The Blind Fiddler

By Ian MacMillan

The Blind Fiddler is a fictional tale inter-weaved with real events in history. It is set during the 1700s mainly in the North-West Highlands of Scotland and is about the history of the Jacobites.

We follow a family of MacMillans who live by Loch Arkaig just north of Fort William. They are tenants of Cameron of Lochiel and follow that clan chief in attempts to replace the British monarchy with a Jacobite who they describe as Scotlands rightful king.

Our main character Ross MacMillan follows his father Duncans example by fighting with fellow Highland clansmen for this cause. We join him in a number of battles and campaigns ending with that of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Bonny Prince Charlie who in 1745 travels from France to raise the clans in his fathers cause. After major successes this comes to an end with the tragedy of the battle of Culloden.

Ross goes into hiding from the Government troops seeking vengeance against Charlies supporters who they see as both traitors and savages. He becomes blind which encourages him to continue learning to play a fiddle which Cameron of Lochiel had presented to him. It belonged to Sir John Cope who was in charge of the Government troops, who were soundly defeated at Prestonpans, the first major success for Charlies army. Ross becomes a very skilled fiddler.

Towards the end of his life we join Ross and his son Colin who encourages him to look back over his time supporting the Jacobites and think about what might have been.

The inspiration for the book is explained in the dedication. Ian has researched the fascinating history of the Jacobites and visited most of the battlefields and locations mentioned in The Blind Fiddler.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jul 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514460962

Ian MacMillan

Ian MacMillan lives with his wife Jean by an attractive sea loch in the North West Highlands of Scotland. Ian has written a book about the resistance to the German invasion of Crete in World War 2. He has also written short stories and poems for many years often inspired by the beauty of Wester Ross. The inspiration for this book is told in the dedication. Since then Ian has researched the fascinating history of the Jacobites and visited most of the battlefields and locations mentioned in The Blind Fiddler.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The 1715 Jacobite Rising             November 1715

Duncan Alan MacMillan felt all of his senses tingling as the blood-curdling Cameron clan’s slogan was roared out.

‘Chianna nan con thigibh a so’s gheibh sibh feoil’

A martial skirl from the Chief’s piper added to the clamour as the clansmen began to jog, screaming their Gaelic slogan. Then they broke into a fast run as they hurdled over the rocks and heathery tussocks of Sheriffmuir towards the hated Campbells in their redcoats.

Duncan and three well-built Camerons formed Lochiel’s bodyguard. They gathered close around the Cameron clan’s chieftain as they charged. Duncan again felt a huge sense of pride that he was the only MacMillan to be granted this honour.

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What an adventure had led to this battle. First the fiery cross had been marched round his crofting village of Murlaggan on Loch Arkaig. This called all Lochiel’s men to arm themselves and proceed urgently to the Cameron Castle at Achnacarry near Spean Bridge.

Duncan hurried along the moorland to catch up with his best friend Ewan Cameron, another of Lochiel’s chosen bodyguards.

‘Hey Ewan any idea what’s up?’

‘Oh hello Duncan, yes I think so. There’s been a rumour going all round the glens that we are sent for to reclaim the throne for our rightful King and send that fat Georgie packing back to his German speaking friends.’

‘God that would be great. I’d love to have a go at these bloody Campbells in their red coats. My father and grandfather hated them since they cleared us from our clan’s homes in Argyll.’

The pair hitched up their plaids around the swords and dirks in their belt, tightened the strap on their targes, and then hastened along the path to Achnacarry.

The Chief himself, John Cameron of Lochiel came out to address the gathering. Standing beside him was his 15 year old son and heir, Donald. Most of the Highlanders were Camerons but there was also a strong contingent of MacMillans who were the Camerons’ tenants in and around the crofting villages and hamlets which were scattered all along the 12 mile length of the north shore of Loch Arkaig.

‘Welcome men, I have great news. Our rightful King, James will return to us at long last from France. The Commander he has appointed to lead his troops in Scotland, John Erskine the 6th Earl of Mar, has called a gathering of all the clans loyal to the Jacobite cause, as I know you all are. In 10 days’ time we are to meet with the army at Braemar, a good 6 days march over the Grampian Mountains from here.

So now go and say farewell to your families, arm yourselves, gather provisions to last at least a week, then return here to Achnacarry.’

Fiona was not greatly impressed at this news from an excited Duncan. But she knew her husband’s loyalty to the Jacobite cause and in particular to Lochiel who commanded respect all across Scotland. So, with their only child, one year old son Ross James in her arms, she clung fondly to her husband Duncan, then stood for ages as he marched away to join the men gathering at the end of the township.

Och well, Fiona was used to her man going away to fight. Just over a year ago he couldn’t wait to join the raid on the Campbells who they had been told were bringing a big herd of their black cattle across the pass through Glen Lochy from Argyll heading for Tyndrum, then the drover’s market at Crieff. Fiona knew she was just about to give birth to their first, desperately wanted, child and had clearly been anxious about him leaving her, but not enough to destroy the thrill in his face at the adventure in front of him. Aye, Duncan was only 20 years old and still full of the youthful enthusiasm that had first attracted him to her.

Like all the other women, Fiona was familiar with being left alone when their men-folk went away to battles or another cattle raid. So all through the birth process, which proved to be exceptionally painful and difficult, she was helped by the other wives.

When the baby eventually decided to enter the world, Katie Cameron, the most experienced midwife in the area, albeit now over 80 years old, was there for her. Katie wiped the blood-stained baby clean with damp cloths then passed the wee boy across to Fiona. With a tired but delighted smile she snuggled him into her bosom.

It was 2 weeks later when Katie asked to have a word with her in private.

‘Well, Mo ghaoil (my dear), that is a very fine young son you have, I am sure you are very proud of him.’

‘Oh yes Katie, and from the bottom of my heart thank you for all your patience, skill and for the hard work you did to help us.’

‘You are most welcome my dear. Now I am afraid I have some sad news for you.’

‘Oh my God, it’s not about Duncan?’

‘No, no my lass, it’s about the birth. You see it was unusually difficult and part of your womb came away with the afterbirth when your baby was born. I am very sorry to advise you that you will not be able to have any more children.’

Fiona thanked Katie for being so honest as well as caring, then, wrapping her newly named son Ross in his Celtic-patterned, swaddling shawl, she walked quietly out of her black house down to the lochside. There she sat on a boulder looking out over the water, thinking of her future and how to tell Duncan the news.

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What a crowd gathered around the castle of Achnacarry. The young clansmen were eager to start the new adventure. In front of them, the older and more experienced Highlanders chatted quietly to one another about what was in front of them this time. They set off from the head of Loch Arkaig down the track to Spean Bridge. Then they marched along the path, leading east up Glen Spean, and across to Kinlochlagan. After that, they made their way down the good road south to Dalwhinnie. They turned left in Glen Truin and cut across the hillside to join the drover’s trail which climbs high up into the Grampian Mountains.

Now their fitness or lack of it really began to show. After Loch An Duin, the path climbed steeply up to the summit of Leathad An Thoabain, some 2,100 feet high. Next they hiked down and up again to Cairn Ealar about 300 feet higher. Then there was another descent and ascent to An Sgarsoch, 3, 220 feet in height. The scenery from those mountaintops looking down to the hidden glens below was magnificent. Their spirits rose as they climbed and they kept good time, particularly as the November weather was being unusually kind. The small army came down past Carn Bhac and along by the Baddoch Burn to meet with the roadway which descends from the Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar.

Braemar sits in the Central Highlands surrounded by ancient mountains. The flanks of all of them seemed to be covered in clansmen in their tartan plaids.

The gathered clans were told by the Earl of Mar that his intention was to march to and capture Perth for their cause. Next to proceed to Stirling and take its castle stronghold. It was essential to secure this town, known as ‘The Gateway to the Highlands,’ before marching on to take possession of Edinburgh, Scotland’s ancient capital. From there it was planned that the army should make its way across the border into England to meet up with the English Jacobites who had promised to join them. Thomas Foster, another Jacobite leader, was already taking an advance force of some 3,000 Scottish fighters into England to gain support from their followers in the south.

But the Campbell clan chief, the Duke of Argyll, known as Ian Ruadh nan Cath (Red John of the Battles) who commanded the Government’s forces in Scotland, had his own ideas. He marched his troops to Stirling to safeguard that critical castle, then onto the boggy upland plain of Sheriffmuir which the castle’s garrison used for training and therefore knew the ground well.

Argyll was experienced in military strategy and tactics from his experiences fighting the French on the continent. He also had a very good spy network and was well aware that he was badly outnumbered. But he considered that his well-trained, disciplined soldiers and dragoons could win the day.

The Duke’s forces supporting the Hanoverian Government cause amounted to 7 squadrons of cavalry, therefore about 1,000 troopers, and 7,000 foot, whereas Mar had over 12,000 fighters. Most of Mar’s men were from Highland clans. All of them, apart from their officers, wore rough bonnets and full length tartan plaids. They liked pistols but their weapons of choice were the basket hilted broadswords, dirks, and their leather shields called targes.

Both sides had cannons but they proved of little use.

The Duke of Argyll stood on top of the frost-covered mound of Stone hill looking North West towards the gaily fluttering flags of the approaching Jacobite army.

Duncan and Ewan had waited beside their Chief as John Erskine, the 6th Earl of Mar, made the most inspirational speech of his life. He called the Highlanders to form into their clans’ columns then charge the lines of Government troops. He shouted out,

‘You will live this moment again for the rest of your lives men. This is our great chance to reclaim Scotland’s throne for James, our true King.’

Ewan and Duncan roared out approval with the rest, threw their bonnets high up in the air, then followed Lochiel who was in front of the Scottish right flank. He had decided to move ahead of his troops to reconnoitre the ground below the slope in front of them.

He told his troops to stand and await his signal. Meanwhile on the left of the Scottish army, the Macdonalds had been given the honour of leading the