OS1/19/10/114

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 114
Parish of Fetteresso

[continued from page 113]
found, about four feet long, and in the inside Small Urns, containing a little earth. I have dug
to the foundations of many of the Small heaps, but never found either bones or urns. Their numbers
and appearance with that of the large cairns and the Urns found in them, leave not the least room
to doubt, but a battle has been fought in that place, and from the disposition of the tumuli, it appears
clear, that they who made the attack must have come from the South, and prevailed. If we Suppose the
Roman army to have marched from the camp at B, by the dotted line A, and that they were obliged to pass
between the morasses at C, it is impossible the Caledonians could have occupied a more favourable spot
to oppose them than the South Side of the Kempstonehill. By extending their flanks to the two morasses,
they were absolutely secure every where, excepting in front. I suppose the Roman General to have prevailed, and
the Caledonians to have been driven to the woods and bogs (now mosses) in the neighbourhood, which continue
for miles, at VVVVVV, and at that time is Supposed to have been all woods. The Roman General might for various
reasons, have been unable to pursue the advantages he had gained, and chosen to encamp upon the Garnithill
or Raedykes, at D, which is about two miles from the former place, and an eminence which commands a
prospect of the whole neighbourhood. There is a clear passage to it by the dotted line at the letter A. This camp
as I observed before, contains, as I suppose, about one hundred acres, has several gates, three of which are here
described at F,F,F, and covered by three redoubts at GC,GC,G, with an advanced post at H. there is a Druid temple
to the north-west at E. The line of circumvallation is rather slight, excepting to the east, where the ditch is very
deep, and the rampart formed by the earth high, and fronts the bogs, which have been woods, at YYY, where the
enemy seem to have retired. There are many reasons to Suppose this camp to have been Roman. It is situated
in the east end of the Gampian Hills, which here continue to the Sea, at UUU, it is the easiest part where
these mountains Could be passed, and appears to be the camp of an invader, who has proceeded eastward
through Strathmore, towards the Sea, as, I am informed, three camps nearly of the same form have been
discovered [continued on page 115]