As per plan the Jacobite Army marched west from Edinburgh to wards Glasgow, leaving on the 9th October and completing the march so that they were some 3 miles east of Glasgow by the evening of 11th October, somewhere between Shettleston and Spring Hills..
The Jacobites are in good spirit, if a little apprehensive on what the dawn would bring but they camp for the night and you rise at 4:30 am on Monday 12th October, grabbing a quick bite to eat and then marching out to their brigade stating positions. It is a cold day with mists rolling north off of the River Clyde, perfect weather to hide your movements.
The Gordon Brigade move out to take Hill of Craig East and reach that place by 6:30am. Ahead of them on the higher Western section of the Hill, above the mist, they see Hanoverian Horsemen deployed, along with rudimentary signal towers, their numbers are estimated at about 100 men.
Meantime the rest of the Army’s brigades to the Gordon’s south are lining up and a general advance is sounded at 7:30am
As the Gordon's continue to approach the Hill of Craig East the mist begins to clear and fall back to the banks of the Clyde, the Gordons see & hear the enemy firing off shots into the air and starting to wave variously coloured flags. In the distance to the west can now be seen the spires and skyline of eastern approaches to Glasgow.
On the Hill of Craig (West) stand a troop of the Glasgow Hunters, volunteer gentlemen and ardent Presbytarians, they quickly realise that their means of escape are gone but it was required that they stayed in position so that the few staff officers with the could wag their flags and signal to General Cope and his staff in the city what they could see of the approaching enemy.
It was now becoming evident that there was a major attack forming from the East and no visible enemy movements to the north of the city. Cope had feared an attack on two fronts but at least as far as could be seen at this time, there was nothing coming from the North.
General Cope, meantime has setup Headquarters at the ‘Hanoverian’ Inn which had a splendid view of Hill of Craig West and which serves excellent Port wine. He was breakfasting there when the flags started to wag, he was somewhat annoyed that he had to rush his eggs and salmon and only had time to partake of two glasses of Port before having to step out and organise the units stationed in the city.
To the south of the Clyde in Gorbals, John Campbell, Duke of Argyll was similarly at breakfast at his headquarters in the ‘Covenanters Arms’ Inn where his meal of porridge, bacon and bread was undisturbed.
In the city its self stood the haughty Major General Henri des Villattes, who considered himself and his regiment of Dutch Mercenaries to be the only real, experienced soldiers in the city that fateful morning. Born of Catholic stock, des Villattes, was a proud to be a soldier fighting against the tyrant Louis XIV, yet he was somewhat perplexed how he and his men had ended up in this god forsaken backwater of a country waiting to fight scots rebels, when he should be fighting Frenchmen in Flanders.
It was the world in which he lived, as Catholics he and his men were assumed to be French sympathisers by the Dutch and so sent to England to fight against local rebels. He would do his duty, as would his 700 men.
From the heights of the Hill of Craig, all of a sudden, the enemy line hove into sight with a worrying clarity, the flags wagged briskly and the gentlemen volunteers of the Glasgow Hunters now began to worry about their fate. Their escape route was blocked by the approaching Gordon Brigade, out numbered 10 to 1 they had little hope of fighting their way out.
They resolved to stand and fight and then if necessary escape on foot, scrambling down the steep slopes off the hill that no horse safely could navigate.
Rolled out before them north to south was the Jacobite army…
Immediately south of the Hill of Craig, on the Jacobite Right, was the McBlack brigade of about 1000 men, there are three battalions, two in the lead and one to the rear. Here Hoon McBlack is striding forwards with his hands in his sporran, grabbing fistfuls of dried porridge biscuits lovingly basked by Moira at the Cannongate Shop, just days before hand.
Then, further south, in the Jacobite central sector is the large McDonald Brigade formed into a massed column, with McDaonalds to the front, followed by the McDonnells and then Clan Ranald at the rear. At their front is Alexander McDonald of Keppoch, astride his magnificent black stallion, Warbonnet, he loops the horse’s path around the advancing regiments and shouts:
"Warriors of McDonald, McDonnell and Ranald, my brothers. We will shortly be going into battle against the enemy, the devils in red. Should any of you fear what is about to face you, do not forget that it is these people who rape our women, burn our farms, butcher our children, all for some German king in London.
We Scotsmen, are here to fight for the true King across the water, James, and his son, our Prince, who is with us today. Our revenge is about to be repaid to these bastard redcoats, and I know I can count on the brave, valiant men of McDonald, McDonnell and Ranald to not let James, Charles, and above all, me, your Laird, down as we go into battle.
When so ordered, we will charge as our ancestors did before us, and no quarter will be given. So, ye sons of Alba, gird ya loins, and follow me to glory! Cry God, for James, Charles,and Scotland!”
It was a fairly long speech and many of et men did not hear it all as Alexander and Warbonnet twisted and turned along the route of march..
Several hundred voices raise in a cheer! At the back of the column, in the rear rank of the Ranald regiment a voice was heard to call out "Nope, did na hear a bloody word"
With his speech done, Alexander sent Warbonnet back to the reserve area with a groom, along with his snuff box for the groom to pass onto my son, as he’d be charging in on foot with his men.
In the far distance in the enemy Eastern reserve area can be seen the small Athol Brigade - all distinguished by their colours which are flying in the snappy breeze, here stood Lord George Murray and the Prince.
At same time as this is happening to the south of the Eastern line, the dragoon troops acting as picquets clash with Jacobite regular cavalry - dressed in blue jackets with red cuffs and facings. This is supposed to the Prince's Lifeguard, honours were equal with about 10 casualties each side, including a couple of prisoners who serviced this information. It appears O'Sullivan's Lowland Brigade is attacking in this sector.
As for the Jacobites they could not believe their eyes as the mists cleared, there are no enemy troops in sight, although some of the more keenly sighted men fancy they can see the stirrings of movement of troops coming out of the city.
It looked to all intents and purposes that the enemy had been caught unawares, a thrill fluttered through the advancing men as their stride quickened, lest they squander the chance of an open field on which to score a victory.
The a horse dashes out from the City, it approaches at a gallop as the closing Jacobite hordes close on the city lines, then behind the horse the keen eyed Jacobites who’d fancied seeing stirrings were rewarded y the sight of Hanoverian battalions marching out along the whole line, albeit only one in each sector!
Astride the horse is one Captain A.P. Hence, with him is a trooper carrying a white flag and on his person is a letter from General Cope addressed to the Prince, offering terms of surrender. The riders approach McBlack’s brigade and proclaim their role is to speak to the price and parlay with him.
Hoon strides up to the young Captain and demands to se ethe letter, the Captain stiffens his resolve and says “Wrighly kind sire, tis letter is for you Prince, I cannot and will not give it to you”.
This was unfortunate on two accounts, one was that Hoon was pretty much clueless on what the youngster was saying, he just did not understand his accent. But second, the young captain was waving about a letter and pointing to the good Prince.
Hoon recalled that Lord George Murray had said to expect delaying tactics from General Cope and that letter and parlays were not to be allowed. Hoon nodded to the huge man at his side, the Ferryman of McBlack, who reached up and grabbed the young officer’s coat and pulled him in one swift motion and dumped him on the floor. The accompanying trooper was similarly dismounted and the unfortunate pair were only saved from having their skulls crushed by the Ferryman by their extreme youth. They were dispatched to the rear as prisoners.
Hoon grabbed the letter and wiped his arse with it in front of his men – shouting “Good riddance to bad Shite!” Onwards they strode.
By 8:00AM, the Jacobites were fully in their starting positions and a long the Hanoverian front a second battalion of troops had just appeared to take up line beside their comrades who’d arrived earlier. It was clear that the Hanoverians had hesitated to deploy all their troops to one front of the city or the other, instead they held them all in reserve to be deployed as best needed.
It was at 8:00 am that the first shots of the engagement proper were fired, with the Glasgow Hunters opening fire at long range on the advancing Gordon Brigade, specifically targeting the 2nd Battalion John Lewis Gordon Regiment, under the command of John Gordon of Avochie.
Although the range was long, the gentlemen volunteers were indeed expert hunters and one casualty was inflicted, the Piper of Avochie fell amongst this first round of firing, he stood next to John Gordon of Avochie who’s face was splattered with the piper’s blood. A shrill highland yell was heard as John Gordon raised his claymore and ran forwards to avenge his fallen friend. The whole 2nd Battalion of the Gordons followed.
Further south down the line the Hanoverian regular battalions that had lead the way in each sector came to stand at their designated lines, with their centre and right flanks protected behind make shift barricades and entrenchments that had been previously prepared across each of the major roadways into the city.
Behind and to the south of each such battalion marched a sister battalion, that would join it behind the barricades as the Jacobites likely made their final advances to contact. However, the regulars were nervous, none of them except Guise’s 6th Foot and Ramsey’s 1st Foot had seen action before. Yes they’d been training had the last six wees or so but seeing the fast approaching Jacobite army was beginning to sort the men from the boys.
Discipline held in Lascelle’s & Lee’s Regiments of Foot but in the Hanoverian Left sector, Murray’s men were jittery, having witnessed the advancing McBlack troops swallow-up the flag of truce, they men failed to hold their fire until the rebels had reached medium range, instead they opened up at long range, causing one casualty on the Aberdeen regiment being led by Robert Robertson of Kingswells
By 8:30 AM the Jacobite line had closed to Medium range all along the front, the Hanoverian second battalions were just manoeuvring into position, next to their friends in each sector and in each sector a third battalion of grey clad militiamen emerged from the city to take up a supporting position behind the main firing lines.
It is at this point that the Regulars open fire along the line at the advancing Jacobite forces, with some decisive results in some areas.
The Gentlemen Volunteers again cause one casualty on the 2nd Battalion of the Lewis Gordon Regiment but do not slow their onwards advance.
More grievously to the Jacobites fire form the Hanoverian 2nd Brigade hits McBalck’s forces and causes four casualties on the Aberdeen Regiment which staggers and halts in its tracks and it causes a further 5 casualties on the Inverness regiment at its side, however the Inverness men continue their advance.
In the central zones in the Hanoverian Battalions take aim and fire at the dense column of highlanders striding forwards behind Alexander McDonald of Keppoch, he is swinging his claymore above his head and continues to urge his men forwards with a tirade of encouragement and foul language…
The Hanoverian line erupts in smoke as Lascelle’s & Guise’s Foot Battalions loose off their first shots at medium range, their target – Clan McDonald braces it-self for a the inevitable pain but it doesn’t come…
A total of five casualties are inflicted but it could have been so much worse, Alexader McDonald of Keppoch, literally feels musket balls passing his head and body but they leave no scratch, with a roar the whole line leas forward in a full Highland charge.
And in the Hanoverian right sector the 48th and 1st Foot fire against their adversaries, Lee’s raw 44th Foot probably panic and despite loosing off a volley only inflict one casualty on Cromartie’s Regiment. However the Perthshire Regiment are not so lucy, they are facing the 1st Foot under Colonel Ramsey, they empty their muskets with military precision and inflict seven casualties on their unfortunate target, they visibly stagger and go to ground.
On the southern front, the Duke of Argyll has become aware of the sounds of battle to the north east of his position, in front of his position there has been no enemy activity, similarly on the Northern front, no enemy activity.
It is now 9:00am and the Jacobite army has surged forwards and is closing through Short range to make contact with the Hanoverian line.
In the north, the gentlemen Volunteers have seen enough, realising that they cannot hold back an entire enemy brigade they flee to the west, and attempt to scramble down the steep slopes towards the city beyond. A handful stop to shoot before running but they are quickly overrun and cut to the ground by the charging Gordon Battalions, others escape down the hill but about half their number are captured in the uneven melee, including some of Cope’s unfortunate flag wagers!
However in this moment of victory, John Gordon of Avochie, is struck down by a Government ball, leaving him mortally wounded at the summit of the Hill of Craig.
To the south on the Hanoverian left, Murray’s 46th Foot get off a partial volley on the closing McBlack Regiment that has passed through the stalled Aberdeen Regiment to close with the red coats. The McBlacks fire off a close range volley with their pistols and muskets inflicting four casualties and taking four in return form the regular’s fire.
Meanwhile the Inverness men inflict six casualties with their volley before engaging a blue coated regiment of Dutch mercenaries in hand to hand combat. The mercenaries meanwhile had been able to inflict five casualties with their final volley before contact was made.
As the melee swirled around the McBlacks inflict four casualties on Murray’s regiment in return for two back, whilst the Inverness regiment inflict a further five casualties on the Dutchmen in return for three casualties back.
In the centre the McDonald lead Highland charge crashed into the waiting regiments of Lascelle & Guise. As they closed the McDonlads loosed off a volley that caused five casualties amongst the Hanoverian troops, in return their fire caused eight casualties on the attacking column, as the column hit home, the Hanoverian line audibly groaned and in the fighting another fourteen Hanoverian casualties were caused, although they inflicted eight in return.
O’Sullivan’s Brigade, now reduced to just the Camerons and Elcho’s Lifeguards also pressed home on the waiting Hanoverian line, the Camerons made contact after loosing off their volley they inflicted six casualties in return for four casualties coming back the other way. In the ensuing melee.
The Lifeguard did not close, instead fired at range into the 1st Foot, causing two casualties but their target’s discipline and experience told, as they returned fire and effectively wrecked the lifeguards on the field by inflicting four casualties.
As a result of the fighting at this time a large number of units on each side began to waver, it wa in the centre that the biggest impact as made on the Government lines, here the McDonalds, despite Keppoch’s continued bad language and urging forward, had had enough, taking what appeared to be two thirds casualties on the day – they retired form the field, their place was taken by Clan Ranald and they were supported by the McDonells, who had in turn lost nearly one third of their men.
Lascelle’s 47th Foot was in shock and it broke, Guise’s 6th Foot were also battered and down to 60% their normal strength, with a large number of its men of Irish And Scot stock, a number of Guise’s battalion promptly surrendered, particularly when kinsmen were spotted in the highland ranks. With both the regular battalions ahead of them loosing the will to fight, the Ayrshire Militia, took fright and also stepped away from the field of battle.
To the south, having seen their comrades leave the field, the Lanarkshire Militia decided to do the same and they were further encouraged when Lee’s 44th Foot to their front also broke ranks to leave the fighting line.
The 1st Foot stood firm, they’d just seen off the presumptive Prince’s Lifeguards, shooting them from their saddles but they were now alone on the field. Only far to the north could they make out Murray’s 46th Foot and the Lanarkshire Militia still standing. Even there Villatte’s Dutch mercenaries had never seen anything like it, they too having lost over a third of their men didn’t like the price they were paying in lives for their pay that day.
The Hanoverian Command then had a couple of difficult choices to make, sacrifice the remaining foot regiments, Murray’s was already mauled but the 1st Foot could have fought on well until the McDonalds / McDonnells or the Gordon Brigade swept south.
Cope opted to fight another day and ordered a with drawl from the field before it became a rout. As pre-arranged the regiments headed south to the bridge over the River Clyde at the Gorbals, the 1st Foot providing stiff resistance in a celebrated rear guard action against their Highland foes.
And so it was that by mid morning coffee the battle was over, with the Hanoverians heading south towards the relative safety of Carlisle but the Jacobite army thankful for Victory, still too battered to give pursuit….
The Butcher's Bill
So just a quick recap on how to read the below information.
For each Division / Brigade I have broken down the following info:
I=Initial Strength, Cas=Casualties in Battle
D=Dead, W=Wounded, M/C= Missing or Captured
Strength = Post Battle Strength of the Unit
Wounded will return to you in Four Weeks / One Month
Missing / Captured includes all you have 'disappeared' during the battle. Some may re-appear once the fighting has stopped, others may well have been captured or simply decided they've done their part. For others less lucky - they may be lying dead or wounded on the field, and their fate will remain unknown to you.
