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In 1688 Parliament declared that James II had forfeited the throne by
fleeing to France and offered the crown to his son-in-law William of
Orange. William had landed on the south of England on 5th November with
a Dutch army in order to defend protestant liberties. In Scotland, John
Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, known to history as 'Bonnie
Dundee' raised his standard in support of the deposed Stuart king and
raised an army in the highlands.
Introduction
After the
successful revolution of 1688 William and Mary, James II daughter, were
confirmed as joint monarchs in 1689. The supporters of James II were
known as Jacobites, which comes from the Latin word for James – Jacobus.
Jacobite ambitions were not restricted to Scotland and James II, his son
James Francis Edward (the Old Pretender) and Charles Edward (the Young
Pretender) were just as keen, if no more so, at regaining the English
throne, seeing Scotland largely as a stepping stone to secure the
southern realm. After all England was one of the foremost powers in
Europe.
Scotland was
a poor country at the end of the 17th century, the economy and
agriculture stunted by decades of war. Roads were rough and transport by
land difficult and the growth of trade was hampered by the lack of ships
and properly developed harbours. Lowland areas had particularly suffered
during the religious troubles while the highlands, often seen as lawless
and barbaric by the ‘peaceful’ and ‘sophisticated’ lowlander, had
largely been left to manage their own affairs.
The
highlands and lowlands were separated by more than geography. Lowland
areas had more in common with the English. The highlanders spoke Gaelic
rather than English, their dress and traditions were distinct, such as
wearing the plaid and the playing of the bagpipes, clan organisation was
paternalistic and militaristic. This is not to say that the highlands
were any less cultured or advanced than the lowlands, only that it was
seen that way in the lowlands.
The lowlands
were also predominantly Protestant while there were still areas in the
highlands which were Roman Catholic.
The
Rebellion of 1689
 John
Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, had gone north to rally support
for James. Claverhouse, as James’s lieutenant general, raised an army,
mostly composed of MacDonald's, Cameron's, Stewarts and MacLean's. Among
the army was the 18 year old Rob Roy MacGregor, renowned for his skill
with the broadsword.
Claverhouse
was a professional soldier having served in France and the Netherlands.
While in Dutch service it is said that he saved the life of William of
Orange, then the Prince of Orange and now his rival. Upon his return to
Scotland he was put in charge of a troop of dragoons charged with
enforcing compliance with the established religion. This brought him
into conflict with the Covenanters who have him the nickname 'Bluidy
Clavers', although he urged moderation believing that severe punishment
would only alienate rather than convert.
Early on in
the campaign Dundee managed to capture a government messenger and
learned that the government commander, General Hugh Mackay of Scourie, a
former colleague of Dundee’s was at hand with three regiments of foot
and one of horse. Foiling his plan to capture the rebels Dundee made a
run for Castle Gordon where the Earl of Dunfermline and a body of gentry
came in.
At
Dalwhinnie he issued a summons in the name of his king bidding the
clansmen to muster at Lochaber on 18th May and then slipping past
Mackay, he ambushed government tax collectors at Perth and diverted
their funds to the Jacobite cause. Having discouraged some local lairds
from raising men for King William he attempted to reach the men of his
old regiment stationed at Dundee, the proposed defection was however
baulked by the watchful eyes of the Williamite troopers.
MacKay had
been reinforced by a further pair of foot battalions and felt strong
enough to take the initiative. On 9th June Government dragoons engaged
300 MacLean's marching to join the Jacobite army, and sharp encounter
saw the dragoons put to flight, leaving most of their weapons and gear
behind. Despite this success and even Dundee’s charisma nothing could be
done to stop the increasing number of desertions as the clansmen, laden
with loot, slipped back homeward.
 For
the next month there was little activity. Dundee resisted an offer of
truce and was declared and outlaw with £20,000 on his head. He wrote a
letter to Lord John Murray castellan at Blair Castle, which he held for
his absent father the Marquis of Atholl, urging the young peer to
declare for the king. The castle was of considerable strategic value and
its loss to either side would be a grievous blow. Its was feared by
Dundee that Murray’s sympathies lay with William of Orange so he decided
to play safe by ordering the Marquis’s factor Stewart of Ballochie, a
known Jacobite, to raise the Athollmen and seize control. The value of
Blair was not lost on MacKay who chivvied his battalions on to win the
race that was fast developing. It was Dundee who won, reaching the
castle on 26th July with some 2,500 men. Mackay was left struggling past
Dunkeld his force numbering 4000.
The Battle of Killiecrankie
(27th July
1689)
At Blair the
Jacobites held a council of war. Through they commanded the castle the
government troops were known to be fast approaching and many of the clan
chiefs urged caution preferring to refuse battle until all of the
scattered clans had come in. Dundee was more bullish stressing his men’s
high morale and found support from Lochiel, the most respected of the
clan leaders. The highlanders girded themselves for battle.
The
following dawn Mackay marched out of Dunkeld and by mid-morning the army
was approaching the pass of Killiecrankie, a narrow and treacherous
defile, enough to cause alarm to any commander or regular troops. The
track, little more than a pathway, wound for two miles through the pass
and, after a halt of two hours, the troops began the long assent.
Once clear
of the pass, MacKay made his headquarters at the nearby Urrard House and
deployed his battalions to meet Dundee’s expected attack. On the Extreme
left he posted a commanded party of shot under Lt Colonel Landers. Next
to these stood the regiments of Balfour, Ramsey and Kenmure. The Cavalry
formed the centre and Leven's together with MacKay's own and Hastings
stood on the right.
Battle Map,
Click to enlarge
On the right
of the Jacobite line stood the Macleod's and next to them an Irish unit
under Colonel Cannon, and then came the might of clan Donald, men of
Clan Ranald, Glengarry and Glencoe flanked by Grants of Glenmoriston. In
there centre there was a bare 40 mounted men under Walter of Craighie
while on the left stood Cameron of Lochiel, MacLean's, MacDonald's of
Kintyre the McNeil's and MacDonald of Sleat.
Whilst the
sun shone brightly in the eyes of his highlanders Dundee’s would not
advance. MacKay began a cannonade with his light guns, after a short
time the guns, under strain, disintegrated. No casualties were inflicted
on the Jacobite line. At 8.00pm when the fierce glare of the summer sun
began to wane, Dundee shouted the charge. Concerned that his line might
be outflanked MacKay had divided his foot battalions. To compound this
folly he allowed a distinct gap to appear in the centre replying solely
on his cavalry to hold the centre.
 As
the Jacobites hurled their slogans skimmed fleet-footed towards the
Williamites the lie of the ground caused them to edge to the right
exposing them to devastating enfilade from MacKay's right. His regiment,
Hastings and half of Levens avoided the furry of the onslaught. On the
left however the charge struck home, the raw levies parrying swinging
broadswords with clumsy bayonets, the evening air ringing to the clash
of steel. Lauders fusiliers, Balfour's and half of Ramsey’s broke,
spewing a torrent of fugitives fleeing the merciless blades. In
desperation MacKay hurled his squadrons against the highlanders flank
but Belhaven’s troop were flung back their rout disordering Kenmure’s
shaken foot who, in turn, dissolved in flight.
Mackay
managed a fighting retreat with as many men as he could muster, the
dazed survivors falling back through the pass in the gathering dusk
making for Stirling. Behind he left more than half his force, some 2000
men, dead or taken.
The victors
had also suffered. The opening volleys had torn great gaps in their
ranks and as many as 600 had fallen, including Sir Donald MacDonald of
Sleat. Amongst their loss was one who was irreplaceable, Dundee himself.
Observing the attack on the left in difficulty he spurred towards his
staled clansmen and as he did so a random shot, probably one of the
last, struck him in the side. He fell and died shortly afterwards. John
Graham had died at the moment of his greatest victory and with him died
the Stuart cause in Scotland, for as Lochiel had predicted, there was no
one who could take his place.
The End of the Rebellion
Command of the Jacobite army fell to colonel cannon who
advanced the army down the valley of the Tay heading for
Perth. At Dunkeld their way was barred by a force of
1200 covenanters led by Lt Colonel William Cleland.
In the early hours of 21st August the Jacobites attacked
the town from all sides. The covenanters fought back
doggedly. When they had ran out of ammunition they began
to strip the lead from the roof of the cathedral and as
they were forced back set fire to the houses they
passed.
Cleland made a final stand around the cathedral and
Dunkeld house repeatedly fighting off Jacobite attacks.
Cleland took a fatal shot to the head, just as the
highlanders were withdrawing.
The following year was to be a fatal one for the
Jacobite cause. In Ireland king James was defeated at
the battle of the Boyne and was again forced to flee to
France. His Scottish army mustered again, led by Thomas
Buchan. At the beginning of May the government forces
led by Mackay, who was still in command, surprised the
Jacobites in camp near Cromdale. Over 400 prisoners were
taken although both Cannon and Buchan escaped. With
this, 'The Rout of Cromdale', the rebellion came to an
inglorious conclusion.
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