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In 1645, when the affairs of Charles I. were
much on the decline in England, a vigorous effort was made for him in
Scotland by the Earl of Montrose. The services of this nobleman were no
sooner offered than accepted; his plan of operations as quickly adopted
as revealed. He was created Marquis of Montrose, and appointed
commander-in-chief in Scotland. On his arrival here, he was instantly
joined by several of the northern clans. A small army was raised. A
supply of 1500 foot came from the west coast, under the command of
Alexander MacDonald, son of a chieftain of Kintyre, to augment the
patriotic band. There were John Muidartach, with a company of brave
young men of his own country and kin, and Donald, his son, along with
them; the clan MacLean from Mull, the clan Gregor, and the Stewarts of
Appin. Montrose, putting himself at the head of this force, began his
operations in the north; and his success from the first was so rapid,
that, in the space of twelve months, he gained six victories, and
over-ran the greater part of Scotland. The first three conquests –
those at Tibormor, Aberdeen, and Inverlochy, were gained over tumultuary
armies, collected in haste, and headed by generals of no renown. His
progress, however, alarmed the Scottish Council; and they began to think
of a more regular plan of defence against an enemy whom they had
affected to despise. Indeed, Montrose’s name was now to the
covenanters a word of fear and exasperation; and a feeling became
general over the country that he must, if possible, be extinguished. In
many parts, the old covenanting spirit had not only been rekindled, but
burned vehemently; and armies were gathering fast in north and west, to
successfully secure his suppression. Montrose, alive to what was thus
brewing among the Whigs, resolved to strike a decided blow at the
existing army before it was further strengthened. Baillie and Urrey,
commanders of reputation, were sent forth by the committee of Estates to
crush him. Dividing their forces, they marched separately in quest of
his quarters. He had the dexterity, however, to turn their separation to
his advantage. Having totally routed Urrey at Aldern, he did the same to
Baillie at Alford, and marching towards the Forth, encamped at Tullibody.
Next day, passing by Stirling, not only
to avoid the castle, occupied by the covenanters, but a more dreadful
foe, the pestilence, then raging in the town, he crossed the Forth,
eight miles above, at the ford of Frew. After shortly halting to refresh
his men, at his estate of Dundaff, he encamped on the fields of Kilsyth;
and kept within the range of the Campsie Hills, where he could at any
time secure himself.
Baillie followed with such speed, that he
had encamped at Tullibody on the same evening his antagonist did at
Kilsyth. In return for certain outrages committed by Montrose’s troops
in the parishes of Dollar and Muckart, Argyll ordered the house of
Menstrie belonging to the Earl of Stirling, the king’s secretary, and
the house of Airthrey, the property of Graham of Braco, to be burned. He
sent a message to the Earl of Mar, threatening Alloa Castle with the
same calamity for the hospitality he had shown Montrose there recently.
The following day, Baillie, crossing the
Forth at Stirling, made a short halt at Cambusbarron, for some regiments
from Fife, who were a few miles behind. These, on their arrival, refused
to proceed; alleging that they had entered into the service only on
condition of not passing the limits of their own county. At last,
however, they were persuaded. The army proceeded to Denny, and hence to
Hollandbush, three miles east of Kilsyth.
Argyll, with a small body of troops, had
tarried that night at Stirling; but taking his route over the hills, and
crossing the Carron near Buckie-burn, at a ford still bearing his name,
soon joined the main body.
Although General Baillie was an officer
of known valour and experience, yet, in this expedition nothing was left
to his judgment. A committee of noblemen had been appointed, by the
general committee of Estates, constantly to attend him. The principal
members were, the Marquis of Argyll, the Earls of Crawford and
Tullibardin, the Lords of Elcho, Burleigh, and Balcarras, with some
others. Not much renowned for military talents, they had powers to
direct and control the general, in the route of the army, choice of
ground, and even arrangement of the troops in the hour of battle.
The committee, in the morning of the 15th
of August, determined to attack Montrose that day. Baillie was averse to
engage so soon; both because the troops, after so hasty a march, stood
in need of refreshment; and as he was desirous first to hear of the Earl
of Lanark, who had raised a considerable force in the western counties
against Montrose. Finding himself obliged, however, to yield to their
dictates, he put the army in motion; and, marching westward, through
corn-fields, and much irregular ground, soon came in sight of the enemy,
who, having got timeous intelligence, stood in battle array, and
rejoiced in the prospect of fighting, on ground selected by themselves,
and before the western levies could have arrived.
Baillie began to form in a situation the
most advantageous that the place afforded, near Auchincloigh two miles
east of Kilsyth; but the committee, dissatisfied, forced him to quit his
station, and take a hill more to the right. This motion gave a great
advantage to the royal army, by introducing unavoidable disorder among
the troops. Baillie’s limited powers could not execute any regular
plan; and his orders were so far from being strictly obeyed, that some
regiments took stations other than those assigned them.
Montrose’s army consisted of only 4,000
foot, with 500 horse, while that of his antagonist amounted to 6,000
foot, and 1,000 horse. But he had the choice and advantage of the
ground; and, being invested with the supreme command, had arranged his
troops in the best manner possible. In the warm summer morning, Montrose
ordered his men to strip to their shirts, that the broadsword might have
unencumbered play, and that they might not fail in the expected pursuit.
This gave rise to a tradition still current, that the army of Montrose
fought naked at Kilsyth. According to the Red Book of Clanronald,
written by a soldier in Montrose’s army, the cavalry had white shirts
above their garments; while the infantry were bare-footed, with their
shirts tied between their legs.
The battle at last began, in the valley
behind the town of Kilsyth, where Montrose waited for his enemy. The
field is now a small lake, or reservoir, for supplying water to works
adjoining; but sufficient of it is seen to show that it was most
suitable ground for Highland warfare. Two or three of Baillie’s
regiments commenced, by attempting to dislodge a party from the cottages
and gardens; but meeting with a very warm reception, were forced to
retire. A general engagement now took place, in a manner altogether
tumultuary. A thousand Highlanders in Montrose’s army, without waiting
for orders, marched up the hill to the charge. Though displeased with
their rashness, he dispatched a strong detachment for their support,
under the Earl of Airly; whose arrival not only preserved this resolute
corps from being overpowered by a superior force, but obliged the
covenanters to retreat. Accustomed to conquer, and placing absolute
confidence in their leader, the clans vied with each other in the
headlong impetuosity of their charge. All Montrose’s men had now
advanced, and, making a general assault, threw Baillie’s army into
such confusion, that he found it impossible to rally any part of them.
After having, during the action, exerted himself with all the activity
which his fettered situation allowed, he rode, full speed, to bring up
the reserve; but found that it had also fled.
A total rout ensued; and few of the foot
escaped either slaughter or capture. This was the most complete victory
Montrose had ever gained, and with the loss of only seven or eight of
his men. Three of these were Ogilvies, relations of the family of Airly.
This account appears incredible, from the different rencounters in the
field, and the brisk fire for a short while maintained by five of
Baillie’s regiments. Near the field of battle, on the south, lay a
large morass, called Dullater Bog, through the midst of which the Forth
and Clyde Canal now stretches. Several of Baillie’s cavalry, in the
hurry of flight, ran unawares into it, and perished. Both men and horses
have been dug up there, in the memory of people yet alive. As moss is
endowed with antiseptic qualities, the corpses were not greatly
consumed. One was found on horseback, with all his military
accoutrements, in the very posture in which he had sunk.
Montrose was now master of all the
country. Edinburgh, Glasgow, other towns, and several counties,
compounded with him for large sums.
Argyll, and the rest of the covenanting
nobility, fled to different places. Baillie, with such of his cavalry as
he could collect, repaired to Stirling. He was afterwards, by the
committee of Estates, called to account for the loss of the battle. He
vindicated himself; and was publicly declared to have acted conformably
to the direction of "the Field Committee." Argyll, a bad
soldier, appears to have dictated in name of this body. "My lord
marquis," writes Baillie, "asked me what next was to be done.
I answered, the direction should come from his lordship and those of the
committee. My lord demanded what reason was for that. I replied I found
myself so slighted in everything belonging to ane commander-in-chief,
that for the short time I was to stay with them I should absolutely
submit to their direction and follow it."
Baillie, though smarting with defeat,
seems, as a soldier, to have been struck with the splendid courage and
picturesque fierceness of the swift-footed mountaineers, as they came on
full speed, targets aloft, heads and shoulders bent low, in the literal
attitude of the tiger when he springs.
Clanronald’s bard, an actor, gives the
following account of the battle: - "Coming nigh to Kilsyth, after a
night march, they (the royal troops) encamped near the adjacent hills;
but, upon the morning of next day, they perceived the great host of the
enemy in pursuit of them. The royal army had no choice, but either to
break up their camp, and fly without bread and flesh, or fight this
great army. Upon which they immediately called a council of war of all
the officers and gentry, to consult whether they were to retreat, or
fight the enemy; but Montrose requested to have the opinion of the
soldiers of the whole army. The soldiers gave it as their opinion that
it would be much better for them to fight, though attended with danger,
than to be constantly retreating day and night. Upon which, Montrose
sent a trumpeter to the enemy, to acquaint them that he was ready to
give them battle. They set 3,000 pike and musket men in the front, in
three divisions, and 11,000 in battalions behind these. It may be easily
supposed what a hardship it was, for a small army to encounter them; for
the royal army were only 4,000 foot and 500 horse, barefooted, with
their shirt-tails tied between their legs; the cavalry had white shirts
above their garments. This brave heroic band marched to the attack, in
face of the enemy’s cannon and muskets, with great courage and
caution. The attack was begun by an excellent Irish and Scotch regiment
of Gaels. Major MacLauchlan went before, directed by Alexander
MacDonald. Other two regiments were ordered to their relief, the
MacLeans, and that of Donald son of Muidartach; but the MacLeans were
nearer the enemy, and were sooner in order than Clanronald. There fell
out some differences between Donald son of John Muidartach, and Donald
son of young Hector MacLean, about precedency; but the Clanronald made
their way through the MacLeans to the attack. Donald’s men, and
Patrick Caoch MacGregor’s men, made but one regiment. They gained the
trenches. Donald was the first man that leaped over them, and his men
followed; and by the rushing forward of the rest of the army, who
followed him close, the great army of the Covenanters was routed. They
continued, a great part of the day, killing and pursuing the
enemy." "What induced me," says the bard, "to write
this much is, that those who have written upon the wars have taken
little or no notice of the Gael, who were the principal people concerned
in it, and did all that was done on the king’s side." |
