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 The
Battle of Killiecrankie was fought between highland Scottish clans
supporting James II and government troops (mostly lowland Scots, often
incorrectly labeled "English") supporting William of Orange on July 27,
1689, during the Glorious Revolution. Although it was a stunning victory
for the Jacobites, it had little overall effect on the outcome of the war
and with their leader dead, their forces were scattered at the Battle of
Dunkeld the next month.
After William of Orange deposed James II, the Scots were divided on what
to do. The Stuart line had sat at the head of the combined
Scottish/English throne for some 300 years, and had not caused them
problems. Furthermore his throne was lost primarily because he was a
Catholic, as were many Scots. A convention was called in Edinburgh and it
was decided to accept William and Mary, both Protestants, as their King
and Queen to maintain the joint throne. In addition it was declared that
the Church of Scotland was officially Presbyterian, and unlike the church
in England, the Scottish throne had no direct control over it.
A number of people, notably Catholic highlanders, decided this was
insult enough, in particular John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee.
When summoned to the convention, he refused to attend, and instead he left
for the highlands in order to raise an army. Calling themselves Jacobites,
Latin for James, they planned to restore James to the throne of Scotland.
Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, Chief of Clan Cameron, set about
forming a confederation of highland clans loyal to James as soon as
William had arrived in England. When Dundee raised the Royal standard for
James at Lochaber, Ewen estimated he was likely to receive about 1,800 men
and a few cavalry.
They soon learned that a governmental force of about 3,500, led by
General Hugh Mackay of Scourie, had been raised in the lowlands and was
marching for Inverness. Dundee was determined to intercept Mackay near
Blair Atholl, astride the road through the hills that Mackay would have to
pass. Many of the clans had not arrived yet, but he set out anyway and
ordered them to follow "with all haste." Ewen himself also had a force of
about 240 Camerons with him at the time, and tried to catch up while he
dispatched his sons to raise support along the path of march. Ewen
overtook Dundee just before he reached Athole, where they were joined by
about 300 Irish, under the command of Major-General Cannon.
Dundee held a quick war council with those clan leaders that had arrived,
and then immediately set out for the field with his force, now numbering
about 2,400. He arrived at the pass before Mackay and set up position on a
ridge above the pass. When Mackay arrived they saw they had no hope of
attacking Dundee's force, they instead deployed in a line and started
firing on them with muskets.
The
Jacobite line was shorter than the Government, due to the disparity in
numbers, leaving Ewen in the middle with an open flank on the left. By the
time all of the forces were formed up it was late afternoon and the
Jacobites had the sun in their eyes, so they simply waited for sunset
under the desultory fire from Mackay's forces.
At seven o'clock Dundee gave the order to advance, at which point the
entirety of the Highlanders dropped their gear, fired what few muskets
they had, and charged. Mackay's forces, realizing the battle was on,
stepped up their rate of fire. Eventually the lines met and Mackay's men
in the center were "swept away by the furious onset of the Camerons." So
fast was the Jacobite charge that many Government troops had insufficient
time to fix their bayonettes, leaving them defenceless at close-quarters (bayonettes
of this period fitted into the barrel of the musket and prevented firing,
so had to be fixed before hand-to-hand fighting.) The battle soon ended
with the entirety of Mackay's force fleeing the field, quickly turning
into a rout that killed 2,000.
However, the cost of victory was enormous. About one-third of the
highlander force was killed, along with Dundee himself in a reckless
charge near the end of the battle when the day was already his. The latter
loss would prove fatal to the Jacobite cause
KILLIECRANKIE
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o?
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Cam' ye by Killiecrankie-o?
An' ye had been whaur I hae been
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o
An' ye had seen what I hae seen
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o
I fought at land, I fought at sea
At hame I fought my auntie-o
But I met the Devil and Dundee
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o
The bauld pitcur fell in a furr
And Clavers gat a crankie-o
Or I had fed an Athol gled
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o
Oh fie, MacKay, What gart ye lie
I' the brush ayont the brankie-o?
Ye'd better kiss'd King Willie's loff
Than come tae Killiecrankie-o
It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at Killiecrankie-o
Click Here To See The
Corries Sing This Song
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