The army was in retreat.
Ian Rullock, riding with a kinsman, Gordon, heard, up and down, an angry lamenting sound.

"Little do the clans like turning back!" "Hark! The chieftains are telling them it is for the best." "Is it for the best?
I do not like this month or aught that is done in it!" A week later they were at Lancaster; three days after that at Kendal.
Here Wade might have fallen upon them, but did not.

A day or two and the main column approached Penrith.

The no great amount of artillery was yet precious.

Heavy to drag over heavy roads, the guns and straining horses were left in the rear.