THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. VI.APRIL 1876.
THE MASSACRE OF GLENCOE.
[Continued.]
Stair meanwhile had made up his mind, and through his influencethe certificate of MacIan having signed his allegiance was suppressed,and on the 11th of January, and afterwards on the 16th, instructionssigned and countersigned by the King came forth in which the inhabitantsof Glencoe were expressly exempted from the pardon given to theother clans, and extreme measures ordered against them. A letter wassent by Lord Stair to Colonel Hill commanding him to execute the purposesof the Government, but he showed such reluctance that thecommission was given to one Colonel Hamilton instead, who had noscruples. He was ordered to take a detachment of 120 men, chieflybelonging to a clan regiment levied by Argyle, and consequently animatedby bitter feudal animosity towards the Macdonalds.
Towards the close of January a company of armed Highlanders appearwending their way toward the opening of the Valley of Glencoe. TheMacdonalds, fearing they have come for their arms, send them away to aplace of concealment, and then came forth to meet the strangers. Theyfind it is a party of Argyle's soldiers, commanded by Captain Campbell ofGlenlyon, whose niece (a sister by the way of Rob Roy) is married toAlastair Macdonald, one of MacIan's sons. They ask if they have comeas friends or foes. They reply, as friends, but as the garrison at Fort-Williamis crowded they had been sent to quarter themselves for a fewdays at Glencoe. They are received with open arms, feuds are forgotten,and for a fortnight all is harmony and even hilarity in the hamlet.
Rose sounds of melody and voice of mirth;
The measured madness of the dance is there,
And the wild rapture of the feast of shells.
Warm hands are clasped to hands that firm reply,
And friendship glows and brightens into love.
Thus for a fortnight matters go on, when on the 1st of Februaryorders are issued by Hamilton to his subordinate, Major Duncanson,fixing five o'clock next morning for the slaughter of all the Macdonaldsunder seventy, and enjoining the various detachments of men to be attheir posts by that hour to secure the passes of the glen that not one ofthe doomed race might escape. Especial care was to be taken that the old[Pg 164]fox and his cubs should not escape, and that (what cool but hellish words),"that the Government was not to be troubled with prisoners." Thesefell orders Duncanson handed on to Glenlyon, who gladly received andproceeded to carry them into execution with prompt and portentousfidelity.
With such injunctions in his pocket, Glenlyon proceeded to act theJudas part with consummate skill. He supped and played at cards, on theevening of the 12th, with John and Alexander Macdonald—two of hisintended victims; and he and his lieutenant (Lindsay) accepted an invitationto dine with old MacIan for the next day. At five o'clock on themorning of the 13th Hamilton hoped to have secured all the easternpasses to prevent the escape of any fugitives, but, at all events, then mustGlenlyon begin his work of death.
All now is silent over the devoted hamlet. All are