The Battle Of Sheriffmuir Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAAA BBAA CCDD EFAA AAGG AAAA HHAA IHAA HHJJ KKHH LLAA AAMM AAAA LLNN AAAA AAOO NNPQ'Twas in the year and on the th of November | A |
Which the people of Scotland have cause to remember | A |
On that day the Earl of Mar left Perth bound for Sheriffmuir | A |
At the same time leaving behind a garrison under Colonel Balfour | A |
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Besides leaving a force of about three thousand men quartered in different parts of Fife | B |
To protect the people's property and quell party strife | B |
The army along with him amounted to three thousand foot and twelve hundred cavalry | A |
All in the best of order a most pleasant sight to see | A |
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The two armies bivouacked near Sheriffmuir during the night | C |
And around their camp fires they talked concerning the coming fight | C |
The Duke of Argyle's English army numbered eight thousand strong | D |
Besides four hundred horse posted in the rear all along | D |
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And the centre of the first line was composed of ten battalions of foot | E |
Consisting of about four thousand under the command of Clanranald and Glengarry to boot | F |
And at the head of these battalions Sir John Maclean and Brigadier Ogilvie | A |
And the two brothers of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat all in high glee | A |
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The Marquis of Huntly's squadron of horse was also there | A |
Likewise the Stirling squadron carrying the Chevalier's standard I do declare | A |
And the Perthshire squadron formed the left wing | G |
And with their boisterous shouts they made the welkin ring | G |
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The centre of the second line consisted of eight battalions of infantry | A |
And three of the Earl of Seaforth's foot famous for their bravery | A |
There were also two battalions of the Marquis of Huntly | A |
Besides the Earl of Panmure's battalion all men of high degree | A |
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And those of the Marquis of Tullibardine commanded by the Viscount of Strathallan | H |
And of Logie Almond and likewise Robertson of Strowan | H |
Besides two squadrons of horse under the Earl Marischal | A |
And the Angus squadron was on the left these include them all | A |
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During this formation the Duke of Argyle was watching all the time | I |
But owing to the ground occupied by them he couldn't see their line | H |
Which was unfortunately obstructed by the brow of a hill | A |
At the thought thereof the Duke's heart with fear did fill | A |
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The hill was occupied by a party of Earl Mar's troops looking towards Dunblane | H |
Which the Earl of Mar no doubt resolved to maintain | H |
Then the Duke returned to the army and ordered the drums to beat | J |
But an hour elapsed before his army were ready Mar's to meet | J |
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As soon as the Earl of Mar perceived Argyle's line was partially formed | K |
He gave orders that Argyle's army should be instantly stormed | K |
Then Mar placed himself at the head of the clans and led forward his men | H |
As a noble hero would do which no one can condemn | H |
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Then he pulled off his hat which he waved in his right hand | L |
And when he arrived within pistol shot the Highlanders made a bold stand | L |
And they poured in a volley upon the English infantry | A |
And to the dismay of the Highlanders the English returned fire instantly | A |
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And to the horror of the Highlanders Alan Muidartach was wounded mortally | A |
Then he was carried off the field a most pitiful sight to see | A |
And as his men clustered around him they stood aghast | M |
And before he died he told them to hold their posts fast | M |
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While lamenting the death of the Captain of Clanranald most pitifully | A |
Glengarry at this juncture sprang forward right manfully | A |
And throwing his bonnet into the air he cried heroically | A |
Revenge revenge revenge to day and mourning to morrow ye shall see | A |
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No sooner had he pronounced these words than the Highlanders rushed forward sword in hand | L |
Upon the royal battalions with the utmost fury which they could not withstand | L |
And with their broadswords among the enemy they spread death and dismay | N |
Until the three battalions of Argyle's left wing instantly gave way | N |
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Then a complete rout ensued and the Earl of Mar pursued them half a mile | A |
Then he ordered his men to halt and rest a while | A |
Until he should put them into order right speedily | A |
Then follow the enemy at the double march and complete the victory | A |
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Then the Highlanders chased them and poured in a volley | A |
Besides they hewed them down with their broadswords mercilessly | A |
But somehow both armies got mixed together and a general rout ensued | O |
While the Highlanders eagerly the English army hotly pursued | O |
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The success on either side is doubtful to this day | N |
And all that can be said is both armies ran away | N |
And on whichsoever side success lay it was toward the Government | P |
And to allay all doubts about which party won we must feel content | Q |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
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