1st February 1692 saw troops move south from Fort William and billeted with the MacDonalds at Glencoe.
When the MacDonalds saw the redcoats marching over their valley it must have been quite a shock, however they were under the protection of Fort William garrison and had no reason to fear these soldiers. Instead at the company’s request to be billeted, they welcomed them into their homes and gave them food and drink.
Glenlyon told the Chief they were collecting taxes from each clan, by order of Colonel Hill. He could even produce papers to that effect. This satisfied the MacDonalds. The captain, Glenlyon, was billeted in the Clan Chief’s own house. Glenlyon’s niece was married to the Chief of the MacDonalds youngest son, and Glenlyon also visited daily with his niece and her new family. The rest of the company were billeted in homes up and down the valley about 3 or 4 to a house. Unknown to Clan MacDonald fatal danger now lay within the heart of each home.
The second pic shows the original order sent to Captain Robert Campbell, instructing him to kill the MacDonalds of Glencoe. He was to spare none below the age of seventy. The resulting massacre is remembered not just for its premeditated brutality but for its violation of an unwritten code of conduct: the perpetrators of the deed had enjoyed the hospitality of their victims for twelve days before turning on them. The transcript reads in full:
You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebells, the McDonalds of Glenco, and put all to the sword under seventy. you are to have a speciall care that the old Fox and his sones doe upon no account escape your hands, you are to secure all the avenues that no man escape. This you are to putt in execution att fyve of the clock precisely; and by that time, or very shortly after it, I’ll strive to be att you with a stronger party: if I doe not come to you att fyve, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on. This is by the Kings speciall command, for the good & safety of the Country, that these miscreants be cutt off root and branch. See that this be putt in execution without feud or favour, else you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to King nor Government, nor a man fitt to carry Commissione in the Kings service. Expecting you will not faill in the full-filling hereof, as you love your selfe, I subscribe these with my hand att Balicholis Feb: 12, 1692
For their Majesties service(signed) R. Duncanson
To Capt.Robert Campbell of Glenlyon
I shall pick up the story again on the 13th