Colonel James Masterton (1715-1777)
Soldier and Member of Parliament
Colonel James Masterton was a well-known member of the British establishment. He was a captain on the side of the government at the time of the third Jacobite rebellion (the '45) and took part in the Battle of Falkirk (1746) which ended in an embarrassing defeat for the British army but the rebels failed to take full advantage of their success. The final outcome of the rebellion was at Culloden where it is said that James Masterton was aide-de camp to the Duke of Cumberland (I have yet to confirm this). If so, he may well have fought against his cousin Francis Masterton who had "come out" for Bonnie Prince Charlie. In later life, James was promoted and became barrack-master for Scotland, based in Stirling and from 1768 to 1774 he was Member of Parliament for Stirling Burghs, a large constituency which included Dunfermline, Inverkeithing and North Queensferry as well as Stirling and Alloa.
Genealogy
James Masterton was a member of the prominent family of Mastertons with their family seat at Parkmill near Alloa. He was the son of John Masterton, a son of the Francis Masterton who was the author of "Remarques". For more details on James Masterton's extended family tree, click on this link
LETTER WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN JAMES MASTERTON AFTER THE BATTLE OF FALKIRK, 1746
-- Transcript made by Gordon Masterton of an original manuscript in the National Archives
Sir
Im sorry that the first news I have to write you should be an acct. of a Retreat but such as it is shall give you
the Matters of fact which I had occasion to be ey witness to as Genl. Hawley did me the Honour as make use of me
as his Aid De Campe since we left Newcastle, his Aid De Campe Capt. Forbes not being come up.
The 17th Inst. Rebels was within 5 miles of our camp at Falkirk, which made us be very allert all night and about morning had accts. of them moving towards us, at 12 before Noon we saw them Marching, and about 3 miles from us, upon which our men all stood to arms our Dragoons mounted and was formed in the front of the Camp in a Moment, upon which the Genl sent me to the Dragoons to March immediately up to him which was on a Hill. I Ordered Genl Munke to follow wt the foot in Two lines.
Then the Rebels made towards the left of us to a man ? Rising Ground on the ? of a Hill where they had the Wynd in their Backs which Blaw'd very hard and Rain'd, upon which the Genl. Ordered me to go to Lieut Col Whiteney (who was on the left of the whole as all our Dragoons were in Two lines) to Desire him to file more to the left that the Rebels might not outflank us and make Room for the foot to march up the Hill, upon wh. Lt Col. told me he could move no further for they were a Morrass on his left, and the time I was talking with him the Rebels fired upon our Dragoons about 60 yards Distance (it was then half one hour past 3) upon wh the Dragoons fired and pushed forward as if they had all to Nothing, but in less than a Minute the Dragoons on the left went Galloping down the Hill, fairly ran away, which struck such a panick into our foot, that the whole second line gave way, (wh. was not in fire and am persuaded half the first line did not fire) for such panick God keep me from ever seeing again that our forces was in) the Rebels pursued down the Hill about quarter of a mile and ? Dragoons had very near rode down Genl. Hawly, he Drew his pistol and endeavoured to Rally them but threats and fair words would not do for they never stoped till they got to Camp wh. was a good Mile Distant, Genl. Munke and Brigdr. Cholmondeley continued wt what would stay with them (wh. was only Barrel's Regt. ????????? foot wt Lieut. Col. Stanhope, which was not more than 200 men and some few Remains of other Regts. and with them they kept the whole Rebels in play near one hour & drove them a good way up the Hill, but it being now Dark they retreated down to Ql. Camp, wh. was mostly gone with the Bow ???, it power'd wt Rain, Blew hard, the ammunition all spoiled, so it was thought proper to return to Linlithgow which was Six Miles, next Day it continued Raining our Amunition all spoiled so it was thought proper to return here 20 Miles from the field. And ql Rebels mostly returned to Stirling 6 miles from ql field the part of them stayed in Falkirk qh town where our Camp was, had the Night been fair we had not retreated from our Camp, or had we had two hours more Day light, I believe our Men would have recovered the panick, or had they been 4 Battalions like Barrel's Regt. Its my sincere opinion we had entirely Defeat them, in short the thing will make a Great Noise but in fact we have sustained little loss, for the Highest Computation I can make we have not 300 men killed taken or wounded.
Amongst qh killed and missing is Sir Robt. Monro, Lieut. Col. Whiteney, Biggar, Major Lockhart, 5 Capts. and about 8 subs. Liet. Col. Jordan of Cobhams Dragoons was shott in qh Belly the Ball taken out, and I had a 14 guinea horse Shott under me, we lost 7 of our 10 cannon, our cannon could not act, and those Cannon being left, I think was owing to the bad Conduct of Capt. Cunninghame, qh Old Man of qh Train our Capt Cunninghame was Shott threw the Leg.
Lt. Semple is since come her wt his Regt and the Scots fusiliers, in my Oppinion we shall march from this in 10 days more, and be in better order than, than we was at qh Engagement had we not moved they durst not to have Attacked us, our Dragoons suffered Greatly Cobhams behaved pretty well, but qh other two Regts. Were I a King I would break them for ane example, for those Dogs will never fight, we have taken prisoner one Major McDonald and Three more Highlanders, & I believe for every Man we had killed the Rebels lost 3, and In ??? we was (in my Opinion) 1/3 more Number than them, they outflanked our left but their Right was not further than the Center of our foot, one thing I must say for thou ???? that they were Drawn up in Extream good order in Two lines And their work in the Center which Composed a Kind of Third line in their rear, their prince as they call him was there and I assure you I saw tham all very plain both from Right to left and am sure was no more 1/3 more, you may lay the Greater Shame to us, but Man could not do more than Genl Hawley did, qh Only fault was our moving to them for they marched so quick got the Advantage of the Ground, and all our foot hung on the Lee of ane Ugly hill like a Hinging pair of Stairs, for none but our Dragoons was on the Top of the Hill, but qh reason of qh Genl. Marching was endeavouring to get the windward & to qh Top of the Hill. However I hope in less than 14 Days to have qh pleasure of writing you of their entire Destruction, for had they been Good for anything, the panick our Troops was in, they might have made Great Advantage but I don't find they have made any, more than our 7 Cannon wh was 2 of 6 pounders, 4 of 4 pounders, & a Galloper 2 Ryals & 2 Can wt. Some powder. I have my own fears of Stirling ?? wh may ???? their Retreat over qh firth, but Genl ????ney will make them fight it Inch, by Inch.
Col. Campbell came to Falkirk wt 950 Highlanders qh Morning of qh 10th and took a very good post opposite to our camp and about half a Mile to the Right of the whole Army which hindered a body that they had (I suppose to make an Camp) from Advancing further but am Afraid one Camp of Your Highlanders is prisoners they being on ane Advanced part & by some stupidity had not ??? their body, was expect in 2 days about 1000 more of the ArgileShire Highlanders.
I am wt great respect & esteem
Yr most obedt & obliged Humble Servt
Jas Masterton
Edinburgh
Janry 21 1745/46
Lieut. Col. Powel is killed, & poor Capt. Thornton Amissing