Having succeeded in bringing off his wounded foe, the generous Wogan consigned him to the care of a surgeon. But all aid was unavailing. Preston, than whom there was not a better or a braver officer in the king’s service, was dead.
Hitherto General Forster had taken no part in the defence, but during a cessation of firing he rode up to the Churchgate battery, and called out to Mackintosh in a loud authoritative tone:
“Brigadier! sally out at once with your Highlanders upon the enemy.”
“Na, na, general,” replied Mackintosh. “Were I to part my foot from the horse, they might be cut off.”
“I don’t see why that should be,” rejoined Forster. “But if you are afraid of the foot, sally out with the horse.”
“I cannot obey you, general,” replied the brigadier; “and for this reason. In sallying out, as you suggest, the cavalry wad have to pass through the fire of our ain foot to their great detriment; and if they failed in the attempt, they would be unable to retreat, and thus the Highlanders would be pent up in the town.”
“I don’t see the reason,” cried Forster, angrily; “but I perceive you are resolved not to obey me.”
“I won’t sacrifice my men, general,” rejoined the brigadier.
“Then you will take the consequences, sir,” said Forster; “for, by Heaven! if I survive this day, and the king comes to his own, I’ll have you tried by a court-martial.”
Mackintosh shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
Just then the firing recommenced, and Forster withdrew to vent his anger elsewhere.
Learning that Mackintosh had stationed Captain Innes with a party of Highlanders in Sir Henry Hoghton’s house, he immediately removed them, without alleging any reason for the step, and ordered Captain Maclean, with a company of gentlemen volunteers, to take the post.
CHAPTER V
How the two large Houses in Church-street were taken by the Assailants
DURING Forster’s altercation with the brigadier, Lord Derwentwater proceeded to the churchyard. He had now no fears respecting the countess and Dorothy, for he knew they had reached the town-hall in safety.
Scarcely had he entered the churchyard, when he perceived Captain Gordon, and calling him, said:
“You are the very man I want. Go instantly to the top of the church-tower, and let me know the movements of the enemy.”
Captain Gordon obeyed, and as soon as he reached this exalted position he looked carefully around.
We have already mentioned that the tower in question was singularly low, but from its position it commanded an entire view of the operations.
From this post of observation Captain Gordon could see Brigadier Honeywood with his regiment of dragoons stationed at the end of the street, but he did not concern himself with them, his attention being particularly attracted to the movements of Major Bland, with a large party of dismounted dragoons, attacking the battery commanded by Lord Charles Murray.
Lord Charles was defending himself vigorously and successfully, when another party was seen approaching to attack him in the flank.
Thereupon Captain Gordon gave a signal to the Earl of Derwentwater, who immediately put himself at the head of a hundred of his gentlemen and hastened to Lord Charles’s assistance.
Suddenly appearing in the back lane, and flanking the enemy with a close fire, the earl quickly put them to confusion and flight.
But, while retreating, the dragoons burst open the door at the back of Sir Henry Hoghton’s garden, drove out Captain Maclean and the volunteers placed there by General Forster, and took possession of the mansion.
Almost at the same time, the large house belonging to Mr. Eyre, on the opposite side of the street, which had served as General Forster’s headquarters, fell into the hands of Brigadier Honeywood.
On observing this, Captain Gordon immediately descended from the church- tower, and sought out General Forster, whom he found near the entrance to the market- place, and told him what had happened.
“By the possession of these two houses, general,” he said, “the enemy have secured most commanding positions, which will not only afford them shelter from our fire, but enable them to do us great damage. They must be retaken at any cost, but I would recommend as the shortest way that both houses be demolished by our cannon.”
“I cannot consent to their destruction, sir,” replied Forster. “The body of the town is the security of the army. We must dislodge the enemy — not destroy the houses.”
“But do you not perceive, general, that by this course you are affording security to the besiegers,” said Captain Gordon. “Reinforcements are sure to arrive, and then we shall never be able to drive out the enemy.”
“At all events, the attempt shall be made before I have recourse to cannon,” rejoined Forster. “Let both houses be attacked in front and rear — but mind! cannon must not be used.”
Scarcely able to control his anger, Captain Gordon went away.
On his return, he found that a vigorous attempt was being made by Lord Derwentwater to dislodge the enemy from Sir Henry Hoghton’s house, and a sharp conflict was then going on in the garden.
An attempt was likewise being made to recover Mr. Eyre’s house by a large party of dismounted troopers headed by Charles Radclyffe and Captain Shaftoe.
Brigadier Mackintosh would have quickly knocked down both these houses, but on learning that General Forster had positively prohibited the use of cannon, he desisted.
CHAPTER VI
Houses burnt by the Assailants
WITH the exception of the loss sustained by the capture of these two important houses, and which had been entirely caused by Forster’s gross mismanagement, the insurgents had not only held their own, but obtained decided advantages over the enemy.
Not one of the three batteries on the south side of the town, though all had been repeatedly and vigorously attacked, had been taken. On the contrary, in every instance, the assailants had been repulsed, and with great loss. Neither by stratagem, nor direct assault, had any portion of the king’s forces been able to penetrate into the town. All the damage they had done was at the outskirts.
The church, which constituted the most important position on the south, was entirely in the hands of the insurgents, and so trifling had been the loss sustained by them, that it had not been necessary, as yet, to call upon the reserves stationed in the market-place.
Of course, the brunt of the fight had been borne by Brigadier Mackintosh, who had planned the able defence of the town, and had stood as firm as a rock beside the barrier he had reared, but a most courageous defence of the Fishergate barrier was made by Captain Douglas and Captain Hunter, and their moss-troopers and Borderers.
Individual acts of valour were performed by these hardy fellows worthy of another age. Not content with firing upon the assailants from roof and window, they occasionally sallied forth, and then some most desperate encounters took place between them and Colonel Pitt’s dismounted dragoons. Captain Douglas, who was a very powerful man, killed three dragoons with his own hand. In another sally Captain Hunter and half a dozen men with him advanced too far, and being completely surrounded, must have been captured, or slain, had they not been rescued at great personal risk by Captain Douglas.
Some barns and small habitations, at the end of the Fishergate avenue, occupied by the moss-troopers, were set fire to and burnt by Pitt’s men, but no real damage was done.
At the same time several much larger houses were set on fire at the end of Church-street by order of Brigadier Honeywood, so as to drive out the Highlanders who occupied them, and compel them to take refuge in the churchyard. Fortunately, the wind being in the north at the time, the conflagration did not spread far. Had it blown from the opposite quarter, and the wind been strong, the whole town would probably have been destroyed. No efforts being made to extinguish the fires, the houses continued burning for several hours, and long after it became dark.
CHAPTER VII
The Windmill Barricade
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WE must now repair to the Windmill barricade, situated at the end of the Lancaster road, and commanded by Colonel Mackintosh, kinsman of the brigadier.
Brigadier Dormer with three hundred dismounted dragoons attempted to approach this barricade by a narrow street or lane called the Back Wynd, but they were thwarted in their design by the vigilant Highlanders, who screened by garden walls, hedges, and ditches, killed nearly half their number, and forced the rest to retreat.
A direct attack was then made on the barricade, but with no better success. The Mackintoshes proved themselves splendid marksmen.
After a third ineffectual attack by a back road, during which he again sustained considerable loss, Brigadier Dormer ordered Sergeant Johnstone and Corporal Marlow, with a score of Stanhope’s dragoons, to set on fire all the houses and outbuildings. While seeing the order executed Brigadier Dormer was shot in the leg, the sergeant and corporal were killed, and some of the men wounded, but the work of destruction proceeded — and the houses and cottages were burnt close up to the barricade.
But nothing was gained. The valiant Highland chief and his clansmen laughed at the futile attempts to drive them from their post.
Having thus taken a survey of the defences of the town, it will be seen that they were all intact, and able to hold out. But the besiegers were under the impression that the insurgents would attempt to cut their way out during the night. Accordingly, the Lancaster avenue was very strongly guarded.
An express had been sent by Sir Henry Hoghton to General Carpenter, who had reached Clitheroe, to inform him that hostilities had commenced, and it was therefore certain he would arrive next day. Should this news reach the rebels, it would quicken their desire to escape, and it behoved the besiegers to be doubly vigilant — especially on the north side of the town, where the exit was most likely to be made.
Several hundreds of the king’s troops, as we have stated, had been shot down in the ineffectual attacks on the barriers. Among the wounded were Major Bland and Major Lawson, and, as we have just mentioned, Brigadier Dormer was slightly hurt.
Captain Preston expired as he was being conveyed to the White Bull, where all the wounded insurgents were taken. At this place died Colonel Brereton, Mr. Clifton, and two or three others whose names are not recorded.
When Captain Peter Farquharson, of Rochaley, whose leg had been badly shattered by a bullet, was brought in by half a dozen Highlanders, and laid down on a bench, he called for brandy for the men, and taking a glass himself, said:
“Come, lads, here’s to our master’s health! I can fight no longer, but I wish you success.”
With mingled feelings was the health drunk.
Alas! this gallant officer died under the operation, which was unskilfully performed.
CHAPTER VIII
How the two large Houses were illuminated
UNTIL it grew dark, platoon-firing constantly took place from the two large houses captured by the besiegers. When night came on, the firing of course ceased, though even then occasional shots were heard.
At all the barriers the men rested on their arms, the strictest watch being kept to prevent surprise. The churchyard was still filled with troops.
A strange and terrible light was afforded by the still burning houses, and as these fires were not confined to one quarter, but could be seen at different points, it appeared as if the whole town was burning. The red reflection of the fire in the adjacent street on the tower and windows of the church produced a very striking effect.
After awhile, Brigadier Honeywood caused the windows of the two large mansions, just mentioned, to be brilliantly lighted up, and the illumination revealed every person in the street, and exposed them to the musketeers; but he soon found this told against himself, for the marksmen were quickly discovered and driven from their position, while the windows were broken by showers of bullets.
In the evening a council of war was held at the Mitre, but nothing was determined upon, except that a vigilant watch should be kept throughout the night, and a determined defence maintained on the morrow.
General Forster took very little part in the discussion, and complained bitterly that Brigadier Mackintosh had disobeyed his orders.
“I suppose it was through my fault, general, that the two large houses in Church-street were lost?” remarked the brigadier.
“Undoubtedly,” replied Forster.
“Well, then, I’ll repair my fault,” said Mackintosh; “for as I’m a living man, I’ll demolish them baith, or burn them to the ground to-morrow.”
“In defiance of my orders?” cried Forster.
“In defiance of anybody’s orders,” rejoined Mackintosh.
“Let us have no disputes, I pray,” interposed Lord Widdrington. “We have every reason to be satisfied with the result of the day.”
“So confident am I of success,” said Mackintosh, “that I am about to write to the Earl of Mar that I expect to gain a victory over General Wills tomorrow. A battle is imminent between his lordship and the Duke of Argyle, and may possibly take place to-morrow. If so, and success should attend our arms both at Stirling and Preston, the Jacobite cause must be triumphant.”
“Heaven grant it may!” cried several voices.
After a little further discourse, the council broke up, some proceeding to an adjoining room where supper was laid out, and others returning to their posts.
Only three persons were left in the room. These were Lord Derwentwater, General Forster, and Captain Douglas.
The earl had told the others that he wished to confer with them.
“I trust all will go well to-morrow,” he said; “indeed, I do not doubt it. Still I feel the greatest anxiety respecting the countess.”
“I do not wonder at it, my lord,” remarked Forster. “I am just as anxious about my sister. Would we could get them both safely out of the town — but I fear it is impossible to do so now, since all the avenues are guarded.”
“I will insure their escape from the Fishergate barrier, of which I have the command,” said Captain Douglas. “But the attempt must not be made before midnight. By crossing the ford, they will be able to gain the Liverpool road. Will the ladies be alone?”
“They will be attended by my chaplain, Father Norman, and my butler, Newbiggin,” replied Lord Derwentwater. “I shall not send my grooms with them, unless General Forster desires it.”
“No, no!” cried Forster. “The fewer the better.”
“Of course, the party will be on horseback?” said Douglas. “I will conduct them to the ford — but there I must leave them.”
“That will suffice,” said the earl. “And I shall be eternally obliged to you for the service.”
“And so shall I,” said Forster.
“At midnight, then, I should be fully prepared,” said Douglas.
With this, he and Forster joined the others at supper in the next room, while Lord Derwentwater proceeded to the town-hall.
When they were informed of the arrangements made for their flight, the countess and Dorothy seemed dissatisfied rather than pleased, but the earl was quite resolved upon their departure.
“There is no telling what the morrow may bring forth,” he said. “And if fortune should prove adverse, I should bitterly reproach myself for allowing you to remain. Go you must.”
All arrangements having been made, Dorothy retired, and the earl and countess were left alone together.
For some minutes they both remained silent. The earl then spoke:
“I hope we may meet again at Dilston as in former days,” he said. “But I have great misgivings. To-morrow will decide. We shall then either be victorious, or utterly defeated, and prisoners, for we are shut up in this town. In the latter event I well know what my fate will be, and I confess that I cannot shake off a dread presentiment that it will happen.”
“Do not thus be despondent, my dear lord,” said the countess. “To me everything seems to look well.”
“Not so,” he replied. “We
have one great danger. Should General Carpenter arrive before we have beaten Wills, we are lost. Had a victory been gained to- day — as it might and would have been had we not been thwarted by Forster — all would have been well. But now we must trust to chance. I will not say that Forster has betrayed us, but he has been excessively indiscreet in confiding his secrets to Mrs. Scarisbrick.”
“Then you think Mrs. Scarisbrick has given secret intelligence to the enemy?”
“I am almost sure of it,” replied the earl. “But let us not trouble our parting with gloomy anticipations.”
They then endeavoured to talk cheerfully, but the effort was in vain, and it was almost a relief to both of them when Father Norman entered.
He had just heard from Dorothy of their proposed flight, and came to inquire further about it.
“Has your lordship any instructions to give me?” he said.
“None whatever,” replied the earl. “I know you will ever watch over the countess during my absence — and if aught happens, console her.”
“I will teach her how to bear her affliction,” replied the priest. “Perchance this may be your last interview,” he added, looking steadily at the countess. “Have you aught to communicate to your husband?”
“We have never had any secrets from each other, good father,” said the earl. “Is it not so, sweetheart?”
The countess made no reply.
A slight pause ensued, after which the earl said:
“Am I to understand you have a secret from me?”
Another pause ensued, which was broken by the countess.
“Tell him all, father,” she cried. “I cannot.”
“What is this?” exclaimed the earl, astonished, and looking at the priest for an explanation. “What have you to tell me?”
The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth Page 746