Graham, 
386: 
We must refer our readers ‘to the author of the Me-« 
“Marquis of moirs of the Marquis of Montrose, for a particular ac« 
Montrose. count of his ¢ 
ditions and battles. Early in the 
spring of 1645, he carried the town of Dundee by as- 
sault, and gave it up to be plundered by his soldiers. 
In the same year he defeated Urrey at Auldcorne; 
and Baillie at Alford. But it was at Kilsyth that 
he performed one of his greatest atchievements, and 
raised his character as a soldier. The battle of Kil- 
syth was fought on the 15th of August 1645.. The 
forces on both sides were nearly equal, but the cha- 
racter of the troops was not exactly the same; those 
of the Covenanters being, for the most part, newly 
raised, while the followers of “ the Graham” had 
‘been disciplined under’ his immediate inspection; 
and accustomed to the field. The Presbyterians 
were commanded by General Baillie, the same offi- 
cer ‘who, in’ the month of July preceding, had 
been constrained to yield at Alford; and he was 
assisted, on this occasion, by the Earls of Crawford 
and Airly, Sir William Marray of Blabo, Colonels 
Dyce and Wallace, and other adherents of the po- 
pular party. It is said that Baillie was displeased with 
the quality or the condition of his troops, and engaged 
with reluctance. The action commenced by an attempt 
of the Covenanters to dislodge a small party, which 
Montrose had stationed near some cottages in the vici« 
nity of Kilsyth; but the assailants were very warmly. 
received, and at length driven back with considerable 
loss. At this moment, a body of Highlanders, amount~ 
ing to 1000 men, without waiting’ for orders, rushed’ 
furiously upon the Presbyterians ; these were support~ 
ed by the Earl of Airly, at the head of 2000 of the ins 
fantry; and three troops of horse. The rest of the ar- 
my imitated the example of Airly and the Ogilvies ; 
the ranks of the Covenanters were broken ; no effort 
of their generals could restore them to order, and a 
complete rout ensued. | Six thousand of the Presbyte- 
yians fell in this memorable action ; and, in one disas- 
trous day, the’ cause of religion and of independence 
was left without the aid of any regular army iri Scotland. « 
After the victory at Kilsyth, Montrose appears to 
have been elated beyond what we should have ey ae 
ed in’ so great a commander, and certairily beyond the 
amount of the essential and profitable service which he 
had performed. Though he was not in possession of 
any of the strong holds; or iinportant passes, he wrote 
to the king as if the whole country had submitted: In 
those days, both parties made an indiscfeet use of the 
language of scripture ; and with improprieties of this 
nature Montrose is justly chargeablé, as well as the 
chieftains of the covenant; though, if we were to cons 
sult the most popular history of the period, we should 
be led to believe that the practice was peculiar’ to the 
Presbyterians. He assured his Majesty that he had 
over-run the country, * from Dan even to Beersheba’;” 
and prayed the king to come down, in the -worils of 
Joab, the Hebrew leader, originally addressed to king 
David, ‘now therefore gather the rest of the people 
together, and encamp against the city, and take it, lest 
T take the city, and it be called after my name,’ 
The fortunes of Montrose now began to deéline. 
Having advanced, upon some insufficient éncourage- 
ment, towards the English border, he attempted in 
vain to rouse the Earls of Hurtie, Traquair, and Rox- 
burgh, and to animate them in the royal cause. He 
was deserted likewise by his own troops ; for. the High- 
landers, unaccustomed to a protracted course of mili- 
5 
GRAHAM) 
tary service, had retired to the:hills,in order to secure Grah 
the plunder which they had obtained. He was, moreover, Mar 
extremely deficient in cavalry. In these circumstances, 
« the Graham” was met by Lesly, the general of the 
Covenanters, who had been detached from the army in 
England ; and at fie! ac in Ettrick Forest, the 
royalists were defe: in so tremendous and so fa-_ 
tal an overthrow, that they were never afterwards able. 
to make head against their antagonists. Montrose, . 
though worsted in the issue, did every thing which ex- 
perience could suggest, or bravery could fulfil, but the. 
assault of Lesly’s, cavalry was not to be withstood. 
Some say that “ the Graham” had. become careless, in  _ 
consequence of his success, and that he had allowed bie, 
self to be taken by surprise; and, .per he had 
dreamt of vanquishing the Covenanters by what his fol- 
lowers were wont to 
whatever trath there may be in, | 
certain that he was compelled to fly with 
forces into the mountains, and to 
leisure than suited his character for pe 
terprises. . His life was now little e 
misfortunes. During the ] 
liament, he quitted: the 
one other unsuccessful attempt to restore the m« y 
"dome prophet of the Royalists had. exnuréd bian Clee 
Some ° i assured hi 
the Royalists had their prophets as well as tha Sete 
térs,) that to him, and to him alone, it was reserved to 
restore the king’s authority in. all hi Sn ep 
he eagerly listened to an intimation which. so 
well with hisenterprising genius, But, notwithstand- 
ing this augury, he was defeated by Strachan, one of — 
Lesly’s captains, and taken prisoner after the ; 
the disguise of a peasant, “ having thrown, away ey 
eloak and the star upon it.” Hrit b wpb g 
The Covenanters made a rigorous use. of the victory, 
ises, it is 
me 
and the reach~ ' 
: on. He was. 
brought to Edinburgh under every circumstance of ela~ 
borate indignity; and after a trial before the Scotti 
parliamént, during which he conducted himself with the 
utmost presetice of mind, and with a magnanimity whict 
his enemies were constrained-to admire, he was senten=. 
ced to lose his life by the hands of the public executioner; | ‘ 
and with a lofty composure, and re Sa pious eja- 
culations, he subrititted to his fate. ‘Thus a Ba i . 
successful, All history unites. in ¥ 
chievements, and in celebrating his valour: but he was 
brave in the sherne in the ae ae the battle, ras 
ther than ski i a cam 48 
He took up arms against the Presbyterians, without 4 
prudent estimate of hismeans. And it may be doubtec 
whether, with all his courage and all his activity, his i 
exploits were of any service to the cause of the = 
It has been said that he was no stranger to elegant, q 
terature ; but while every one allows that, the verses 
which he composed on the evening before his death may 
be regarded as proofs of the serenity of his.mm 
are few who will be ready to acknowledge them as a very 
favourable specimen of his attainments in : 
art. One foul spot remains upon his character ; he be- 
