Battle of Inverurie (1745)
Encyclopedia
For the battle of the same name during the Wars of Scottish Independence see: Battle of Inverurie (1308).
The second Battle of Inverurie took place on 23 December 1745 and was part of the second major Jacobite rising
in Scotland
.
To put an end to Lord Lewis Gordon's Jacobite recruitment, John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun
who was the King's commander in chief in the North, despatched the Laird MacLeod of MacLeod
from Inverness
with 500 men of the Clan MacLeod
. MacLeod gained support from 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 ordered 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.
. MacLeod however thought otherwise, he advanced and occupied the town of Inverurie
, 16 miles north-west 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 23 December with 1,100 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 main road to Inverurie, so as to deceive the Macleods with their real intentions.
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 Macleods on the south-west side of Inverurie
. Lord Lewis Gordon then immediately crossed the River Ury on the east side of the town near Inverurie Parish Church, (The Auld Kirk of Inverurie) now known as St Andrew's Parish Church, Inverurie, and attacked the town from there where the Macleods were taken completely by surprise.
The MacLeods opened fire from the ditches and from behind walls, but were outnumbered, and being vigorously pressed, they gave way and retreated, and were pushed back to Elgin
. The chief of the MacLeods gathered his men, and while retreating, fought by the moonlight.
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.
The second Battle of Inverurie took place on 23 December 1745 and was part of the second major Jacobite rising
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 Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Background
Lord Lewis Gordon had been raising Jacobite forces and had managed to create two battalions. James Moir of Stoneywood commanded one battalion and Gordon of Abbachy commanded the other. Lord Lewis Gordon had also raised a considerable sum of money, but he was thwarted by his brother; Cosmo George Gordon, 3rd Duke of Gordon, who supported the British Government.To put an end to Lord Lewis Gordon's Jacobite recruitment, John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun
Major-General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun was a British nobleman and army officer.-Early career:Campbell inherited the peerage on the death of his father in 1731, becoming Lord Loudoun. The earl raised a regiment of infantry that took part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745 on the side of the...
who was the King's commander in chief in the North, despatched the Laird MacLeod of MacLeod
Norman MacLeod (The Wicked Man)
Norman MacLeod , also known in his own time and within clan tradition as The Wicked Man , was an 18th century politician, and a clan chief of Clan MacLeod. In the 20th century, one chief of Clan MacLeod attempted to have his nickname changed from The Wicked Man, to The Red Man...
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 500 men of the Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is Macleod of Macleod, are known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ; the Macleods of Lewis, whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes, are known in...
. MacLeod gained support from George Munro of Culcairn
George Munro of Culcairn
Sir George Munro of Culcairn was a Scottish soldier of the 18th century from Ross-shire, Scotland.-Lineage:George Munro of Culcairn was the second son of Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet of Foulis, chief of the Clan Munro, who was also known as the Blind Baron...
with 200 men from the Clan Munro
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
and the Laird of Grant with 500 men of the Clan Grant
Clan Grant
-Origins:The Grants are one of the clans of Siol Alpin, and descend from the 9th century Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scots; and also of Norse origin, from settlers who are the descents of Haakon inn Riki Sigurdarsson , Jarl of Hladr, Protector of Norway ,-Origins:The Grants are one of the clans of...
.
Lord Lewis Gordon ordered his men to fall back to Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
where he was joined by a number of men from Forfarshire and Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
. He was also joined by Lord Drummon's French troops who had just landed in Montrose
Montrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
. He was also joined by 300 men of the Clan Farquharson
Clan Farquharson
Clan Farquharson of Invercauld is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan hails from Aberdeenshire and is a member of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:Farquhar - from the Gaelic 'fear' and 'char' meaning 'dear one'...
as well as his own two battalions under James Moir of Stoneywood.
The battle
The Laird of Grant fearing for his own country (territory) decided to return home with all of his forces and George Munro of Culcairn held post at a safe place called OldmeldrumOldmeldrum
Oldmeldrum is a village and parish in the Formartine area of Aberdeenshire, not far from Inverurie in North East Scotland. With a growing population of over 2000, Oldmeldrum falls within Scotland's top 300 centres of population. The A947 road from Aberdeen to Banff runs through the centre of the...
. MacLeod however thought otherwise, he advanced and occupied the town of Inverurie
Inverurie
Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north west of Aberdeen on the A96 road and is served by Inverurie railway station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line...
, 16 miles north-west of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. Lord Lewis Gordon on hearing of MacLeod's incautious movement was determined to attack his opponent.
Lord Lewis Gordon moved from Aberdeen on 23 December with 1,100 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
Bridge of Don
Bridge of Don is a suburb in the north of Aberdeen, Scotland. It has an estimated population of over 22,000.Bridge of Don is split into smaller areas...
and took the route by Fintray
Hatton of Fintray
Hatton of Fintray, commonly referred to as Fintray, is a village on the River Don in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in the parish of Fintray. It was a textile village and its church dates from 1821, and there used to be a nearby ferry crossing the river....
up the left bank of the river, while he sent a detachment of 300 men, French and others, by the Tyrebagger road, the main road to Inverurie, so as to deceive the Macleods with their real intentions.
At about four o'clock in the afternoon the French party, who had marched by the right bank of the River Don
River Don, Aberdeenshire
The River Don is a river in north-east Scotland. It rises in the Grampians and flows eastwards, through Aberdeenshire, to the North Sea at Aberdeen. The Don passes through Alford, Kemnay, Inverurie, Kintore, and Dyce...
, dashed into the river and waded across. They then attacked the Macleods on the south-west side of Inverurie
Inverurie
Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north west of Aberdeen on the A96 road and is served by Inverurie railway station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line...
. Lord Lewis Gordon then immediately crossed the River Ury on the east side of the town near Inverurie Parish Church, (The Auld Kirk of Inverurie) now known as St Andrew's Parish Church, Inverurie, and attacked the town from there where the Macleods were taken completely by surprise.
The MacLeods opened fire from the ditches and from behind walls, but were outnumbered, and being vigorously pressed, they gave way and retreated, and were pushed back to Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
. The chief of the MacLeods gathered his men, and while retreating, fought by the moonlight.
Aftermath
Many of MacLeod's 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
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
. 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.