Skirmish of Alness
Encyclopedia
The Skirmish of Alness was a conflict that took place in October 1715 in Alness
, in the county of Ross
in the Scottish Highlands
. It was part of the Jacobite rising
of 1715 and pitted Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian government of George I of Great Britain
against Highlanders loyal to the Jacobite House of Stuart
.
, chief of Clan Mackenzie
allied himself with John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar who was the leader of the rebel Jacobite army. Mackenzie of Seaforth proceeded to Inverness
and took over the town. Meanwhile Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet, chief of the rival Clan Munro
, who supported the British government was secretly assembling his clansmen with the intention of taking Inverness. Mackenzie of Seaforth on hearing of this sent out messengers, one of whom met Munro on his march towards Dingwall
. He gave Munro the message that “he should return home peacefully unless his intention was to throw his lot in with the Jacobites” Munro obliged and returned to his seat at Foulis Castle
. The next day Mackenzie of Seaforth set off from Inverness with a large force, leaving his relative John Mackenzie of Coul in control of Inverness.
Great expectations were placed on John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland
, chief of Clan Sutherland
, who like the Munros supported the government. Munro of Foulis had applied to both the Earl of Sutherland
and Lord Reay
for their support. The Earl of Sutherland gathered his forces and was joined by George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, chief of the Clan Mackay
and a force from the Clan Ross
who also supported the governemt. They arrived at Alness
on the 5th of October and the Earl reviewed his forces and counted a force of 1800 men. They formed up in order of battle with the Mackays and the Rosses on the right, the Sutherlanders in the centre with the Munros on the left. It is said that the Rosses were only armed with sharpened wooden poles as they had previously agreed to give up their weapons to the government. The Munros by contrast had six pieces of cannon, which according to Mackenzie of Seaforth, they had "boasted" that they would use to batter down his home at Brahan Castle
.
, as well as a number of other clans and proceeded to Alness. Mackenzie’s force consisted of 3000 men. With this superior force he bore down upon the Earl of Sutherland's camp at Alness. According to one contemporary account, on hearing of the much larger force that opposed them the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Reay retreated to Bonar Bridge
with 40 men leaving the rest to make their own way. However Munro of Foulis did not desert his men. The Munros who had also been left behind later marched back to Foulis Castle which had been garrisoned and fortified by Munro’s father. (Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet, the ‘’blind baron’’).
where the Munros and Sutherlanders laid waste to Mackenzie’s lands at Brahan Castle
. This followed the Siege of Inverness (1715)
where Mackenzie of Coul had been holding out but was forced to retreat on the 13th of November and the main Jacobite army, which included Mackenzie of Seaforth was defeated at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
on the same day.
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
, in the county of Ross
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
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 part of the 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...
of 1715 and pitted Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian government of George I of Great Britain
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
against Highlanders loyal to the Jacobite House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Background
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of SeaforthWilliam Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth was a Scottish nobleman.He who joined the Jacobite standard at Braemar, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties...
, chief of 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...
allied himself with John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar who was the leader of the rebel Jacobite army. Mackenzie of Seaforth proceeded to 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...
and took over the town. Meanwhile Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet, chief of the rival 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...
, who supported the British government was secretly assembling his clansmen with the intention of taking Inverness. Mackenzie of Seaforth on hearing of this sent out messengers, one of whom met Munro on his march towards Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
. He gave Munro the message that “he should return home peacefully unless his intention was to throw his lot in with the Jacobites” Munro obliged and returned to his seat at Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle lies in the parish of Kiltearn, about 1.5 miles southwest of the village of Evanton in the Highland area of northern Scotland. The castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century, the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as...
. The next day Mackenzie of Seaforth set off from Inverness with a large force, leaving his relative John Mackenzie of Coul in control of Inverness.
Great expectations were placed on John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland
John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland
John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland PC was a Scottish nobleman and army officer.He was the only son of George Gordon, the 15th earl of Sutherland , and his wife, Jean....
, chief of Clan Sutherland
Clan Sutherland
Clan Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is located in the region of Sutherland in northern highlands of Scotland and was one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The clan seat is at Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland...
, who like the Munros supported the government. Munro of Foulis had applied to both the Earl of Sutherland
Earl 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...
and Lord Reay
Lord Reay
Lord Reay, of Reay in the County of Caithness, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. Lord Reay is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Mackay, whose lands in Strathnaver and northwest Sutherland were known as the Reay Country. The land was sold to the Earls of Sutherland in the 18th century...
for their support. The Earl of Sutherland gathered his forces and was joined by George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, chief 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...
and a force from 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...
who also supported the governemt. They arrived at Alness
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
on the 5th of October and the Earl reviewed his forces and counted a force of 1800 men. They formed up in order of battle with the Mackays and the Rosses on the right, the Sutherlanders in the centre with the Munros on the left. It is said that the Rosses were only armed with sharpened wooden poles as they had previously agreed to give up their weapons to the government. The Munros by contrast had six pieces of cannon, which according to Mackenzie of Seaforth, they had "boasted" that they would use to batter down his home at Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle was situated south-west of Dingwall, in Easter Ross, Scotland. The castle belonged to the Earls of Seaforth, chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie, who dominated the area.-History:...
.
The conflict
Mackenzie of Seaforth on hearing of this gathering that opposed him was determined to dispearse it. He had been joined by Sir Donald MacDonald, chief of the Clan MacDonald of SleatClan MacDonald of Sleat
Clan Macdonald of Sleat, sometimes known as Clan Donald North and in Gaelic Clann Ùisdein , is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald — one of the largest Scottish clans. The founder of the Macdonalds of Sleat is Ùisdean, 6th great-grandson of Somhairle, a 12th century Rì Innse Gall...
, as well as a number of other clans and proceeded to Alness. Mackenzie’s force consisted of 3000 men. With this superior force he bore down upon the Earl of Sutherland's camp at Alness. According to one contemporary account, on hearing of the much larger force that opposed them the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Reay retreated to Bonar Bridge
Bonar Bridge
Bonar Bridge is a village on the north bank of the Kyle of Sutherland, in the Parish of Creich in the Highland council area of Scotland.The Kyle of Sutherland is a river estuary of the Rivers Oykel, Cassley, Shin and Carron that all enter the Kyle above the bridge at Bonar.The estuary and the...
with 40 men leaving the rest to make their own way. However Munro of Foulis did not desert his men. The Munros who had also been left behind later marched back to Foulis Castle which had been garrisoned and fortified by Munro’s father. (Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet, the ‘’blind baron’’).
A council of war
A council of war was held between the leaders of the two sides in which the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Reay decided that due to their enemy’s superior numbers it would not be wise to fight. However Munro of Foulis and his cousin George Munro, 3rd of Newmore were up for fighting. In a letter from Thomas Robertson in Inverness, dated 30th January 1716, the writer says that Mackenzie of Seaforth demanded hostages to ensure that the Earl of Sutherland and Munro of Foulis would not trouble his lands while he was absent in the south. Munro of Newmore apparently protested that although the enemy was superior in numbers that it was still their business to fight them because they might have a chance of beating them, and if not they would still be able to “scatter” them. In the end the pro government clans marched off back to their homes.Aftermarth
The Munros and Rosses returned home to find that their lands had been plundered. However according to historian DM Rose, it is proved by contemporary evidence that Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet had greatly exaggerated the excesses that Mackenzie’s men had committed on his lands. According to Rose an account given by Munro’s cousin, Munro of Culcairn is more to be relied on, in which he states: “a few men of disreputable character did damage wantonly, and their proceedings are said by Seaforth's enemies to have been countenanced by him”. However it was enough for Sir Robert Munro to gather his forces and retaliate in the Siege of BrahanSiege of Brahan
The Siege of Brahan took place in November 1715 and was part of the Jacobite rising of 1715. Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian government of George I of Great Britain laid siege to Brahan Castle, seat of William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth, who was a staunch Jacobite, loyal to the...
where the Munros and Sutherlanders laid waste to Mackenzie’s lands at Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle was situated south-west of Dingwall, in Easter Ross, Scotland. The castle belonged to the Earls of Seaforth, chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie, who dominated the area.-History:...
. This followed the Siege of Inverness (1715)
Siege of Inverness (1715)
In November 1715 during the Jacobite rising the town of Inverness and Inverness Castle were being held by the Clan Mackenzie, led by Sir John Mackenzie of Coul who supported the rebel Jacobite cause...
where Mackenzie of Coul had been holding out but was forced to retreat on the 13th of November and the main Jacobite army, which included Mackenzie of Seaforth was 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...
on the same day.