OS1/25/42/16D

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 16d

Memo. [Memorandum]
The account of the Battle "ad montem Grampium" is to be found in Tacitus' Life of Agricola Sections 35 to 38 - of which a good translation is given by Gordon in Vol [Volume] 4. Pages 104 to 108. 5 Edn [Edinburgh]. The subject is well discussed in the foot notes to the Parish of Clunie Pages 259 to 264. Vol. [Volume] 9 of the Old Statistical Account of Scotland, and in those to the Parish of Bendothy Pages 367 to 379 of Vol. [Volume] 19 and where reference is also made to the historian Boethius, and to notes by a Mr. Cant published [in] Perth in 1774 mentioning the scene near Blairgowrie as the most likely place where Agricola fought Galgacus. The arguments in favour of this locality establish probably as strong a case for the site of this celebrated Battle as can be adduced for any elsewhere. The nature of the ground suits well the incident of the battle as described by Tacitus; the remarkable vallum stretching for upwards of 2 miles between the Tay and the Isla, enclosing a large defensible position for the Roman Encampment, and realising the language Legiones " pro vallo stetere"; the existence of a Camp or fortified Town of the Britons on rising ground opposed and where the succession of remarkable ridges ("Garry Drums") answer to the "Colles" of Jacitus. The warlike name of the district "Stourmont" and strong local tradition, evidenced also in names, for having been the scene of a great struggle with the teeming remains of a prehistoric settlement where it is only reasonable to suppose that the inhabitants would have made a desperate stand; the discovery of Roman Coins, Armour Spurs, Bronze weapons &c, and remains of sepulchral mounds innumerable.
[Signed] J Bayly
Lt.Col. R.E. [Lieutenant Colonel Royal Engineers]