Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair - After Culloden

After Culloden

In the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden, both he and his elder brother Angus sheltered for a time amongst the woods and lands of their own country. As the search for the prince intensified it became a necessity for him to take his family into the hills as his house was plundered by redcoats. Even the family cat was killed lest it might provide food for his wife and children.

According to Bishop Robert Forbes,

"Captain MacDonald and his wife and children wandered through hills and mountains until the act of indemnity appeared, and in the time of their sulking from place to place his poor wife fell ill with child, which happened to be a daughter, and is still alive."

Bishop Forbes also described him as follows,

"He is a very smart, acute man, remarkably well skilled in the Erse, for he can both read and write the Irish language in its original character, a piece of knowledge almost quite lost in the Highlands of Scotland, there being exceedingly few that have any skills at all that way. For the Captain told me that he did he did not know any other person (old Clanranald excepted) that knew anything of the first tongue in its original character.... Several of the Captain's acquaintances have told me that he is by far the best Erse poet in Scotland, and that he has written many songs in the pure Irish."

After the '45 Alasdair became the bailie of Canna during the summer of 1749 and remained there with his family until 1751, when he travelled to Edinburgh with the purpose of publishing his volume of poems entitled: Ais-Eiridh na Sean Chánoin Albannaich — "The Resurrection of the Ancient Scottish Language." It has been written that, "It is very characteristic of his reckless courage that he published these poems, breathing rebellion in every line, and pouring the vials of his wrath upon the whole race of the Georges, five years after the battle at Culloden."

It was likely during this time that he composed the poem, An Airce "The Ark," a biting satire aimed at the Whigs of Clan Campbell. Beginning with the conventions of Aisling poetry, the poet describes a meeting with the ghost of a beheaded Campbell Jacobite who then tells him that the Clan will soon be punished for committing high treason against their lawful King, first being visited by the Ten Plagues of Egypt and then by another Great Flood upon their lands.

The poet is instructed to emulate Noah by building another Ark for carefully selected Campbell Jacobites. The moderates will be welcomed aboard the Ark's decks after being purged of their Whiggery by swallowing a dose of seawater. Campbell redcoats are to be tied with millstones and thrown overboard. A female poet of the clan who had mocked Prince Charles and accused him of illegitimacy was to be treated to a fitting punishment before being delivered right into the poet's mercy.

Ma Thig a bhan-bhárd na d'lionamh

Ostag mhío-narach an an Obain,

Ceanagail achdair r'i do bhrandi,

Go bi toirt dram do'n a rónamh:

Ach ma chinnis i na Jonah

'S a sluggadh beo le muic-mhara:

Go meal i a cairstealan fheólain;

Ach a sgeith air córsa Chana.

"If the poetess comes into your nets,

The shameless little female pub-keeper from Oban,

Tie an anchor of brandy to her

To give a dram to the seals.

"But if she becomes a Jonah,

And is swallowed alive by a whale,

May she enjoy her fleshy quarters

Provided she be spewed up on the coast of Canna."