Battle of Glen Affric
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Glen Affric took place in 1721 in Glen Affric
, in the Scottish Highlands
. It was fought between forces of the Clan Ross
against the forces of the Clan Mackenzie
and their allies the Clan MacRae
.
of 1715 - 1719 the chiefs of the Highland Clan Ross had supported the British Hanovarian government. The rising of 1715 was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
and another minor rising defeated at the Battle of Glenshiel in 1719, where troops from the Clan Ross had fought in support of the government and defeated the likes of the Jacobite Clan Mackenzie.
In 1720 two members of the Clan Ross; William Ross, 6th of Easter Fearn (ex-Provost of Tain) and his brother Robert Ross (ballie of Tain) had been appointed factors on the estates of Mackenzie of Seaforth, Chisholm and Glenmoriston. The following year in 1721 they went on an expedition to collect rents on these estates. The Rosses set off from Inverness
with thirty armed men, picking up a further fifty armed men from Bernera Barracks
.
and their allies the Clan MacRae
in Glen Affric. Historian Alan Mackenzie says that the Rosses were "ambushed" at near Loch Affric. The Mackenzies and MacRaes were commanded by Colonel Donald Murchison of Auchtyre and Lochalsh. The Murchison family being a sept
of the Clan Mackenzie, Colonel Donald Murchison was Mackenzie of Seaforth's factor who had been collecting rents and sending them to his master in France
.
A skirmish took place between the two sides in which the Clan Ross
was outnumbered. William Ross of Easter Fearn was the first to be wounded by shots fired at him from his right. However he continued to give orders to his troops to advance and clear the ground of lurking clansmen. They had some success in this respect and were able to proceed to a narrow gorge in Kintail which led into Loch Affric, where they were ambushed by Murchison's men. William Ross's son Walter Ross and also his nephew William Ross (son of his brother Robert Ross) were also wounded. Realizing that further resistance was useless William Ross met Colonel Murchison between the lines and discussion took place. The Rosses agreed to return home, promising never again to officiate as factors and as a token of sincerity handed their commissions to Donald Murchison.
lurked. On reaching Beauly
, Walter Ross was buried in Beauly Priory
. A second unsuccessful attempt was made by government troops to seize Mackenzie of Seaforth's lands by force, in which the Battle of Coille Bhan
was indecisive.
Glen Affric
right|300px|thumb|Glen AffricGlen Affric is a glen south-west of the village of Cannich in the Highland region of Scotland, some to the west of Loch Ness. The River Affric runs along its length, passing through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin .It used to be part of the lands of the Clan...
, in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. It was fought between forces of the Clan Ross
Clan Ross
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...
against the forces of the Clan Mackenzie
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
and their allies the Clan MacRae
Clan MacRae
The Clan Macrae is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan has no chief; it is therefore considered an Armigerous clan.-Surname:The surname Macrae is an Anglicisation of the patronymic from the Gaelic personal name Macraith. This personal name means "son of grace"...
.
Background
During the Jacobite risingJacobite 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...
of 1715 - 1719 the chiefs of the Highland Clan Ross had supported the British Hanovarian government. The rising of 1715 was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Scotland.-History:John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, mustered Highland chiefs, and on 6 September declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King...
and another minor rising defeated at the Battle of Glenshiel in 1719, where troops from the Clan Ross had fought in support of the government and defeated the likes of the Jacobite Clan Mackenzie.
In 1720 two members of the Clan Ross; William Ross, 6th of Easter Fearn (ex-Provost of Tain) and his brother Robert Ross (ballie of Tain) had been appointed factors on the estates of Mackenzie of Seaforth, Chisholm and Glenmoriston. The following year in 1721 they went on an expedition to collect rents on these estates. The Rosses set off from Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
with thirty armed men, picking up a further fifty armed men from Bernera Barracks
Bernera Barracks
Bernera Barracks is located in Glenelg in the West Highlands of Scotland. The barracks were constructed between 1717 and 1723 as part of a campaign by the British government to subdue the local population which had risen up in arms in the Jacobite Rising of 1715, and which would do so again in 1745...
.
The battle
While on their journey to Mackenzie of Seaforth's lands in Kintail, the Rosses who were attended by just a small company of soldiers met three hundred men of the Clan MackenzieClan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
and their allies the Clan MacRae
Clan MacRae
The Clan Macrae is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan has no chief; it is therefore considered an Armigerous clan.-Surname:The surname Macrae is an Anglicisation of the patronymic from the Gaelic personal name Macraith. This personal name means "son of grace"...
in Glen Affric. Historian Alan Mackenzie says that the Rosses were "ambushed" at near Loch Affric. The Mackenzies and MacRaes were commanded by Colonel Donald Murchison of Auchtyre and Lochalsh. The Murchison family being a sept
Sept
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of the Clan Mackenzie, Colonel Donald Murchison was Mackenzie of Seaforth's factor who had been collecting rents and sending them to his master in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
A skirmish took place between the two sides in which the Clan Ross
Clan Ross
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...
was outnumbered. William Ross of Easter Fearn was the first to be wounded by shots fired at him from his right. However he continued to give orders to his troops to advance and clear the ground of lurking clansmen. They had some success in this respect and were able to proceed to a narrow gorge in Kintail which led into Loch Affric, where they were ambushed by Murchison's men. William Ross's son Walter Ross and also his nephew William Ross (son of his brother Robert Ross) were also wounded. Realizing that further resistance was useless William Ross met Colonel Murchison between the lines and discussion took place. The Rosses agreed to return home, promising never again to officiate as factors and as a token of sincerity handed their commissions to Donald Murchison.
Aftermarth
Walter Ross died of his wounds. Colonel Murchison insisted on escorting his foes past a thicket where he alleged a "blood thirsty" party from the Clan CameronClan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands is the mountain Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The chief of the clan is customarily referred to as...
lurked. On reaching Beauly
Beauly
Beauly is a town of the Scottish county of Inverness-shire, on the River Beauly, 10 miles west of Inverness by the Far North railway line. Its population was 855 in 1901...
, Walter Ross was buried in Beauly Priory
Beauly Priory
Beauly Priory was a Valliscaulian monastic community located at "Insula de Achenbady", now Beauly, Inverness-shire. It was probably founded in 1230. It is not known for certain who the founder was, different sources giving Alexander II of Scotland, John Byset, and both...
. A second unsuccessful attempt was made by government troops to seize Mackenzie of Seaforth's lands by force, in which the Battle of Coille Bhan
Battle of Coille Bhan
The Battle of Coille Bhan was fought in 1721 near Attadale, in the county of Ross in the Scottish Highlands...
was indecisive.