While writing about Scotland in the mid-1700s, I’m always on the lookout for primary sources, that is, accounts written on or near the time an event took place. This morning I was browsing for one “gallant Scotus” who died at the Battle of Culloden. I found him: Donald 4th MacDonell of Scotus 1705-1746. Not much else, yet.
Just below him on the queue was Creator: MacDonald, Donald, d.1746 “A genuine account of the behaviour, confession, and dying words, of the three Scots Rebels, viz. Donald MacDonald, James Nicholson; and Walter Ogilvie. (all officers in the Young Pretender’s service) who were executed the 22d day of August 1746 for high treason”
In it there are various points of view about the 1745 rising, motivations for joining, who is responsible for war atrocities, as well as loyalties and regrets over its failure. I try not to take sides, but this one got me riled.
What horror. The men named above were accused of treason for following the “popish Pretender” Prince Charles Edward Stuart, which they did, but also accused of a list of heinous crimes — “a black Train of Murders, Slaughters, Rapes, and Villainies of All Sorts to the innocent and peaceable,” which numerous historical accounts record did not happen. Just the opposite. While there may have been rare exceptions, the rebel army soldiers of the 1745 Jacobite rising went out their way to be respectful to all citizens and behave with dignity.
The sentence carried out on three of the four men:
That you must be drawn to the Place of Execution, where you must be hanged by your Necks, but not until you are dead; for you must be cut down alive, your Heads must be severed from your Bodies, your Bowels must be taken out and burnt before your Faces. And your Body must be divided in four Quarters; and these must be at the King’s Disposal.
Oh, “And God Almighty be merciful to your souls.” Since the King most certainly isn’t.