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The Steadings at the Grouse & Trout
Local History - Clach An Airm - Stone of Swords, an account of Culloden.
Picture
the scene. It is early morning on the 15th of April 1746. We are looking
at a prehistoric standing stone located on a wide, open landscape. Apart
from a few sprawling, mature Caledonian Scots Pine trees scattered at
random across the countryside, there is very little shelter from the
north-easterly breeze. The sky is dark and heavy and there is a feeling
of winter in the air even although it is springtime.
All around is a babble of sound. There are people here - a lot of people. All are speaking in the Gaelic language of their ancestors. There is a feeling of anticipation that something very important is soon to take place. Alongside the voices there is a continuous sound of metal scraping on stone. Men are lining up to take turns to sharpen swords, dirks and spikes on their highly decorated targes. This prehistoric stone is the focal point of attention. These men are preparing to do battle with an, as yet, distant enemy. It is important that they are prepared. Their lives may depend on how well they have sharpened their weapons. Clach an Airm has been used for centuries to sharpen swords, knives, domestic utensils and agricultural implements. Today is probably the most important day in its existence.
Clach an Airm is a colourful scene this morning. There are hundreds of men gathering together, dressed in the tartan garb of their forebears. The colours are those of various dyes derived from vegetation growing wild in their neighbourhood. A few of the people present are obviously men of some standing in the community. It is easy to tell - they are the ones wearing fine jackets, continental shirts with lace trim and expensive, decorative footwear.
They
are dressed for an occasion and many will look up to them for leadership
as they face the enemy tomorrow some seven miles to the north east.
Amongst them are Captain Angus MacKintosh of Farr, Captain Farquhar
MacGillivray of Dalcrombie and - the man who will lead the entire the
entire Clan Chattan regiment into battle - Colonel Alexander
MacGillivray of Dunmaglass. The officers of this clan regiment are
important men from important families in Strathnairn and surrounding
areas. Their whole demeanour effuses authority - and today their
authority will count for more than ever before.
The great majority of people here are not so well dressed, however. They are clothed in a simple but uniform attire - the long woollen plaid combining to form the philimore and the philibeg (many different tartans and many different colours - there tends to be some similarity of colours and patterns within most family groups), a course homespun shirt and the distinctively Highland bonnet. The lucky ones have shoes - many are simply barefoot.
Clach An Airm
