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Gentleman's Magazine 1746 p.233

  1745 Rebellion
1745 Rebellion, Carlisle

Article accompanying a map of the Countries Adjacent to Carlisle shewing the Route of the Rebels by G Smith, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, London, May 1746.
A Letter to a friend, containing an account of the march of the rebels into England, description of the castle of Carlisle, and a dissertation on the old Roman wall; with respect to the map of it, and the adjacent country, the plan of Carlisle, and the view of its castle, just publish'd in two sheets; the draughts of which were favourably received by the duke of Cumberland on his forming the attack on Carlisle castle; and now are dedicated to his royal highness; by G. Smith.
SIR,
SO many idle rumours of the march of the rebels into England, had been spread previous to the fact, that to flatter our indolence we presumed it to be impossible, and therefore took no measures to prevent it; we cloister'd up the light horse and militia of both counties within the walls of Carlisle, and left the country to shift for itself; our nobility, except lord Lonsdale, did nothing, even those whose fortunes depended greatly on the route of the rebels, raised not a single man in the cause.
By letters from Scotland on Tuesday Nov. 5, we began to understand that the long projected expedition was now actually undertaken, and our frontiers quite open and unguarded; the garrison of Carlisle were under no apprehensions, judging they would march past them as in the rebellion of 1715. We secreted our most valuable effects, and sent the ladies eastward from these miscreants, of whom we had most terrible representations, determined to abide them ourselves.
On Thursday the eastermost column had gained Stangarth side on the English border, and we suspected their intention was to penetrate thro' the wastes of Beu-castle for Brampton, being the properest place to subsist so numerous a corps; but that night we learn'd that they had turn'd to the right for Longtown, which gave us hopes that they would continue their march for Row-cliff and pass the river Eden there, the dryness of the season having reduc'd that stream to a tolerable fording in several places below Carlisle.
On Friday the middlemost column join'd them, and on Saturday their hussars advanced to Stanwix bank, to take a view of the city; on which the 8 gun battery at B fir'd from the castle and they disappear'd. On Sunday they invested the city on all sides, having passed Eden at several fords below. The marq. of Tullibardin was driven with his corps from Shaddan-gate by the four gun battery at D, and those on the north under the duke of Perth remained in the village of Stanwix, where some houses received considerable damage from the continued fire of the eight gun battery.
The troops on the south side under the pretender's son were in like manner repuls'd by the citadel and turret guns. Being in want of materials for a siege a resolution was that night taken to remove to Brampton, and the quarter masters accordingly came into that place about midnight.
On Monday the 11th the prince's lifeguards, as they were called, came to Naworth Castle the earl of Carlisle's seat, and I went to see them, they behaved in general with much complaisance and were well-dress'd, good-looking men: they were very solicitous to see a map of England, and I carry'd them one on Tuesday morning, to try if I could penetrate their intentions; but these were inscrutable; only I observed they made great enquiry about Wales, and afterwards about other places, artfully to disguise their aim; which however I am apt to think they scarce knew themselves.
The same morning capt. Hamilton, quarter-master general of the foot, came to Naworth, demanding billets for 6000 men: the guards look'd very blank at the proposal, and began to secure their portables, and I soon found what a nest of thieves we were going to have.
About noon several hundreds of a wretched, ill-looking, shabby crew pass'd by armed with targets, broad swords, muskets, &c. and seemed very angry if no deference was paid to their flag: that afternoon and all next day they spent in shooting sheep, geese, &c. and robbing on the highway: tho' their chiefs express'd great dissatisfaction at their proceedings, yet they dar'd not restrain them for fear of putting them out of humour. Betwixt that and the 16th, I had some of their hussars, an audacious, insolent, lying rabble, and on Saturday the 16th six of the officers of the M'Phersons, who were by far the civilest of their foot, and pay'd for what they had in a genteel manner enough; it was not my business to expose their extravagant chimeras, but I found they were kept extremely ignorant of our affairs, by the artifice of their superiors. Some of them had their sons in his majesty's army, but were made to believe that all our regular forces were detained by the French in Flanders, and they already possessed London in their elevated ima-
gazetteer links
button -- "Beucastle" -- Bewcastle
button -- Carlisle
button -- Citadel, The
button -- Eden, River
button -- Naworth Castle
button -- "Rowcliff" -- Rockcliffe
button -- "Shaddan Gate" -- Scottish Gate
button -- Stanwix Bank
button -- "Stangarth Side" -- Stonegarthside
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