Eyewitness report of Culloden

account that 4000 rebels lay dead in the field''.

It is just days after the battle of Culloden and William Warden is

writing to his cousin welcoming the massacre.

The newly-discovered letter is said to have lain for almost 250 years

among a pile of of old documents in a house in Ayr, its historical

significance unknown.

It would have been destroyed during the refurbishment of the house but

the owner showed it to an expert from the stamp and postal history

specialists Scotia Philately Ltd. Its estimated value has now been put

at around #2500.

The letter -- believed to have been written just after the battle on

April 25, 1746 -- contains vivid details of the defeat of Bonnie Prince

Charlie's men. Sent from Gargunnock in Stirlingshire to the Rev John

Warden at Campsie. It describes how the ''rebells'' planned to surprise

the Duke of Cumberland at Nairn but expected another 2000

reinforcements.

''However when they came to the place of Rendezvous their

Reinforcement was not come up,'' says the missive. ''Upon this a Council

of war being called the Chevalier and his two Generals were going on

with their Design to surprise Gordies Willie: But L George Murray with

all his party opposed this motion and proposed to march back to their

Camp and wait for their Reinforcement and this was agreed to.''

The letter explains that the Hanoverians had inside information on the

Jacobite movements.

''Our Brave General however had Intelligence of all their motions and

in his turn surprised them by getting pretty near them befor they were

awar,'' writes Warden.

''The Business begun with cannonading on both sides and the Duke being

better served than that of the Rebells did great Execution. The Laird of

McLachlan had his abdomen laid upon his horse neck by a cannon bullet.

The Frasers McDonalds and Camerons opposed left who met with a very

fiery and bloody rebuke.

''They attempted to break the left sword in hand, but our men stood so

firm that the first line laid all dead at their feet who approach't them

and the 2d and 3d chargeing again made a most dismal havock.''

The letter then goes on to list names of prisoners and suggests that a

Mrs Murray is pregnant by the Young Pretender.

''The Earl of Cromarty Lord Kilmarnock Secretarie Murray are among the

prisoners. Lady Ogilvie Lady Gord, McIntosh, and Mrs Murray are made

prisoners the last is near her lying down, tis no wonder if she run mad

when she had a young Rebell in her Belly, and possibly of Royal

Extract.''

Scots author Nigel Tranter -- whose novel Highness in Hiding will be

published next year to celebrate 250 years since the Jacobite rebellion

-- said the letter was extraordinary and that it gave a ''most accurate

account'' of Culloden. There was one major omission, however, and that

was any detail of the flailing alive of prisoners by Cumberland, known

as the Butcher of Culloden.

''The account is very meticulous and accurate,'' said Mr Tranter.

''It's extraordinary that it has lain hidden all this time. I would say

it's a very precious document and the National Library of Scotland would

be interested in having it. It's most suitable that it has come up a

year before the 250th anniversary.''

Yesterday, a spokesman for the National Library said it may well be

interested in the epistle.

Mr Colin Harding, a director of Scotia Philately, said letters of this

kind were very scarce.

Mr Harding said he had no idea how the letter came to be in the house

in Ayr and was not sure whether it would be sold.

''It would be nice for it to go to a museum,'' he said. ''There are

also some very keen collectors in Scotland who would like to acquire

it.''

Mr Harding added that many people would be surprised by the value of

documents or stamps hiding in cupboards or under the eaves of their

attics.

* Scotia Philately will be in the West Coast of Scotland from December

5-9 and can be contacted on 081 892 7935.

The full text describing the notorious massacre:

Gargunnock Ap 25th

Revrd D. Cousin

I NEED not give you the particulars of the Dukes march from Aberdeen

this youl see in the news papers. On Tuesday was eight days The Duke at

Nairn.

On this intelligence the Rebells who were encamped on Colloden Moor

resolved to march all night and surprise our Army in their Camp and in

their march expected to be join'd by 2000 from Lochaber and Badenock.

However when they came to the place of Rendezvous their Reinforcement

was not come up. Upon this a Council of war being call'd the Chevalier

and his two Generals were for going on with their Design to surprise

Gordies Willie: But L. George Murray with all his party opposed this

motion and proposed to march back to their Camp and wait for their

Reinforcement and this was agreed to.

Our Brave General however had Intelligence of all their motions and in

his turn surprised them by getting pretty near them befor they were

awar.

The Business begun with cannonading on both sides and the Dukes being

better served than that of the Rebells did great Execution.

The Laird of McClachlan had his abdomen laid upon his horse neck by a

cannon bullet. The Frasers McDonalds and Camerons opposed our left who

met with a very fiery and bloody rebuke.

They attempted to break the left sword in hand, but our men stood so

firm that the first line laid all dead at their feet who approach't them

and the 2d and 3d chargeing again made a most dismal havock.

The Horse and Dragoons who were placed in the wings flanked the right

and left and met in the center of the Rebell Army and then it became an

universal rout and the Argyleshire Militia behaved with bravery in the

action and activity in the pursuit.

The victorious Duke entered Inverness triumphantly where the Irish

Brigade surrendered themselves prisoners of war. A Kings Messenger from

Inverness brings an account that 4000 Rebells ly dead on the field.

That they are dayly bringing in such numbers of prisoners that the

prison and churches cannot contain them. Two sheets of paper full of the

names of the kill'd and prisoners is come to Edin(burgh) and I fancy

will soon be made publick.

Tis said the Duke of Perth Lord John his Brother, the Viscount

Strathallen and Lochiel are among the dead. The Earl of Cromarty Lord

Kilmarnock Secretarie Murray are among the prisoners. Lady Ogilvie Lady

Gord, McIntosh and Mrs Murray are made prisoners the last is near her

down lying, tis no wonder if she run mad when she had a young Rebell in

her Belly, and possibly of Royal Extract.

All the Rebells arms magazines and stores are fallen into the Dukes

hands. So we may well think the Rebellion has got a mortal stroke. On

our side 50 were killed and 200 wounded.

Coll. Rich has lost a hand. With so small a loss Prince William our

Glorious Deliverer has got as compleat a victory as ever was known. I

offer my kind service to your better half and all with you and with

great esteem and just regard, subscribe myself.

Your most affect.

humble servant

Will: Warden