, and believing that the squadron sent in pursuit of the transports had taken them, and was now coming to attack the invaders, there was great joy in the Scotch camp, as well as in the towns of Assynt and Inver. This rejoicing, however, was speedily turned to sorrow when it was seen that the vessels were not English at all, but French, and these were soon engaged in landing troops. Springing to arms, the Scotch battalions rushed towards the beach, and opened a murderous fire on the boats laden with men. The French at once sent their artillery to commanding positions, and plied the Scotch with a deadly hail of grape-shot, compelling them to seek shelter, and immediately after they were charged by the infantry at the point of the bayonet, and compelled to retreat, leaving a heavy list of wounded and dead behind them. The general of the 1st Division of the enemy was ordered to pursue with his whole strength, and thus commenced the advance of the French into the country.
In the meantime the transports disembarked three divisions of infantry of the line, one of Zouaves, and one of cavalry, with eight battalions of field artillery and two hundred baggage-wagons, which had been specially constructed for mountain roads. A large stock of horses were also landed. The prisoners and the wounded were then put on board the transports, which immediately sailed away.
The invaders were now amply furnished with stores of every description, and immense quantities of ammunition, and orders were issued to the commissariat to emit requisitions for food and forage wherever they could be procured on the line of march, without any further offer of payment, the country now being regarded as under process of conquest The first division, which had been sent in pursuit of the retreating battalions of the Scotch, came up with them near Dingwall, on the afternoon of the second day. A stand was here made, and as the French were about, to open fire, they were unexpectedly fired upon with great vigour by the townspeople who had ensconced themselves behind the rocks and bushes. French skirmishers were at once sent out to dislodge the secreted foe, who was so numerous that the advance of the column was delayed, and the Scotch were enabled to fall back upon Dingwall. Here they were joined by the scouts of the General Staff, who informed them that there were absolutely no troops in Inverness, and it would, therefore, be better to fall back upon Fort George. The troops were immediately set in motion again, but were speedily followed by the enemy, while a strong French force was ordered to occupy Inverness. This was not done, however, without considerable difficulty, for the inhabitants opposed them with great fury, even the women taking their share of the work. Such a struggle, however, could not last long, and the town fell into the hands of the enemy; and this was almost immediately followed by the seizure of Fort George, for, although the Scotch battalions succeeded in reaching the Fort, they found it to be unprovisioned, and, therefore, impossible to hold, and so they continued their retreat in order that they might strengthen the main body of the army then concentrating in Edinburgh.
Being winter, no steamers were plying on the Caledonian Canal, and the army of invasion was, therefore, obliged to march along the shores towards Fort William, where they hoped to find at anchor near that station four transports laden with provisions, and of whose departure from Cherbourg they had received information.
The march to the Fort was a most arduous and trying one, and during the whole way the invaders were harassed by bands of Highlanders, who, swooping down from their fastnesses, committed great havoc without offering the enemy a chance of attacking them. The French suffered terribly on this account, and lost a great number of men. The Fort, however, was at last reached, and occupied without a shot being fired; but the army was almost in disorder, for the incessant attacks made by the country people, heavy snowstorms, and intense cold, had caused great suffering, and both men and horses were in a state of utter exhaustion. It is certain that had there been a strong force of British in the neighbourhood of Fort William, the jaded French might have been crushed and the invasion stopped. But, with fatal oversight, this important point had been left defenceless, and the enemy was enabled to recru himself and draw ample supplies for his commissariat from the transports which had succeeded in reaching the adjoining harbour.
The army rested for three days. The Second Division of infantry and two batteries of artillery were left to occupy the Fort, and the French commander continued his southward march with the rest of his troops, taking Stirling Castle on his way. The castle was summoned to surrender, but, the summons being disregarded, eight batteries of field guns were placed in position and opened fire. A breach was made in the gateway, which was then stormed under a withering fire of grape shot that made the attacking party stagger. An entrance was, however, effected, and, to the amazement of the invaders, it was discovered the garrison consisted solely of a sergeant's guard of artillery. The admiration for this little body of brave men who had so gallantly defended their charge was so great that they were allowed to retain their arms, march out with all the honours of war, and proceed southward unmolested.
A French brigade of infantry, with a battery of field artillery, was left in the Castle, so that the invaders had thus three strongly fortified positions, and an army of close on 57,000 men in North Britain. In the meantime, the English commander had entered Perthshire with five battalions of infantry, six batteries of artillery, and a regiment of Dragoons, besides 5,000 rifle volunteers and squadrons of yeomany cavalry; but, on learning from his scouts how powerful the French force was, he deemed it advisable to fall back upon Edinburgh, and two battalions which were at Ayr and Dumfries respectively were ordered to march to the Scotch capital with all speed. The French General, when he heard of this movement, at once put his army in motion, hoping to reach Edinburgh before the Perthshire division of the English army; but the latter had the advantage of being able to cross the Queen's Ferry, which it was impossible for the French to attempt in the presence of the English ironclads which had been sent there.
In this race to reach the capital, the Zouaves led the French, and giving the line regiments the pace, most rapid marches were effected; but the English crossed the Forth, and gained the Castle and Piers Hill barracks a few hours before the French forces made their appearance on the slope of the Pentland Hills.