Battle of Bonar Bridge
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The Battle of Littleferry (also known as the Skirmish at Golspie, Battle of the Little Ferry, Battle of Bonar Bridge) took place during the Jacobite rising
in 1746, just before the Battle of Culloden
. Scottish forces loyal to the British government defeated a Scottish Jacobite force.
(who had changed his surname from Gordon to Sutherland) was loyal to the Hanoverian government, but he had not raised and armed his clan quickly enough to take action against Bonnie Prince Charlie. This led to a suspicion in London that Sutherland might be disloyal. However, the Jacobites also questioned Sutherland's loyalty, and the Jacobite Earl of Cromartie
was sent with 500 men against the Earl of Sutherland. Cromartie's force stormed Dunrobin Castle
; the Earl of Sutherland narrowly escaped them through a back door of the castle.
, attacking into the gap between the rebel officers and their soldiers. Most of the Jacobite officers were captured; many of the men were killed, and the rest were driven onto the beach, where several were drowned trying to swim Loch Fleet
.
An account of the Battle of Littleferry was written by Angus Mackay in his book "The Book of Mackay":
by men of the Clan Mackay
who supported the British government. After detaining him, they put him on a vessel that carried him to London. Cromartie, along with the Earl of Kilmarnock
, Lord Lovat
, and Lord Balmerino were all impeached
of high treason, tried, and condemned. Cromartie was later pardoned, but the others were executed.
Despite this victory, some in the government in London were still inclined to associate the Sutherlands with the Cromartie rebels that they had defeated. The Earl of Sutherland spent several years before his death in 1750 attempting to obtain compensation from the government for the damage done to his estates by the rebels.
Angus Mackay writes of the significance of the Battle of Littleferry in the Book of Mackay as being more than is generally realized by the fact that Cromartie's Jacobite force would have provided much needed halp to the Jacobites at Cullloden and was prevented from doing so.
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
in 1746, just before the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
. Scottish forces loyal to the British government defeated a Scottish Jacobite force.
Background
William Sutherland, the 17th Earl of SutherlandEarl of Sutherland
Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia. The Earl of Sutherland is also the Chief of Clan Sutherland...
(who had changed his surname from Gordon to Sutherland) was loyal to the Hanoverian government, but he had not raised and armed his clan quickly enough to take action against Bonnie Prince Charlie. This led to a suspicion in London that Sutherland might be disloyal. However, the Jacobites also questioned Sutherland's loyalty, and the Jacobite Earl of Cromartie
Earl of Cromartie
Earl of Cromartie is a title that has been created twice, both times for members of the Mackenzie family. This branch of the family descends from Sir Roderick Mackenzie, whose elder brother Kenneth Mackenzie was created Lord Mackenzie of Kintail in 1609 and was the father of Colin Mackenzie, 1st...
was sent with 500 men against the Earl of Sutherland. Cromartie's force stormed Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland. It is the seat of the Countess of Sutherland and the Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie, and approximately south of Brora, on the Dornoch Firth close to the A9 road. Nearby Dunrobin Castle railway...
; the Earl of Sutherland narrowly escaped them through a back door of the castle.
The battle
Believing that all of Sutherland's followers had dispersed, the Jacobite officers had allowed their men to march ahead of them, confident that they, the officers on horseback, could quickly catch up with the marching men. However, there were still some Sutherland men in the hills above Dunrobin. Led by Ensign Mackay, the Sutherland men came down from the hills near GolspieGolspie
Golspie is a coastal village in Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. It has a population of around 1,650 people. It is located picturesquely on the shores of the North Sea in the shadow of Ben Bhraggie ....
, attacking into the gap between the rebel officers and their soldiers. Most of the Jacobite officers were captured; many of the men were killed, and the rest were driven onto the beach, where several were drowned trying to swim Loch Fleet
Loch Fleet
Loch Fleet is a sea loch on the east coast of Scotland, located between Golspie and Dornoch. It forms the estuary of the River Fleet, a small spate river that rises in the hills east of Lairg.-Geography and geology:...
.
An account of the Battle of Littleferry was written by Angus Mackay in his book "The Book of Mackay":
A few days before Culloden, Cromartie got orders to rejoin the Prince at Inverness with all his forces, but as he was marching towards the Little Ferry, Ensign John Mackay with a handful of men intrepidly attacked him. Mackay's boldness encouraged others of the Sutherland militia, who were in the hills near at hand, to take part in the affray, with the result that Cromartie was defeated and all his troops were either killed or captured. Mackay pistol in hand forced his way into Dunrobin Castle, into which Cromartie fled, and notwithstanding the efforts of the Countess of Sutherland, who was suspected of favouring the rebels and especially Cromartie, made a prisoner of the earl whom he found hiding under a bed.
Aftermath and significance
Not long afterwards, George Mackenzie, Earl of Cromartie was captured at Dunrobin CastleDunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland. It is the seat of the Countess of Sutherland and the Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie, and approximately south of Brora, on the Dornoch Firth close to the A9 road. Nearby Dunrobin Castle railway...
by men of the Clan Mackay
Clan MacKay
Clan Mackay is an ancient and once powerful Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old kingdom of Moray. They were a powerful force in politics beginning in the 14th century, supporting Robert the Bruce. In the centuries that followed they were...
who supported the British government. After detaining him, they put him on a vessel that carried him to London. Cromartie, along with the Earl of Kilmarnock
Earl of Kilmarnock
The title Earl of Kilmarnock was created in the peerage of Scotland in 1661 for William Boyd, 10th Lord Boyd. That title was also created in the Scottish peerage in 1454 for Robert Boyd, Great Chamberlain of Scotland...
, Lord Lovat
Lord Lovat
Lord Lovat is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1458 for Hugh Fraser. The title descended in a direct line for nine sequential generations until the death of the ninth Lord in 1696. He was succeeded by his great-uncle, the tenth Lord...
, and Lord Balmerino were all impeached
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
of high treason, tried, and condemned. Cromartie was later pardoned, but the others were executed.
Despite this victory, some in the government in London were still inclined to associate the Sutherlands with the Cromartie rebels that they had defeated. The Earl of Sutherland spent several years before his death in 1750 attempting to obtain compensation from the government for the damage done to his estates by the rebels.
Angus Mackay writes of the significance of the Battle of Littleferry in the Book of Mackay as being more than is generally realized by the fact that Cromartie's Jacobite force would have provided much needed halp to the Jacobites at Cullloden and was prevented from doing so.