Waverley; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Volume 2

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XLVI

  THE EVE OF BATTLE

  Although the Highlanders marched on very fast, the sun wasdeclining when they arrived upon the brow of those high groundswhich command an open and extensive plain stretching northward tothe sea, on which are situated, but at a considerable distancefrom each other, the small villages of Seaton and Cockenzie, andthe larger one of Preston. One of the low coastroads to Edinburghpassed through this plain, issuing upon it from the enclosures ofSeaton House, and at the town or village of Preston again enteringthe denies of an enclosed country. By this way the English generalhad chosen to approach the metropolis, both as most commodious forhis cavalry, and being probably of opinion that by doing so hewould meet in front with the Highlanders advancing from Edinburghin the opposite direction. In this he was mistaken; for the soundjudgment of the Chevalier, or of those to whose advice helistened, left the direct passage free, but occupied the strongground by which it was overlooked and commanded.

  When the Highlanders reached the heights above the plaindescribed, they were immediately formed in array of battle alongthe brow of the hill. Almost at the same instant the van of theEnglish appeared issuing from among the trees and enclosures ofSeaton, with the purpose of occupying the level plain between thehigh ground and the sea; the space which divided the armies beingonly about half a mile in breadth. Waverley could plainly see thesquadrons of dragoons issue, one after another, from the defiles,with their videttes in front, and form upon the plain, with theirfront opposed to that of the Prince's army. They were followed bya train of field-pieces, which, when they reached the flank of thedragoons, were also brought into line and pointed against theheights. The march was continued by three or four regiments ofinfantry marching in open column, their fixed bayonets showinglike successive hedges of steel, and their arms glancing likelightning, as, at a signal given, they also at once wheeled up,and were placed in direct opposition to the Highlanders. A secondtrain of artillery, with another regiment of horse, closed thelong march, and formed on the left flank of the infantry, thewhole line facing southward.

  While the English army went through these evolutions, theHighlanders showed equal promptitude and zeal for battle. As fastas the clans came upon the ridge which fronted their enemy, theywere formed into line, so that both armies got into complete orderof battle at the same moment. When this was accomplished, theHighlanders set up a tremendous yell, which was re-echoed by theheights behind them. The regulars, who were in high spirits,returned a loud shout of defiance, and fired one or two of theircannon upon an advanced post of the Highlanders. The latterdisplayed great earnestness to proceed instantly to the attack,Evan Dhu urging to Fergus, by way of argument, that 'the SIDIERROY was tottering like an egg upon a staff, and that they had a'the vantage of the onset, for even a haggis (God bless her!) couldcharge down hill.'

  But the ground through which the mountaineers must have descended,although not of great extent, was impracticable in itscharacter, being not only marshy but intersected with walls of drystone, and traversed in its whole length by a very broad and deepditch, circumstances which must have given the musketry of theregulars dreadful advantages before the mountaineers could haveused their swords, on which they were taught to rely. Theauthority of the commanders was therefore interposed to curb theimpetuosity of the Highlanders, and only a few marksmen were sentdown the descent to skirmish with the enemy's advanced posts andto reconnoitre the ground.

  Here, then, was a military spectacle of no ordinary interest orusual occurrence. The two armies, so different in aspect anddiscipline, yet each admirably trained in its own peculiar mode ofwar, upon whose conflict the temporary fate at least of Scotlandappeared to depend, now faced each other like two gladiators inthe arena, each meditating upon the mode of attacking their enemy.The leading officers and the general's staff of each army could bedistinguished in front of their lines, busied with spy-glasses towatch each other's motions, and occupied in despatching the ordersand receiving the intelligence conveyed by the aides-de-camp andorderly men, who gave life to the scene by galloping along indifferent directions, as if the fate of the day depended uponthe speed of their horses. The space between the armies was attimes occupied by the partial and irregular contest of individualsharp-shooters, and a hat or bonnet was occasionally seen tofall, as a wounded man was borne off by his comrades. These,however, were but trifling skirmishes, for it suited the viewsof neither party to advance in that direction. From theneighbouring hamlets the peasantry cautiously showed themselves,as if watching the issue of the expected engagement; and at nogreat distance in the bay were two square-rigged vessels, bearingthe English flag, whose tops and yards were crowded with lesstimid spectators.

  When this awful pause had lasted for a short time, Fergus, withanother chieftain, received orders to detach their clans towardsthe village of Preston, in order to threaten the right flank ofCope's army and compel him to a change of position. To enable himto execute these orders, the Chief of Glennaquoich occupied thechurch-yard of Tranent, a commanding situation, and a convenientplace, as Evan Dhu remarked, 'for any gentleman who might have themisfortune to be killed, and chanced to be curious about Christianburial.' To check or dislodge this party, the English generaldetached two guns, escorted by a strong party of cavalry. Theyapproached so near that Waverley could plainly recognise thestandard of the troop he had formerly commanded, and hear thetrumpets and kettle-drums sound the signal of advance which he hadso often obeyed. He could hear, too, the well-known word given inthe English dialect by the equally well-distinguished voice of thecommanding officer, for whom he had once felt so much respect. Itwas at that instant, that, looking around him, he saw the wilddress and appearance of his Highland associates, heard theirwhispers in an uncouth and unknown language, looked upon his owndress, so unlike that which he had worn from his infancy, andwished to awake from what seemed at the moment a dream, strange,horrible, and unnatural. 'Good God!' he muttered, 'am I then atraitor to my country, a renegade to my standard, and a foe, asthat poor dying wretch expressed himself, to my native England!'

  Ere he could digest or smother the recollection, the tall militaryform of his late commander came full in view, for the purpose ofreconnoitring. 'I can hit him now,' said Callum, cautiouslyraising his fusee over the wall under which he lay couched, atscarce sixty yards' distance.

  Edward felt as if he was about to see a parricide committed in hispresence; for the venerable grey hair and striking countenance ofthe veteran recalled the almost paternal respect with which hisofficers universally regarded him. But ere he could say 'Hold!' anaged Highlander who lay beside Callum Beg stopped his arm. 'Spareyour shot,' said the seer, 'his hour is not yet come. But let himbeware of to-morrow; I see his winding-sheet high upon hisbreast.'

  Callum, flint to other considerations, was penetrable tosuperstition. He turned pale at the words of the _taishatr_, andrecovered his piece. Colonel Gardiner, unconscious of the dangerhe had escaped, turned his horse round and rode slowly back to thefront of his regiment.

  By this time the regular army had assumed a new line, with oneflank inclined towards the sea and the other resting upon thevillage of Preston; and, as similar difficulties occurred inattacking their new position, Fergus and the rest of thedetachment were recalled to their former post. This alterationcreated the necessity of a corresponding change in General Cope'sarmy, which was again brought into a line parallel with that ofthe Highlanders. In these manoeuvres on both sides the daylightwas nearly consumed, and both armies prepared to rest upon theirarms for the night in the lines which they respectively occupied.

  'There will be nothing done to-night,' said Fergus to his friendWaverley; 'ere we wrap ourselves in our plaids, let us go see whatthe Baron is doing in the rear of the line.'

  When they approached his post, they found the good old carefulofficer, after having sent out his night patrols and posted hissentinels, engaged in reading the Evening Service of the EpiscopalChurch to the remainder of his troop. His voice was loud andsonoro
us, and though his spectacles upon his nose, and theappearance of Saunders Saunderson, in military array, performingthe functions of clerk, had something ludicrous, yet thecircumstances of danger in which they stood, the military costumeof the audience, and the appearance of their horses saddled andpicqueted behind them, gave an impressive and solemn effect to theoffice of devotion.

  'I have confessed to-day, ere you were awake,' whispered Fergus toWaverley; 'yet I am not so strict a Catholic as to refuse to joinin this good man's prayers.'

  Edward assented, and they remained till the Baron had concludedthe service.

  As he shut the book, 'Now, lads,' said he, 'have at them in themorning with heavy hands and light consciences.' He then kindlygreeted Mac-Ivor and Waverley, who requested to know his opinionof their situation. Why, you know Tacitus saith, "In rebusbellicis maxime dominalur Fortuna," which is equiponderate withour vernacular adage, "Luck can maist in the mellee." But creditme, gentlemen, yon man is not a deacon o' his craft. He damps thespirits of the poor lads he commands by keeping them on thedefensive, whilk of itself implies inferiority or fear. Now willthey lie on their arms yonder as anxious and as ill at ease as atoad under a harrow, while our men will be quite fresh and blithefor action in the morning. Well, good-night. One thing troublesme, but if to-morrow goes well off, I will consult you about it,Glennaquoich.'

  'I could almost apply to Mr. Bradwardine the character which Henrygives of Fluellen,' said Waverley, as his friend and he walkedtowards their bivouac:

  'Though it appears a little out of fashion, There is much care and valour in this "Scotchman."'

  'He has seen much service,' answered Fergus, 'and one is sometimesastonished to find how much nonsense and reason are mingled in hiscomposition. I wonder what can be troubling his mind; probablysomething about Rose. Hark! the English are setting their watch.'

  The roll of the drum and shrill accompaniment of the fifes swelledup the hill--died away--resumed its thunder--and was at lengthhushed. The trumpets and kettle-drums of the cavalry were nextheard to perform the beautiful and wild point of war appropriatedas a signal for that piece of nocturnal duty, and then finallysunk upon the wind with a shrill and mournful cadence.

  The friends, who had now reached their post, stood and lookedround them ere they lay down to rest. The western sky twinkledwith stars, but a frost-mist, rising from the ocean, covered theeastern horizon, and rolled in white wreaths along the plain wherethe adverse army lay couched upon their arms. Their advanced postswere pushed as far as the side of the great ditch at the bottom ofthe descent, and had kindled large fires at different intervals,gleaming with obscure and hazy lustre through the heavy fog whichencircled them with a doubtful halo.

  The Highlanders, 'thick as leaves in Vallombrosa,' lay stretchedupon the ridge of the hill, buried (excepting their sentinels) inthe most profound repose. 'How many of these brave fellows willsleep more soundly before to-morrow night, Fergus!' said Waverley,with an involuntary sigh.

  'You must notthink of that,' answered Fergus, whose ideas wereentirely military. 'You must only think of your sword, and by whomit was given. All other reflections are now TOO LATE.'

  With the opiate contained in this undeniable remark Edwardendeavoured to lull the tumult of his conflicting feelings. TheChieftain and he, combining their plaids, made a comfortable andwarm couch. Callum, sitting down at their head (for it was hisduty to watch upon the immediate person of the Chief), began along mournful song in Gaelic, to a low and uniform tune, which,like the sound of the wind at a distance, soon lulled them tosleep.