Battle of Inverurie (1745)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Inverurie (1745)
partof=the Jacobite Rising


caption=
date=December 23, 1745
place=Inverurie, Scotland
result=Jacobite Victory
combatant1=flagicon|UK|1606 Hanoverians
combatant2=Jacobite Forces
commander1=flagicon|UK|1606 MacLeod of MacLeod
commander2=Lord Lewis Gordon
strength1=500 men
strength2=1100 men and 5 Cannon
casualties1=unknown dead and wounded. About 50 taken prisoner.
casualties2=unknown"For the battle of the same name during the Wars of Scottish Independance see: Battle of Inverurie (1308)".

The second Battle of Inverurie took place on December 23rd 1745 and was part of the second major Jacobite rising in Scotland.Leslie, Colonel. Historical records of the family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9 collected from public records and authentic private sources, Volume: Volume III. 176-189. Published by Edmonston and Douglas, Edinburgh, 1869. [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=roncarlton&id=I2780] ]

Background

Lord Lewis Gordon had been raising Jacobite forces and had been successful 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 King's 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 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.

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 Oldmeldrum. MacLeod however thought otherwise, he advanced and occupied the town of Inverurie, 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 Parish Church (The Auld Kirk of Inverurie) now known as St Andrew's Parish Church, Inverurie, and attacked the town from there where the enemy was taken completely by surprise.

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

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.

References

External links

* [http://chrsouchon.free.fr/100piper.htm http://chrsouchon.free.fr/100piper.htm Battle of Inverurie Pipe Music]