AS I have in ſeveral Letters before, given you nothing but ill News, ſo I am glad I have now the occaſion of fending you ſomewhat better: The General Buchan; and • rigadeer 〈◊〉 , with his Highland Army, having for a while marched up and down this Country, increaſed as a 〈…〉 daily, which affrighted and diſcouraged the Country ſo far, that upon 〈…〉 reſolved to march out of Inverneſs, with a Detatchment of fo •• 〈◊〉 men of Sir James Leſlies, ſi • 〈…〉 Grants, the Highland Company of Captain Mackay, three Troops of my Dragoons, and my Lord Teſter's Troop of Horſe, and Camped that Night near Brodie, where I was forced to ſlay two dayes, for my Baggage Horſes coming in very ſlow from the Country, as likewiſe for the three other Troops of Dragoons from Elgin, and Capt. Burnets of Horſe. The Enemy was at this time at Strathſpey, threatning to ſlay and burn all that would not joyn; whereupon I reſolved the thirtieth of April, about 12 a Clock in the day, having then got certain Intelligence where they Camped, and what number they were, to march towards them; we marched the whole Night in as bad Ground as Lochabar may be, till at laſt, by two a Clock in the Morning we got to Ball-Chastle, where being arrived, we diſcovered by the Enemies Fires their Camp; I informed my ſelf of the Nature of the Ground, and the depth of the River, and notwithſtanding they told me, the Ground was ſomewhat Boggiſh, I formed my Deſign to Attaque them by Surprize, for they did not know of my being arrived, but my Men and Horſe being ſo extreamly wearied, I gave them about half an hour to refreſh themſelves; after which time I called the Officers together, and told them • y Reſolution, ſo that they might examine their Soldiers if they were able to do it; who unanimouſly told me, They would ſtand by me to • he 〈◊〉 man, 〈…〉 earneſtly to go on. I having got Guides by this time in readineſs, we •• ſſed the 〈◊〉 by three a Clock in the Morning at one Fo •• d, wh •• e the •• was a Ch •••• , the Enemy keeping a ſtrong Guard, where I ſent ſome Foot, and 〈…〉 Dragoons to fire upon them, and amuſe them, and in the mean time paſt the 〈◊〉 at another Fo • d below it: two Troops of Dragoons, and Capt. Mackay's 〈◊〉 Company was 〈◊〉 paſſed before the Enemy perceived us, and 〈…〉 in Parties up and down not knowing which way to turn 〈…〉 ſurprized, ſo I commanded all the Horſe and Dragoons to jo •• , 〈…〉 , which affrighted 〈◊〉 , ſo ••• t they took themſelves to the Hills, and at the foot of Crompdel we overtook them, attacked them, killing betwixt 3 or 400 upon the Place, and took about 100 Priſoners, the greater part of them Officers, the reſt got off by a Miſt that came juſt at that time upon the top of the Hill, ſo that we could ſcarcely ſee one another, otherways the ſlaughter ſhould have been greater; ſo I cauſed to b • at a Retreat, our Horſes being ready to fall down, and drew up upon the low Ground, Priſoners being brought to me from all hands: Buchan, when they took the Alarm firſt, ſent a Nephew of his, with ſome more Officers and Soldiers, in an old Caſtle, who at firſt ſeemed to be Opinionate, I cauſed to ſurround them, and finding the Ground proper to undermind them, which they finding, ſurrendred themſelves to the King's Mercy. Buchan got off, without Hat, Coat, or Sword, and was ſeen that day, and in that poſture, in Glenlives, very much fatigued, carried in a Coſins Houſe of his; Canon got away in his Night Gown; Dumfermling had gone from them about ſome Buſineſs the day before.