The Battle
The Covenanters established their
camp on the south bank of the Clyde, north of Hamilton. The rebels numbered
around 6,000 men but lacked discipline and were deeply divided by religious
disagreements.
They had few competent commanders,
being nominally led by Robert Hamilton of Preston, although his rigid stance
against the ‘Indulged’ ministers only
encouraged further division. The preacher Donald Cargill and William Cleland,
the victor of Drumclog, were present, as were David Hackston of Rathillet and
John Balfour of Kinloch, known as Burley, Hackston & Balfour were among the
group who murdered Archbishop Sharp on 3 May.The government army numbered around 5,000 regular troops and militia, and was commanded by James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, he was supported by John Graham of Claverhouse and Viscount Linlithgow.
The battle centred on a narrow
bridge across the Clyde, the passage of which Monmouth was required to force in
order to come at the Covenanters. Hackston led the defence of the bridge, but
his men lacked artillery and ammunition, and were forced to withdraw after
around an hour.
Around 600 Covenanters were killed,
while some 1200 were taken prisoner. Government losses are not known, though
they took heavy casualties forcing the bridge at the start of the battle.
