The Battle of Killiecrankie
27th July 1689
The
Pass of Killiecrankie, and the ground north of the
pass where the battle was fought.
The Battle of
Killiecrankie was the first Jacobite victory in the
first of a series of Jacobite Risings, seeking to
restore the Stewart line, which culminated in the
Battle of Culloden.
The Jacobite Army, composed mostly of Highlanders was
led by the Lowlander General John Graham of
Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee and the Government Army,
mostly Lowland Scots, commanded by Highland career
soldier General Mackay. Depending upon your point of
view, John Graham was either "Bonnie Dundee" or "Bluidy
Clavers". The Jacobites won the day due to
Graham's use of the ground, he chose the high ground
north of the pass, and put dead ground between his
forces and the Government lines, so that when they put
in the famous Highland Charge, using
broadsword and
targe, they were targets for just a moment,
allowing the Government soldiers just one volley
before the Highlanders fell on them. Another
disadvantage of the regular soldiers was that they
were still using the
plug bayonet, which could only be fitted after
firing, and so the Jacobites were on them before they
could arm themselves. This was shown in
Neil Oliver and Tony Pollard's "Two Men in a Trench"
series episode on the battle, which also showed the
positions of the opponents at the start of the battle.
The succeeding rout saw the Government forces flee
down the steep slope to the river, where one soldier,
Donald McBane leapt 18 feet across the River Garry to
safety, a place now known as the "Soldier's Leap."
The National Trust for Scotland Visitors' Centre
is at the location of the retreat and rout, rather
than the location of the battle.
It was only a brief victory for the Jacobites as
during their charge James Graham was fatally wounded
by a ball fired by one of three "leather
cannon" carried by their infantry as light
artillery. It hit him below his arm, the bullet
hole in his
breast plate in the museum at
Blair Castle being added later, for effect. He was
buried at St Bride's Chapel in the grounds of Blair
Castle.
Flowers are placed at the gate to the
vault each year, on the Anniversary of the death of
John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee
Shortly afterwards, the Jacobite Army was
defeated at the
Battle of Dunkeld, on 21st August, and then at the
Haughs of Cromdale on 1st May 1690, ending the
first Jacobite Rising.
References:
The National Trust for Scotland | Education Website |
Teachers resources
UK Battlefields Resource Centre - Stuart Uprisings -
The Battle of Battle of Killiecrankie
Battlefields Trust Map of the Position of the Opposing
Forces at the start of the Battle
