A True and Real ACCOUNT Of the DEFEAT of GENERAL BUCHAN, And BRIGADEER CANNON, Their High-land Army, at the Battle of Crombdell; upon the 1st of May; 1690.  
Conform to a Letter, sent by Sir Thomas Livingston Colonel of a Regiment of Dragoons to Major General Mackay, giving a particular Account of the said Defeat; with a List of the Officers taken at the said Battle, and at the Castle of Lethen-Dee.  
Licenced May 8th. 1690.  
Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Anno Dom. 1690.   

A true Account of the Battle at Crombdell, May 1st. 1690. conform to this Letter, is, as followeth.  
Honoured Sir,  
AS I have in several Letters before, given you nothing but ill News, so I am glad I have now the occasion of sending you somewhat better: The General Buchan, and Brigadeer Cannon, with his Highland Army, having for a while marched up and down this Country, increased as a Snowball daily, which affrighted and discouraged the Country so far, that upon Sunday last, I resolved to march out of Inverness, with a Detatchment of four hundred men of Sir James Leslies, six Companies of Grants, the Highland Company of Captain Mackay, three Troops of my Dragoons, and my Lord Yester's Troop of Horse, and Camped that Night near Brodie, where I was forced to stay two days, for my Baggage Horses coming in very slow from the Country, as likewise for the three other Troops of Dragoons from Elgin, and Captain Burnet's of Horse: The Enemy was at this time at Strathspey, threatening to Slay and Burn all that would not join; whereupon I resolved the thirtieth of April, about twelve 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 Lochaber may be, till at last, by two a Clock in the morning we got to Ball-Chastle, where being arrived, we discovered by the Enemy's Fires their Camp, I informed myself of the Nature of the Ground, and the depth of the River, and notwithstanding they told me, the Ground was somewhat Boggish, I form a Design to Attack them by surprise, for they did not know of my being arrived, but my Men and Horse being so extremely wearied, I gave them about half an hour to refresh themselves, after which time, I called the Officers together, and told them my 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 the last man, and desired earnestly to go on; I having got Guides by this time in readiness, we passed the River by three a Clock in the morning, at one Ford, where there was a Church, the Enemy keeped a strong Guard, where I sent some Foot, and a few Dragoons, to Fire upon them, and Amuse them, and in the mean time past the River an another Ford, below it, two Troops of Dragoons, and Captain Mackay's Highland Company was already passed before the Enemy perceived us, and then we see them run in Parties up and down, not knowing which way to turn themselves, being surprised, so I commanded all the Horse and Dragoons to join, and pursued them, which affrighted them, so that they took themselves to the Hills; and at the foot of Crombdel we overtook them, attacked them, killing betwixt three and four hundred 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 〈◊〉 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 undermined them, which they finding, surrendered themselves to the King's mercy: Buchan got off, without Hat, Coat, or Sword, and was seen that day, and in that posture, in Glenlivet, very much Fatigued, carried in a Cousin's House of his; Cannon got away in his Nightgown, Dumfermling had gone from them about some business the day before.  
We have taken all their Baggage and Ammunition, and the Soldiers have got more considerable Plunder, as I thought, they carried about with them. Their King and Queen's Standard, where they cited the Country people to repair to, are taken; there are said to be people of note, that are killed, but of this, I can give you no certain account, being that when we came to visit them, they were all naked, by what we could judge, there was some appearance of it.  
The resolution and forwardness of all the Troops is admirable; and although the Foot could not get up to us, they marched after us with as great diligence as possible.  
It is remarkable, that in this whole business there is not one man lost, three or four wounded; but not dangerously either, and about a dozen of Horses, but many Horses disabled. This night we have had one of the severest that could be; I design to pursue this, and see if I can disperse what is of them yet together, which will be but a small number, being that they ran to all Arts; but the Wether is so horrible, that I fear I shall be obliged to give it over.  
I pray God this beginning of this Years Campaign may Prognosticat a blessing upon Their Majesty's Forces, so that an end may be made of this troublesome War this Summer.  
I desire, Sir, you would send me immediately Orders what to do with the Prisoners, for at Inverness they cannot possibly be kept. Expecting your Honour's Orders, what you think fit shall be done further, I am extremely troubled to make the Horse subsist, and remain, Honoured Sir, Yours, etc.  
T. Livingstone.  
The Letter is directed thus, For the Honourable Major-General- Mackay, Commander in Chief of Their Majesty's Forces in Scotland.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
Captain Mackay and his High-land Company behaved very well: If, as Major Mackay says, that we can have more of them, it would not be amiss.  
After the business was over, we drank your Health in good Claret taken from the Rebels. The Narration is somewhat long, and lame, but it is the true and real Account of all. Here enclosed is a List of some of the Prisoners names, and some Papers that are taken. The Officers that are taken declare the High-land Army was betwixt fourteen and fifteen hundred.   


A List of Officers taken at the Battle of Crombdell, on the First of May, 1690.  
Capt. Huching.  
Capt. John Mcclean.  
Capt. Allan Mcclean.  
Capt. John Colloe.  
Leiutenant John Mcclean.  
Lieutenant Alex. haliburton.  
Coronet Andrew Baird.  
Ensign John Mcclean.  
Ensign John Mcnaughton:  
Charles Cornwell Volunteer.   

Officers taken in the Castle of Lethen-dee.  
Capt. James Buchan.  
Capt. Brown.  
Leiutenant Scratcher.  
Leiutenant Middleton.  
Leiutenant Brawdie.  
Leiutenant Sewell.  
Leiutenant Auchinmootie.  
Leiutenant Drummer.  
Ensign Dunbar.  
Ensign Ross.   
Many more Gentlemen are taken, who will not own themselves Officers.  
FINIS.