King George was home from Hanover, British
troops being brought back from the Continent. Best to fan high the
fire of the rising while it might with most ease be fanned--best to
march as soon as might be into England!
On the 1st of November they marched, three detachments by three roads,
and the meeting-place Carlisle. All went most merrily well. On the
10th of November began the siege of Carlisle. The Prince had cannon
now, some taken at Prestonpans, some arrived, no great time before,
from France, first fruits of French support. The English General Wade
was at Newcastle with a larger army than that of the Jacobites. But
the siege of Carlisle was not lifted by Wade. After three days city
and castle surrendered. Charles Edward and his army entered England.
From Carlisle they marched to Penrith--to Kendal, Lancaster, Preston,
Manchester--clear, well-conducted marches, the army held well together
and in hand, here and there handfuls of recruits. But no flood of
loyally-shouting gentry, no bearers of great names drawing the sword
for King James III and a gallant, youthful Regent! Each dawn said they
will come! Each eve said they have not come! One month from leaving
Edinburgh found this army of Highland chiefs and their clans, Lowland
Scots, a few Englishmen, a few Irishmen, and a few Frenchmen, led by
skilful enough generals and by a Prince the great-grandson of Charles
I, deep in England, but little advanced in bulk for all that.
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