NOTE 32
The faithful friend who pointed out the pass by which the Highlanders
moved from Tranent to Seaton was Robert Anderson, junior, of Whitburgh, a
gentleman of property in East Lothian. He had been interrogated by the
Lord George Murray concerning the possibility of crossing the uncouth and
marshy piece of ground which divided the armies, and which he described
as impracticable. When dismissed, he recollected that there was a
circuitous path leading eastward through the marsh into the plain, by
which the Highlanders might turn the flank of Sir John Cope's position
without being exposed to the enemy's fire. Having mentioned his opinion
to Mr. Hepburn of Keith, who instantly saw its importance, he was
encouraged by that gentleman to awake Lord George Murray and communicate
the idea to him. Lord George received the information with grateful
thanks, and instantly awakened Prince Charles, who was sleeping in the
field with a bunch of pease under his head. The Adventurer received with
alacrity the news that there was a possibility of bringing an excellently
provided army to a decisive battle with his own irregular forces. His joy
on the occasion was not very consistent with the charge of cowardice
brought against him by Chevalier Johnstone, a discontented follower,
whose Memoirs possess at least as much of a romantic as a historical
character.
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