loo Traiisactivits. 



event of ill) alarm t'l-ora the Firth of Forth, the Annandale and 

 Eskdale Battalion was to assemble at Moffat, and march to Edin- 

 burgh by way of Linton ; the Nithsdale Battalion was to assemble 

 at Sanquhar, and march to Edinburgh by way of Muirkirk ; and 

 the Dumfries and Annan Battalion, under Colonal De Peyster, 

 was to assemble at Thondiill, and march from thence by Lead- 

 hills and Biggar ; and the whole force was ordered to unite at 

 Linton, and proceed from thence in a body to Edinburgh. In 

 the event of an alarm from Cumberland or Galloway, the Annan- 

 dale and Eskdale Battalion was to assemble at Ecclefechan ; the 

 Nithsdale and also the Annan and Dumfries Battalions at Duiu- 

 fries. And in the event of the alarm coming from Cumberland, 

 the two last were to assemble at Annan. To provide for the 

 maintenance of order in the event of the Volunteers being called 

 out to repel an invasion companies of spearmen were enrolled. ' 

 Their duties were to be — " In the absence of the Volunteers, to 

 act with vigour in supporting the civil magistrates, protecting 

 property and preserving the peace by quelling tumults or riots, 

 apprehending disorderly persons, and taking such other measures 

 as may be deemed necessary for that purpose. And in the event 

 that prisoners of war shall be marched into and conveyed through 

 this county, such companies shall guard them from pai'ish to 

 parish." Each company was to be commanded by a re.spectable 

 person, either a landholder or a farmer of character, and under 

 him one or more subalterns and one or more persons in the qual- 

 ity of sergeants. The number of this foi-ce in the county was a 

 thousand. The total number of men under arms in the county 

 at this period must have been abont 3000. In addition to this 

 force, during the whole period of the French war a Regiment of 

 Fencibles or Militia was quartered in Dumfries, and sometimes 

 also a Cavalry Corps. Another sign of preparation for active 

 service was the appointing (18th December, 1803) of the places 

 where beacons were to be erected to assemble the Volunteers 

 when intelligence was received of the landing of the eiiemy_ 

 The Beacons in Dumfriesshire were the Hill of Repentance, the 

 Barhill of Tinwald, the Wardlawhill of Caerlaverock, Lagg or 

 Blackwoodhill in the parishes of Dunscore and Keir. It was 

 ordered that a temporary hut should be erected beside each 

 beacon, and that an attendant sliould be there both by day and 

 by night. Tar barrels and other combustibles ^^•ere to be pro- 



