Yet both grenadier and highlander, the heroes of Minden, the heirs to the glory of Marlborough's campaigns, as well as the sinewy soldiers who shared in the charges of Prestonpans and Culloden, proved helpless when led against the dark tribesmen of the forest.

On the march they could not be trusted thirty yards from the column without getting lost in the woods[16]--the mountain training of the highlanders apparently standing them in no stead whatever,--and were only able to get around at all when convoyed by backwoodsmen.

In fight they fared even worse.

The British regulars at Braddock's battle, and the highlanders at Grant's defeat a few years later, suffered the same fate.

Both battles were fair fights; neither was a surprise; yet the stubborn valor of the red-coated grenadier and the headlong courage of the kilted Scot proved of less than no avail.