Even in that extremity Mackay retained all his selfpossession.
He had still one hope.

A charge of horse might recover the day; for of horse the bravest Highlanders were supposed to stand in awe.

But he called on the horse in vain.
Belhaven indeed behaved like a gallant gentleman: but his troopers, appalled by the rout of the infantry, galloped off in disorder: Annandale's men followed: all was over; and the mingled torrent of redcoats and tartans went raving down the valley to the gorge of Killiecrankie.
Mackay, accompanied by one trusty servant, spurred bravely through the thickest of the claymores and targets, and reached a point from which he had a view of the field.

His whole army had disappeared, with the exception of some Borderers whom Leven had kept together, and of Hastings's regiment, which had poured a murderous fire into the Celtic ranks, and which still kept unbroken order.

All the men that could be collected were only a few hundreds.