Note 409 — A TRUE ACCOUNT OF MR. JOHN DANIEL’S PROGRESS WITH PRINCE CHARLES

This is the celebrated ‘Skirmish of Clifton,’ fought 18th December; described by Sir Walter Scott in Waverley, chap. lix. and note. Both sides claimed the victory. The late Chancellor Ferguson wrote an exhaustive monograph on the subject (Kendal, 1889) showing that both were technically right. The Jacobite rear-guard fought to protect the army’s retreat to Carlisle, and entirely succeeded in their object; Cumberland’s troops retained possession of the field, but were too crippled to pursue. Daniel, I think, shows a certain animus in entirely ignoring Lord George Murray, who directed this action and fought it with great bravery and skill.