Battle of Inverurie (1745)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Date	December 23, 1745
Location	Inverurie, Scotland
Result	Jacobite Victory

Combatants

British Army

Jacobite Forces

Commanders

MacLeod of MacLeod

Lord Lewis Gordon

Strength

500 men

1100 men and 5 Cannon

Casualties

unknown dead and wounded. About 50 taken prisoner.

unknown

Second Jacobite Rising
Highbridge – Prestonpans – 1st Carlisle – Clifton – 2nd Carlisle – Inverurie – Falkirk – Culloden

The second Battle of Inverurie took place on December 23rd 1745, part of the Jacobite Uprisings in Scotland. (The first was the Battle of Inverurie (1308) during the Wars of Scottish Independence).

1 Background
2 The Battle
3 Aftermath
4 External links

[edit] Background

Lord Lewis Gordon had been raising Jacobite forces and had been succesful enough that he had raised two battalions. One battalion was commanded by James Moir of Stoneywood and the other under Gordon of Abbachy. Lord Lewis Gordon had also raised a considerable sum of money, notwithstanding that his views were much thwarted by his brother the Duke of Gordon who at the time was supportive of the British Government.

To put an end to Lord Lewis Gordon's Jacobite recruitment John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun who was the Kings commander in chief in the North despatched the Laird MacLeod of MacLeod from Inverness with 500 men of the Clan MacLeod. MacLeod was followed by George Munro of Culcairn with 200 men from the Clan Munro and the Laird of Grant with 500 men of the Clan Grant.

Lord Lewis Gordon orderd his men to fall back to Aberdeen where he was joined by a number of men from Forfarshire and Kincardineshire. He was also joined by Lord Drummon's french troops who had just landed in Montrose. He was also joined by 300 men of the Clan Farquharson as well as his own two battalions under James Moir of Stoneywood.

[edit] The Battle

The Laird of Grant fearing for his own country (territory) decided to return home with all of his forces and the Munro of Culcairn took post at a safe place called Oldmeldrum. MacLeod however thought otherwise, he advanced and occupied the city of Inverness, 16 miles north of Aberdeen. Lord Lewis Gordon on hearing of MacLeod's incautious movement was determined to attack his opponent.

Lord Lewis Gordon moved from Aberdeen on 23rd December with 1100 men and 5 pieces of cannon which had been taken off a ship in the harbour. With the main body of his army he crossed the Bridge of Don and took the route by Fintray up the left bank of the river, while he sent a detachment of 300 men, French and others, by the Tyrebagger road, the usual road to Inverurie, so as to deceive the enemy with regard to the true point of attack.

At about four o'clock in the afternoon the French party who had marched by the right bank of the River Don dashed into the river and waded across. They then attacked the enemy on the south-west side of Inverurie. Lord Lewis Gordon then immediately crossed the River Urie on the east side of the town near Inverurie Church and attacked the town from there where the enemy was taken completely by surprise.

The MacLeod's opened fire from the ditches and from behind walls. They were outnumbered and being vigerously pressed they gave way and retreated being pushed back to Eglin. The chief of MacLeods got his men together and while retreating fought by the moonlight.

[edit] Aftermath

Many of MacLeods men were killed and about fifty were taken prisoner including two of his main allies who were a Gordon, the younger son of Gordon of Ardoch and Forbes of Echt. Also taken prisoner was John Chalmers, formerly Principal and Professor of King's College, Aberdeen. Most of the MacLeods including their chief retreated safely back to their own country.

Another man taken prisoner by the Jacobites was Duncan Ban MacCrimmon who was said to be the greatest of all Highland Pipers. As a mark of respect the Jacobite Pipers refused to play until he was released. The silence of the Jacobite pipers ensured his release and Duncan Ban rejoined the Government Hanoverians.