Sheriffmuir - 13 November 1715

[Cameronian]

THE BATTLE OF SHERIFFMUIR - NOVEMBER 13, 1715

John Cameron, XVIII Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron led the Cameron men at Sheriffmuir, to add further interest to the anniversary of this date which we rapidly approach, let me share with you this further letter that was taken from the Fassifern documents held at the NLS.

The choice of the Earl of Mar was unfortunate as the Scots were reluctant to follow him, he was neither popular nor trusted, untrained for the Military or other areas which would engender support or confidence in Victory from the stronger Jacobite Clans.

The 2nd Duke of Gordon, Alexander Gordon, although not supported by all of his Clan followed the standard of the Old Pretender and was it appears put in position of Commander. It is from him that our 18th Chief received the following dispatch.

Historians generally agree that of all the Jacobite attempts, the rising of 1715 was the one that should have succeeded, but it was badly managed and from the resistance observed in this letter by John 18th of Lochiel there was a realisation that all did not appear well in the ranks of the Earl of Mar's assembled army…..

Addressed to: The Much Honoured The Laird Lochell

Brae of Glenorchie October 2 1715

Much Honored

My being Commanded by the Earle of Mar to be with the body of Highlanders that as to joyn the King's Friends in Argile thise is very well knowen to you; I therefore instruct you'll please lett me know by the bearer how soon I and have the honour of seeing you here.

Glengarry has been att this place with his men seven or eight days and Appin is to be in with his to morrow.

I therefore earnestly beg you will make all haste imaginable the King's duties requiring as you would well know of dispatch.

I am with all respect, Much Honoured

Your most humble and obedient servant Alexr Gordon

[Ailean Glas]

There was quite a good thread on Sherriffmuir on the GOTC forum related to Clan Campbell I posted in 2000, which I have re posted here(below) for those who are interested. It was my work then and I have re written some in the light of further research and reflection about Sherriffmuir's significance, which has often been ignored by Scots Historians of all Schools.

Dias Mhuire duit a Chloinn Camshron!

[Ailean Glas]

On 13th of November 1715 John Campbell 2nd Duke of Argyll (Red John of the battles) faced a Jacobite Army of between 10,000 to 12,000 men at Sherriffmuir(near Dunblane) commanded by John Erskine the Earl of Mar known commonly as "Bobbing John" due to the fact that he had originally been a Hanoverian who had changed to the Jacobite side because George 1 had refused him any preferment. Argyll commanded between 4000 to 5000 men only. Half of them were professional soldiers and the rest were Clan levies raised mainly from his own Clan. MacDonalds of Clanranald, MacDonnells of Keppoch and the MacLeans of Duart all of them sworn enemies of Clan Diarmid, on the right of the Jacobite Army, charged into the regulars on the left of the Campbell's forces wreaking havoc and killing hundreds and pushing the Government forces back. Argyll a very able and cool headed commander kept his nerve, gathered his Highlanders on the right together and sent them into the Jacobite left in a full blooded Highland charge pushing many into Allan water; and causing a similar slaughter to that which had befallen his left.
Having done his best militarily Red John retreated to Dunblane and held his ground. Mar failed to press home his attack and the Jacobite Army gradually melted away over the next few days. The Old pretender arrived in Scotland after this disaster and wisely decided that further rebellion would only expose his loyalists to further slaughter and forfeitures of estates. He and Mar departed to France after several months in February 1716.
The only support the rebellion had received was mainly from the North East and the strongly Jacobite Clans including the Camerons, who did not distinguish themselves at Sherriffmuir at all. Argyll and the government also did not receive great support as the numbers in his small force show. Most Clans and Lowland magnates remained neutral, as did their people. This was only 7 years after the act of Union of 1707 which was very unpopular, almost certainly, with a majority of Scots even those who hated the Stuarts. Most large towns like Glasgow and Edinburgh held for the government, and the Duke of Sutherland held most of the North as well for Hanover.
The only real chance the Stuarts ever had of returning to their British Kingdoms had been defeated by the cool headedness and considerable courage of John Campbell. By inflicting heavy casualties on his opposition he had weakenedtheir resolve to fight on. Many of the Jacobite troops, including Camerons, had been forced out by the threat of burning their homes. Mar had written to his baillie George Forbes at Kildrummy ordering him to use extreme measures against any tenants of military age who refused to serve the Jacobite Army. Many of these pressed men once they had seen the slaughter of the inital action at Sherriffmuir, had no stomach for further fighting and melted away quickly. Highlanders would also have been particulary wary of attacking a fortified and determined foe in Dunblane which had seen a Highland force routed by the Covenanters two generations before.
Sheriffmuir unlike Culloden was almost exclusively a Scottish conflict with virtually only Scotsmen involved in the fighting. It was also the battle that probably ended the Jacobite cause as a serious threat to the Hanoverian monarchy. Despite all the "what ifs" of the '45 and the march on London that got so close, Sherriffmuir was the Stuarts last real chance. Mar was heavily criticised for his indecisiveness at Sherriffmuir and failure to press the attack home leading to to the boody stalemate the battle became, but there are strong indications that the desperate defence of the Campbell led government forces and their retirement into Dunblane in good order simply forced a sane military decision upon him.
Despite the vilification the Campbells, Historically, have received from romantic writers and some old fashioned Historians, Argylls courage and the achievement of his men, against overwhelming odds, is in fact something for all of Scots blood( whatever their ancestry ) to be proud of, just as Camerons can be proud of their Clans valour at Culloden in a doomed cause.
Red John was rewarded by an ungrateful government by being dismissed from his post for advocating leniency; although the Hanoverians response to the '45 a generation later was much more savage than the aftermath of Sherriffmuir. The most important aspect of Sherriffmuir Historically was that it was the battle that truly decided Scotlands future and it was fought, almost exclusively, by Scotsmen.

References: Mackie, JD, A History of Scotland, 1964, Penguin, London.
Prebble, J, A Lion in the North, 1973, Penguin, London
www.scotclans.com/clans/1715.htm
www.clan-cameron.org/ reference section

[Alans]

Just popping this thread up next to Bhal's recent research. We may well have a slightly different take on Sherriffmuir; but it is a greatly underated event in terms of Scottish History. Culloden has its Prebble but Sherriffmuir is usually just mentioned in passing despite its vital importance in the History of modern Britain.
It also shows, I think that people make History far more than inevitable "scientific" factors or technological developments; although technical advances cannot be discounted.
I look forward to more interesting documents appearing in due course on this topic.

[Cameronian]

November 2002 Eh!…..Well, it is often that your words come back to haunt you, but in this case it appears that all the primary source material found has not changed my thoughts on the importance of Sheriffmuir.

I do not share your praise of Argyll, nor did, at that time, many of the lines of Campbell. John Cameron was married to the daughter of Campbell of Lochnell and Lochnell himself seemed to bob in and out of the Government and Jacobite lines to his advantage which led (by association) to some of the disquiet re the position of Lochiel himself.

Nor do I agree that it was poorly supported, we have now found in the letters the confirmation of large bodies of men being brought in by MacDonald, Macdonell, Breadalbane, the Macleans, MacKenzies the Gordons and Camerons….that coercion and impressment was used in recruitment was the manner in which all armies were enlisted, the one difference in Scotland being that the Clan had it’s own order of procedure, and the numbers (if quoted correctly) confirm that Mar had an army of great size…… However I do agree with you that Sheriffmuir was a most significant point in our past history. It is also a clear indication that much was wrong in Scotland at that time, for if this discontent could result in the creation of a body of men the size of the Mar’s army then it is a clear that existing along with Stuart issues, the Union of Crowns was more disuniting than uniting.

Had Mar’s ranks had been given a ‘ leader’ then the 1715 Rising would have been the decisive conflict, there would never have been a Culloden, and what changes that may have brought to the Highlands today is well worth a thought.

[Alans]

Bhal,
Thanks for a very thoughtful and considered post. As I said we don't agree on certain things but apart from Sherriffmuir's importance as the last great conflict seperating modern Scotland from its more ancient past, I also think we see individuals as the real shapers of Historical events- rather than "inevitable" forces. Red John whatever anyone thinks of him was representative of the "new" improving chiefs.
I also think he made a difference to the result.

Regards Alan

[Peg]

Hi Alan, Val, and all,

I have not been on for a long while...what a deep discussion...i can't begin to understand your *language*...haha...but I had something about "Earl of Mar" among gram Jessie Cameron's things...just a little quote from

"Genealogy of the families of James Grant Cameron, Esquire of Lochiel, and his wife Janet Fordyce Sutherland Cameron together with their children" (copied from book material-compiled by Charlotte Alice Cameron--from historical material copied by Georgina Jessie Helena Cameron, June 26, 1942"
---------------
...he left a song and heir, viz:--John Cameron, of Lochiel, who served with the EARL OF MAR, 1715, and suffered attainder and forfeiture. he escaped to the continent, and died at Niauport, Flanders, in 1748.

He married Isabel, sister of Sir Duncan Campbell, of Lochnell, and had issue, 1. Donald, his heir, - 2. John Fassifern, father of Sir Ewen Cameroon, of Fassifern, (created baronet in 1817), and 3. Archibald, a physician, who engaged in the rebellion of 1745, and was executed. By Jean, his wife, daughter of Archibald Cameron, of Dungellon, Dr. Cameron left four sons & one daughter. One of his sons, Donald Cameron of Edinboro', after graduating from University (of St. Andrews?) went to Canada, and opened the first higher school in Hopewell, Nova Scotia. While there he married Mary MacKenzie (Anne is crossed out), daugher of Thomas MacKenzie, of Applecross, and granddaugher of Colin MacKenzie of Kilcoy, who had come to this country with her brothers...By this marriage he had issue...William, Duncan, JAMES GRANT (my, Peg's...ggGrandfather), Donald, William (the 2nd), John and Hugh, (twins), Margaret..."
==========
I am not saying this is anything accurate, nor do I begin to understand any of this...I just wanted to share an old heirloom among my treasures...I have never claimed to be unflawed, you know me by now, but I do love this Cameron family history...and your ferver also...

lots of warm wishes, Peg in Wi who is happy & v. busy, btw...
[e-mail]

[Cameronian]

Well Peg, I have taken you very interesting family revelation and placed it into the Genealogy section. Some while ago our Genealogist Dr Robert Cameron posted a request for anyone who had family details which related into the line of Dr Archibald Cameron to come forth and share their research.

I did find a very small amount of material connecting into this line whilst in Scotland (July) but each little amount fills in the picture….hope you have more details

[Peg]

Val and Bob,

I did receive the Dr. Archie family tree from Bob.

Alistair Cameron, Bundanoon, found a Donald Cammeron <Applecross ROC> b. <1780>& Mary MacKenzie [of Applecross] b. <1780> d. bef. 1861m. dau Issabel Cammeron christened Jan 1805, Applecross, Ross and Cromarty...IGI Batch #C110582, Date 1797-1855, Source Call No. 0990577, Print out Call Noo 6902437. He lost Don and Mary after that in Scotland. Grandmother Cameron mentioned my Mary brothers arriving in Canada arriving about "1776?" she said. They were "given"? a great deal of land from the King. I am not sure the

James Grant Cameron my ggGrandfather was b. 31 May 1812 Nova Scotia m. 31 Dec. 1839, d. 29 Mar 1891 Presby. Moncton, NB. m. Janet "Jessie"Fordyce Sutherland
b. 23 Aug 1824 Scotland; d 25 Jan 1896, Kingston [Brockville] Ontario, buried Cataraqui Cemy.

The Frasers and Sutherland family connections were found.
Not the Camerons. Just a rough idea of my ancestors, but Alec and I weren't even sure that *was* my Donald & Mary.

At Christmas last year, I was able to get help from St. Andrews, Scotland ...no proof Donald was there at college, but they said it didn't mean he was not.

I really gave up on this Donald...Peg

[Alans]

lets just pop this up top as its a much neglected topic- Possibly a much more important battle than Culloden in many ways?