Clan Donald Magazine No11 (1987)
Online The Dalilea Manuscript by Iain Thornber
Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran Bt.,
late keeper of the Records of Scotland, wrote that any further
publication about the '45 should be banned by statute under heavy
penalties on the grounds that more attention might then be paid to
other more noteworthy incidents in Scottish history which really
need it. [1] In this he has my complete agreement, especially with
regard to the subject appearing in Clan Society Magazines. From time
to time, however, certain papers do come to light on the subject.
When these are of a local provenance, little known to the broader
frontiers of historical research and too diminutive to be the
subject of a full-length book then I am inclined to relent. Such a
collection is "The Dalilea Manuscript" and associated family papers
which I have recently identified in the West Highland Museum.[2]
The MS is entitled "A True and real state of Prince Charles Stuart's
miraculous escape after the Battle of Culloden". It was written by
John, second son of MacDonald of Borrodale, better known locally as
Ian Fraingeach, who accompanied the Prince during the eventful
period. [3] According to a newspaper correspondent of the last
century there were two manuscripts � one of which was probably a
shorter copy of the original. This source states that the shorter
one gives an account of Prince Charles being ferried across Loch
Shiel in a dug-out canoe. The original having been given to Sir Evan
MacGregor was described then as being lost. [4]
As the following contains no such reference I can only assume that
it is the original which was ultimately returned to the MacDonalds
of Dalilea.
According to Mrs M. Warburton, sister of W. Ronald G. Henderson, a
descendent of the Dalilea family, who bequeathed i lie Ms to the
West Highland Museum, a copy was sent by the Misses Joanna and Jane
MacDonald to Black woods who published ii in their Magazine in
October 1873. [5] Baron Porcelli in his book " The White Cockade"
[1949] has used it but does not mention the source.
References
1. Ships of the '45, Gibson, J.S. London 1967 [preface].
2. I am grateful to Miss Fiona Marwick, Curator, for her
assistance in researching this paper and to the Trustees for their
permission to use it.
3. Moidart Or Among the Clanranalds, MacDonald, Rev C,
Oban, 1889, pp 194-5.
4. Inverness Courier, 3 January, 1861.
5. Letters West Highland Museum Library, Moidart, op.
cit., p 194.
There is at Dalelea House, in the Possession of Alexander McDonald
Esq. late proprietor of Lochshiel the manuscript accompanying this.
This manuscript was written by Mr. McDonald's grandfather who
accompanied Prince Charles Edward in his campaign. He is the John
McDonald mentioned by Chambers the historian, as being the youngest
son of Angus McDonald of Boisdale under whose roof Prince Charles
Edward received his first shelter. John McDonald left the college at
Ratisbon and joined the heroic band who followed the fortunes of
Prince Charles at Perth. Young John was so like the Prince and so
eminently handsome that he was often mistaken for him his foreign
dress and accent helping the illusion. When marching on the battle
field of Culloden the Catholic priest walked beside him and gave him
the sacraments as he did to others of the brave band. He was to have
followed Prince Charles to France but while hiding with Sir Lockhart
of Carnwarth and McDonald of Clanranald in the Island of Eigg he was
seized with fever and left dying. Two poor women who found him lying
said regretfully "what a sorrowful thing to think such a beautiful
youth would be dead before night". The agitation this caused him
caused his nose to bleed and he recovered rapidly; the Prince left a
walking cane behind him with a gold head as a remembrance. John
McDonald resided afterwards at Rhue and married Miss Catherine
McDonald of Barisdale a grand-daughter of Glengarrys. The
Highlanders used to allow John McDonald his own way in everything as
they said he was so clever there was no use in opposing him who
after conspiring to overthrow the King compelled that same King to
pay up his wife's dowery out of the property he had sequestrated
belonging to her father at Knoydart. John McDonald was the most
literary of the followers of Prince Charles and was written to by
Home the historian for an account of what he furnished him with; but
the most valuable and longest of his manuscripts was given to his
relative Sir John McGregor Murray and host. The Borrowdales' house
at Glenmeddle was- the first house knocked down by George's warships
his daughter remembered, seeing the soldiers carrying off their
flock of geese after killing them she being hiding in the woods,
they carried off the cows but the dairymaid pursued them and moved
the officer to compassionate the children so far as to allow one cow
afterwards called the trooper to return to give milk to the
children. The family afterwards hid themselves in a shealing or a
house made with wattles or basket work they were roused one morning
by seeing a number of guns piercing the basket work and finding
themselves surrounded they searched everywhere for the Prince and
ordered the ladies and children to follow them however the officer
soon returned them. John's mother who was a daughter of the chief of
Clan McGregor of Glengyle in attempting to fly from Borrowdale was
seized by the soldiers and the wedding ring torn off her finger.
Copy of the proceeding Narrative. A true and real state of Prince
Charles Stuart's miraculous escape after the battle of Cullodden...
When the Prince at the battle of Cullodden perceived that the horse
he rode was wounded and any stand he and his small band could make
was needless, he made off accompanied by two Irishmen, Mr. Sullivan
and Neil, his Aide de Camps and a few more, and took little or no
rest, till they arrived at Glenbiestle in Araisaig, which is a
pendicle belonging to the farm of Borradale, being the place he
first landed in the continent at his arrival. He rested there three
nights before a sufficient boat belonging to John McDonald, son to
old Borradale, was procured to transport him to the long Island of
Uist, in view to get some vessel at Stornoway to carry him to
France, and for that purpose sent the Mr. Sullivan, his Aide de
Camp, to Stornoway, where he found one but would not wait the
Prince's coming, therefore made off with himself and landed safe in
France. He being in this manner disappointed, thought proper to risk
his person in the hands of Clanranald's people in South Uist, who
gave him all the aid and assistance in their power, till such time
the country was surrounded by his enemies, then clearly perceiving
the impossibility of escaping he was advised to go to Clanranald
House in Benbecula, twenty-five miles from the place he then was at
and endeavour to ferry to the Isle of Iley, accompanied by the then
Miss Flory MacDonald, and lie under the name of Miss Betty Burk, and
her servant maid effected their escape and arrived safe at
Kingsbrough in Troterness, part of Lord McDonald's estate. There
Miss Flory McDonald parted with him. After some rest there he
proceeded to McLeod of Rasa's family, where he was received with the
greatest kindness and friendship; after one night's rest there he
was sent under the care of Malcolm McLeod to the care of one John
McKinon, alias John McKorie or Lachlen in McKinon's Estate who next
night conveyed him to the Laird of Moror's farm in the Mainland and
he begged of Moror to send a sure guide with him to his faithful old
Landlord (this is what he always called my father) to Borradil;
after his arrival there the old gentleman and his two sons Ronald
and I received him with all the marks of friendship and respect and
gave our word of honour that we would use our uttermost to save him
in spite of all his enemies, and that we depended on Divine
Providence that He would grant him and us health strength and vigour
to endure all the fatigue and hardship necessary for that purpose.
As the Prince at all times entertained the greatest regard for Mr.
McDonald's, of Glenaladil's, integrity and capacity in aiding him so
far as in his power, he ordered me to go directly to him and
acquaint him of his present situation, and hoped he would meet him
and his present small company in the woods of Borradil next night.
After Glenaladil considered the message he looked upon it exceeding
hard to depart from his wife and five pretty weak children and his
great stock of cattle were before then taken away by the enemy and
having received three bad wounds at Cullodden of which one of them
was not then fully cured. Notwithstanding these considerations he
dispised them and thought it his duty to grant all the aid and
assistance in his power to save a poor distressed Prince
notwithstanding of the great temptation of Thirty Thousand Pound
Sterling promised by the Government to any that would deliver him
up. Though Glenaladil and his old uncle Borradil with his children
were in the greatest distress for want of any support at the time
two nights thereafter he appeared at the place appointed with the
above party; they proceeded the next morning to McLeod's cave upon a
high precipice in the woods of Borradil, where they all deliberated
what steps they would take for their safety. Few days after they
visibly saw the whole Coast surrounded by ships of war and tenders
as also the country by other military forces, then it was determined
to use all efforts to depart out of the country, and began their
march that very night and came the length of the braes of Morar,
where the old gentleman Borrodil and his son Ronald took their leave
of him. The Prince then accompanied only by Glenaladil and his
brother John and I made straight for the braes of Glenfinen, which
is part of Glenaladil's estate; to our great surprise we found that
place surrounded by three hundred of the enemy. Then we came to a
resolution to depart the country for some time and for that purpose
sent an express to Donald Cameron, Glenpean, an aged gentleman, to
meet us at Corrour, in the braes of Morar, which accordingly he did;
we proceeded under night till sunrise next morning to the top of a
high mountain laying between Loch Askeig and Loch Morar head a camp
of the enemy laying on each side of us and two different camps of
the military before us; in the course of three nights we passed by
four camps and twenty-five patrols and some so nigh us that we heard
them frequently speaking, without any food further than a small
slice of salt cheese and abundance of water. -
The third morning we arrived near the top of a high mountain near
Loch Hourn head and found there a bit hollow ground covered with
long heather and branches of young birch bushes, where we all five
of us lay down to rest almost fainting for want of food. These
severe trials and circumstances drew many heavy sighs from his poor
oppressed heart. I informed him then that I had a leepy (a Scots
measure) of groaten meal wrapt up in a napkin in my pocket, which,
when I produced, made a vast alteration on the countenance of the
whole of them; come, come, says he, let us in God's name have a
share, never was people in more need. I expected soon to meet with
plenty so I divided the whole of it between us five and they began
to chat and crack heartily after our refreshment. We perceived forty
of the military with a Captain as their commander laying at the foot
of the mountain all this time. We saw them visibly all along but
durst not move till dark night for fear of being discovered.
Proceeded then on our journey to the braes of Glenshiel, the darkest
ever in my life I travelled and arrived within a mile of it by
sunrise, quite exhausted with hunger and fatigue. Glenaladil and I
were then sent to the village in view to procure some provisions,
and bought a stone of cheese and a half stone of butter, as we could
get nothing else, immediately returned back where we left him,
Donald Cameron and Glenaladil's brother. Words cannot express the
quantity we consumed of the butter and cheese at the time though
both kind exceeding salt; we met that day with one Donald McDonald,
a Glengarry lad, with whom we agreed to be our guide further north,
as Donald Cameron returned after his refreshment to look after his
own family, and we passed the whole day, which was exceeding hot, in
the face of a mountain above a river that ran through Glensheil. We
were all seized with such a drooth that we were all like to perish
before sunset. He would not allow any of us to move for water,
though we might have been provided within forty yards to us, so
cautious he was; at sunset we all went staggering to the river side
and drank water at no allowance; at same time we saw a boy coming
towards us at some distance. Glenaladil and I went to meet him. This
was a son of the honest McKra that furnished us with provision in
the morning whom his father sent with five Scots pints of goat milk
for our relief. Glanaladil who had all our bank in a purse hanging
before him gave the boy four shillings sterling, and in the hurry we
were in, he happened to drop his purse on the ground till he got his
plaid kilted on him and then we bade farewell to the boy and
returned in great haste to our small party who partook liberally of
the milk then proceeded an English mile before we missed the purse,
in which was a keeping forty Luisdors and five shillings in silver,
which was all we had to depend upon for our subsistence; it was
determined that Glen and I was to return in search of our small
stock; found the purse and five shillings in it on the spot we left
in and none of the gold; proceeded then about midnight to the boy's
lather's house, who at the time was sound sleeping, called him out I
fairly told him what happened without a minute's delay he returned
to the house got hold of a rope hanging there and gripped his son by
the arm in great passion and addressed him in the following words
"you damned scoundrel, this instant get these poor gentlemen's money
which I am certain is all they have to depend upon or by the heavens
I'll hang you to that very tree you see this moment." The boy
shivering with fear went instantly for the money which he had buried
under ground about thirty yards from his father's house. During the
time Glen and I spent about recovering our small funds the Prince
and the two persons we left with him saw on the other side of Shiels
river an officer to appearance and three men with him, our small
party hid themselves by favour of some bushes at the river side, but
they were convinced they could not miss to meet Glenaladil and me
and the consequence would be a squabble between us though he
positively refused to inform us of the danger of meeting them by one
of them that was along with him the night being quite clear and a
serene sky notwithstanding our passing by one another on each side
of the river, neither of us observed the other nor can I account for
it.-
Then we proceeded all night through these moors till ten of the
clock next morning, stopped there till the evening again without
meeting with any particular accidents excepting hearing some firing
of guns not at a very great distance. The evening being very calm
and warm we greatly suffered by midges a species of little creatures
troublesome and numerous in the Highlands; to preserve him from such
troublesome guests we wrapt him head and feet in his plaid and
covered him with long heather that naturally grew about a bit hollow
ground; we laid him after leaving him in that posture he uttered
several heavy sighs and groans. We planted ourselves about the best
we could. Finding there nothing by appearance to disturb us or enemy
in our way we proceeded on and next night arrived in the braes of
Glenmorrison, called the Corrichido. Perceived three or four small
huts in the strath of the Corry. It was then determined upon by us
to send Glenaladils brothers down to them to know what they were and
when he understood them to be all McDonalds and friends to the
cause, except Patrick Grant Crosky, who was with them and equally a
friend to the cause, he addressed one of them called John McDonald
alias McGoule, vie Ian dui, to go with a cogfull of milk to Mr.
McDonald of Glenaladil and McDonald of Greenfield, which latter was
not there at the same time; he instantly complied with his request,
but to his greatest surprise at the distance of nine yards from us
he knew the Prince to be there, his head being covered with a white
night cap and an old bonnet above; at this unexpected sight the poor
man changed colours and turned as red as blood, and addressed him in
the following manner "I am sorry to see you in such a poor state and
hope if I live, to see you yet in a better condition, as I have seen
you before at the head of your army, upon the Green of Glasgow. All
that I can do is to continue faithful to you while I live and am
willing to leave my wife and children and follow you wherever you
incline going"; after all this discourse was explained to the Prince
he said, taking him cheerfully by the hand "As you are a McDonald
whom I always found faithful to my cause, I shall admit you to my
small partie and trust myself to you and if ever it should be my lot
to enjoy my own, you may depend upon of being equally rewarded". One
thing I beg leave to observe to you, says he, there is one large
stone in the Strath of this Corry near these huts you see under that
stone forty men can accommodate themselves and the best water in the
Highlands runs through it, and a large void heather bed in it
already made for your reception. I have a three year old stote I may
slaughter for provision till such time you refresh yourself and your
partie. There are four more neighbours and countrymen with me as
trusty as I can fournish us from the neighbouring country's
necessaries of life as can be expected in such distressed time. His
advice was so agreeable that we all agreed to it without hesitation
and marched all with cheerfulness in our countenance to this new and
unexpected mansion and found ourselves as comfortably lodged as we
had been in a royal palace. The other four men mentioned above came
in and after a short discourse gave all cheerfully the oath of
allegiance, after which they brought the stote and killed him, we
then feasted and lived there plentifully for three days and nights
till we found ourselves in danger by one whom they generally styled
the black Campbell, who had a party of militia within six miles of
the place he was in, in that event we thought advisable to proceed
to the Chisholms firwoods where we and our whole party spent near a
month in peace and plenty, at the root of one large tree, we built
for the Prince Glenaladil and me one teal of firr branches, at the
other side of the tree another one of a larger size, two of our
party were always employed in providing provisions, other two as
outposts enquiring for information one honest tennant of the name of
Chisholm at the distance of a few miles from us afforded us with
meal butter and cheese and flesh weekly, neither did we want aqua
vitae and tobacco which commodity we all made use of, nothing
particular happened to us during our stay here.
But the Prince anxious to find out Cameron of Lochiel insisted upon
our return towards that part of his Estate called Locharkeig; after
a day or twos march passed by the brays of Glenmorrison and arriving
to the brays of Glengarry about nightfall; the river Garry swelled
to such a degree that we thought it impassable; he still positively
insisted upon giving it a trial, which we did and with the greatest
difficulty at the hasard of our lives succeeded the night being very
dark rested near the banks of the river wet and cold; next day
passed through Glenkeinie and stopped at a broken shelhouse above
Auchnasaul. We then were out of provisions we sent two of our party
to repair a small hut wherein Lochiel scolked for some lime but
observing a deer at the end of the hut shot both at him at once and
killed him (one of them returned to us with their most agreeable
news) when we all in a body steered our course and employed the
whole night in dressing for him and ourselves part of the venison.-
Next day we sent for Mr. Cameron of Clunes and after passing two
nights together went to Torvullen opposite to Achnacarrie Lochiel's
principal place of residence once killed a good highland cow then
Dr. Cameron and two french officers that landed some time before
that in Pollew in Ross-shire came to us and Mr. Cameron of Clunes
and after passing two nights there they came to the followeing
resolution viz. that the Prince accompanied by Dr. Cameron,
Glenaladil, the two french officers, with a few more should be
conveyed to Lochiel and that I should return to the west coast and
if any frigate from France should appear for the purpose of carrying
him I to go aboard till he could be found dead or alive and that
Glenaladil is the person to be employed for procuring him, the
Glenmorrison lads to return home with his promise if ever in his
power, he would make satisfaction for their losses and gratitude so
that very night I and John Glenaladils brother made off for the west
coast and arrived there two days after and found all left behind us
in the greatest distress for want of all necessaries of life or
houses to shelter us from the inclemmency of the weather.-
A fortnight thereafter in September two frigates appeared coming to
the harbour at Borrodil under English colours; my Father and brother
Ronald and I immediately had recourse to the muirs to avoid being
apprehended and appointed one Donald McDonald in whom we had great
confidence to wait their landing and after night fall twelve French
with two officers at their head came to a small hut we repaired some
time before that for our own reception as all our houses before that
were burned; the names of the officers were young Sherridan and
Capt. O'Neil who at their arrival enquired for us all as they know
us well formerly and wished much to have some discourse of
consequence with us.- Upon our being informed of this we appeared
and after a long conversation were convinced of their sincerity and
obliged them to produce their credentials from France before we
revealed any part of our secrets to them.-
Next day I went aboard one of the frigates and my brother
accompanied by the two french officers went to Glenaladil to
acquaint him of their errand. After a night's rest they were desired
by Glenaladil to return to their ships and that he would go in
search of the person they wanted which he accordingly did and in
eight days returned with him to Borradil where he first landed and
after refreshing himself well directly went aboard and left us all
in a worse state than he found us. Lochiel, his brother Dr. Cameron,
John Roy Stuart the two first mentioned French officers with one
hundred more persons of some distinction, accompanied and took their
passage along with him, he then seemed to be in good spirit and
addressed himself to such as stayed behind to live in good hopes and
that he expected to see us soon with such a force as would enable
him to re-imburse us for our losses and troubles so that he ended as
he began.-
One material circumstance I cannot omit acquainting you of that is
the battle fought between three British frigates and two french ones
on the third of May after Culloden battle. The French frigate landed
the latter end of April forty thousand Louisdors with some stand of
arms and ammunition at the farm of Borradil; government being
informed of the same despatched three of their own frigates to the
place mentioned in order to capture the French men present Lord Howe
then Capt. of the Greyhound and frigate was commodore of that small
squadron; they appeared in sight about four in the morning by the
point of Ardnamurchan from whence they then visibly saw the french
frigate. They were favoured with a favourable wind directly after
them and before the French had time to rise their anchors, Capt.
Howe clipped in between the two French frigates and gave a broadside
to each of them with very great execution. The largest of the French
frigates was disabled by breaking the rudder and was obliged to lay
by till seven o'clock in the afternoon and the small French frigate
after several attempts of boarding her fairly escaped till then and
when soon the largest of them repaired the damage went to her
assistance Capt. Howe having run out of ammunition sheered off about
nightfall and the French pursued them for a league when they thought
advisable to return to their former situation.- At two o'clock next
morning they sheered away from Borradil with a fair wind the Duke of
Perth and several other gentlemen such as Lord John Drummond Lochard
of Carnwath and many more took their passage to France.- The battle
lasted twelve hours and we found on our shores fifteen Frenchmen
dead not one Englishman in the number as they threw none overboard
of them till they came the length of the point of Ardnamurchan.
After that the gold was by a party conveyed to Lochaber and part of
the arms by orders of Secretary Morrow, were then determined to
gather and rendevous their friends and well wishers which never
happened since nor by all appearance will.
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