Battles and battlefields PhD research

[shan]

I am researching a PhD on the cultural associations and contemporary interpretation of Scottish battlefields. I am interested in whether battles and battlefields continue to hold significance to people today. I would be very interested in hearing from clan members. I would like to hear your family stories, legends, traditions, etc, associated with battles and battlefields, if you do anything to commemorate battles, whether you think battlefields should be preserved and if they should be restored to how they would have looked at the time of battle.

I would welcome any assistance you can give me.

[Cameronian]

Well Shan, I will not repeat the post given you on the Clan Donald Forum, I thought at the time you may have been better off addressing the Clan Cameron site and as you have, I make the following contribution.

You may have viewed the BBC production “Rebellion” created in 1996 for the 250th Anniversary of Culloden, a rather stylised account of the battle but the content of those interviewed throughout was impressive.
· George Rosie. Reporter, writer and broadcaster.
· Prof Murray Pittock. Professor of Scottish and Romantic Literature and Deputy Head of Arts, Histories and Cultures The University of Manchester.
· Dr Louise Yeoman, BBC Producer, Past Curator of Antiques at the National Library of Scotland.
· Dr Rosalind Marshall an award-winning professional historian and author of many books and articles on Scottish history.
· Dr Domhnall Uilleam Stiubehart Edinburgh University.
· Prof Bruce Lenman MA (Aberd.), MLitt, LittD (Cantab.), FRHistS authorative author on the Jacobite period Jacobite Risings in Britain, 1689-1746 . Jacobite Clans of the Great Glen Integration and Enlightenment: Scotland, 1746-1832 Jacobite Cause
· Prof Tom Devine OBE, BA, PhD, Dlitt, Hon DLitt (QUB), Hon Dlitt (Abertay) FRHist S, FRSE, Hon MRIA, FBA
· Prof Allan I Macinnes Aberdeen Universtiy

Some of the interesting quotes from the assembled group were:
Bruce Leman: “the pressure of a culture based on ‘Shame and Honour’ placed a heavy burden upon the final decision to join into the Jacobite cause taken by the Highland Chiefs who themselves were close to starving and Bankruptcy ….”

Dr Louise Yeoman: “Scotland was the tail that is never going to wag the dog, because England had the financial muscle ….when George ll returned he brought with him 6,000 of the Dutch military, 18 Battalions of British forces fresh from European warfare, 1 Regiment of Cavalry, and the promise of the Duke of Hess’ Mercenaries”

Prof Tom Devine: “The attitude to the Highlander was based on Religious opposition, Social opposition, and intellectual opposition and was in a sense that this was a race of sub-humans that could not be dealt with in a way that you would deal with the more civilised”

As we know, the 4,000 Jacobites were greatly outnumbered by the Crown’s forces at Drumossie moor at approximately 12:30 pm on the 16th April 1746, it was possibly all over by 1pm, the Government’s military machine then carried out the orders of ‘no quarter given’ and carried out the both savage and indiscriminate slaughter of wounded across the field, the innocent along the roadside into Inverness and the general brutal harassment of the Clans which went on to continue for a decade or more.

Blood was a word used much in Cumberland’s dispatches “the shedding of blood is needed for the extirpation of all rebels” ….. “all the good that we have done is just a little blood letting”

Prof Allan I Macinnes: “I think that the intention was genocide and it verges on Ethnic Cleansing. Cumberland and indeed the British Government were intent on a final solution to the Highland problem – one solution was to evict them – transport them off to the plantations, this was actively considered and was deemed too expensive – rigorous reprisals went for the more cost –cutting exercise together with deliberate policy of starvation, for if you are going to remove a people you have to slaughter them all – far more effective to starve them all out”.

Prof Tom Divine: “The ’45 had come to close to success so there was a determination by the London Government that all Clanship must be removed”

As an instance of this, and as a result of Jeannie Cameron leading her brother’s men down to join the Jacobites at Glenfinnan, these estates were forfeited, many Camerons never returned from Culloden and we later find, Mary Cameron who resided in this little village on Innimore leaving a first person record of her clearance, which the Argyll papers clearly show in 1779 contained forty-five inhabitants called Cameron. And that it’s ‘derelict’ condition was not the result of the Glendessary Camerons willingly leaving the village, but of re-possession of this Forfeited Estate by the Duke of Argyll

Mary Cameron “The day the eviction came the law officers arrive and we had to go – My heart was sore listening to the hiss of the fire as they extinguished it. I followed James my husband, with little John an infant at my breast – and you who are no more, my beloved walking by my side”

As the anniversary of Culloden approaches it is worth a quite thought …. Should you wish to read more re Camerons and Culloden then go to UNITE, travel down till you come to "Culloden - Sponsor a Stone"

[shan]

Thank you for your response. Culloden is a place close to my heart, as I live in the village of Culloden and am at the battlefield on a frequent basis. I have also been researching Culloden including the current changes for the past 2 years now (for my Masters project and now my PhD). I will of course be at the commemorative ceremony at the battlefield this Saturday.

I am researching battles and battlefields from an ethnological perspective, which is why I am interested in whether these sites continue to hold meaning. Researching cultural associations is also important as currently, in Scotland, battlefields can only be preserved if there are physical features such as the graves at Culloden or the earthworks at Glenshiel. As a result, many significant sites are in danger of being lost forever. Historic Scotland are trying to write a policy that includes cultural heritage, but how do we define what is culturally significant? I think that we should be looking at the significance a site holds to different groups, and this is why I am looking for input from as many people as possible. It doesn't matter how small or trivial you think something may be, if it is important to you then I would like to hear it.

[Cameronian]

Shan, taking up the point of ‘trivial item’ I must share this.

In 2001 I had a very indulgent trip to the UK, picked up the car from Heathrow and drove to places of interest on the planned route between London and Edinburgh.

One of these was Berkeley Castle in Gloucester where Edward ll was murdered, once there I decided to view the Castle and with no others there at the time I was allowed to explore at will, from the Picture Gallery I looked down onto the terraced gardens, and was told that the Scottish pine growing there was grown from seeds brought from the field of Culloden after the Baron of Berkeley’s 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards had won the day for the Crown.

I went down to the pine, fossicked around and found one cone in the grass, putting it on top of the heater in my room, it opened and gave me 4 seeds. When I eventually arrived at Culloden I took the seeds with me and scattered them near the Information Centre. Later I was down at Achnacarry and I told the late Lochiel just what I had done. “Well done you” was his response, and whether those seeds germinated was no longer important, at least some part of that stolen pine had been returned home.

[Cameronian]

On a more serious note. In January I arrived in Inverness later afternoon, by the time I drove to Culloden it was almost dark but I was able to make out the outline of the huge piles of soil that surrounded the building site of the new Culloden centre.

Remembering the information given to me by one of your local historians that when the road was built in the mid 1800s the bodies unearthed during this construction were later taken and these remains dumped in a open quarry (the National Trust state that they were re-interred) How closely are the excavations being monitored on the construction site, is that high man-proof fence that surrounds it, keeping any such happening from public knowledge?

[shan]

Hello again, Cameronian! I like your story about the pine seeds. I'm glad you managed to return some of them home to Culloden. Unfortunately, even if the seeds germinated, the National Trust is pursuing a policy of restoring the battlefield to how it would have looked at the time, and as a result have been removing all the trees. I don't know how closely the construction site is being monitored, though I think it is closely monitored. My supervisor is the archaeologist who has carried out the investigation of Culloden over the last few years and he is there on a fairly regular basis and I don't believe he would let them do anything untoward. It is also my understanding that the new centre has been located where it is precisely because it is off the battlefield. I could always try to find out more and report back if anyone would like...

[Cameronian]

Good morning Shan,

I think that if you have been to the ‘Unite’ section and read the posts under the ‘Culloden –sponsor a stone’ heading you will detect that there is quite some concern regarding what is being done at Culloden. Having spoken to some of the Inverness public whose families have sprung from this area, they too are also concerned that an area which carries the blood of so many has been disturbed yet again.

Please do keep a watch on Culloden for us, and as I gather you are attending, a report on this weekends Commemoration would be welcomed.

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Val,and others,

Last Saturday's Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Culloden,organised as usual by the Gaelic Society of Inverness,took place at the battlefield in unseasonally warm and sunny weather .

There would be about 400 or 500 there,including Lochiel and 30 to 40 Camerons.At the ceremony,the wreath of the Clan Cameron Association was laid at the monument by Sonia Cameron Jacks (see photographs at http://www.clancameron.org.uk),and others laying wreaths,or flowers ,included the various Jacobite historical and remembrance groups in Scotland,the St.Andrew's Society of Detroit,USA,(all in impressive period costume),and representatives of Clan Donald,Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry,Clan McMillan,Clan McLachlan,Clan MacGregor,and Clan Brodie.

After the main ceremony was over,the Cameron contingent,led by Lochiel and Clan Piper,Astie Cameron,marched to the gravestone of the Cameron fallen,and laid a bouquet of flowers."Lochaber No More" was most movingly played in full by Astie at the stone.

Those of us a bit fitter,trekked back over the moors to pay our respects at the Cameron Marker,now some 100 metres distant from where it was before.The general consensus,looking down onto the battlefield,was that the new position seemed correct and logical.With all the trees and bushes now removed,the battlefield can now be appreciated in all its stark bleakness (but maybe not so much on a warm Spring day).

Regards,Chris.

[shan]

Hi

I'd just like to add that it was great to see so many people there. It's the first time that I have gone along for the ceremony and I have already marked it in my diary for next year. Most people I spoke to found the service incredibly moving. The only downside was that a political party (not the Nationalists as I would have expected) deemed it an appropriate time to come to the battlefield, handing out leaflets. Fortunately, the service had already ended.

[houndofthearrows]

I love the story about the Pine of Culloden. Thank you Cameronian! Thank you Chris for sharing your experience in regards to the Annual Commemoration. Although I could not attend many of us were most certainly there in spirit as well as our fallen ancestors. Shan, this is something that touches upon us most profoundly. As stated by Cameronian do keep a close watch and updates would be much appreciated. As to the political party handing out leaflets on such an occasion. SAVE THE TREE BURN THE BASTARDS! Sorry just a thought.
Aonaibh Ri Cheile
Sean H. Chambers

[shan]

Hi again Sean!
As a researcher, I am supposed to have a certain degree of impartiality when it comes to things like political parties handing out leaflets at Culloden. But I couldn't have said it better myself!
Cheers
Shan