Battle of Tullich

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Battle of Tullich
Part of Glencairn's Rising
Tullich Hill - geograph.org.uk - 297198.jpg
Tullich Hill
Date10 February 1654[1]
Location
Tullich, Scotland
Coordinates: 57°03′35″N 3°02′43″W / 57.0597°N 3.0454°W / 57.0597; -3.0454
Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Commonwealth Royalists
Commanders and leaders
Robert Lilburne Earl of Glencairn
Cameron of Lochiel
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Tullich is located in Scotland
Tullich
Tullich
class=notpageimage|
Scotland

The Battle of Tullich also known as the Battle of the Pass near Tullich occurred on 10 February 1654 in Tullich, Scotland, during Glencairn's Rising.

Prelude[]

After the English defeated Charles II and his Scottish allies at Worcester in September 1651, the English Parliament moved to bring Scotland into the Commonwealth. In Scotland, there was significant resistance to being governed by the English, particularly in the Highlands where there remained considerable support for the exiled King.[2]

In early 1653, King Charles made the Earl of Glencairn the temporary commander of Royalist forces in Scotland until Major-General Middleton could arrive from the Netherlands. As the commander of the Scottish Royalists, Glencairn worked to build support among the clan leaders in the Highlands and organized a guerrilla campaign against the English.[2]

Battle[]

Supporting Glencairn in the campaign against the English was Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, the Scottish Highland chief of the Clan Cameron. At that time, Glencairn was in the Eastern Highlands campaigning against the occupying army of the English. Ewen and his clansmen were encamped at Tullich protecting Glencairn’s army against a surprise attack by the English.[3]

During this time, the English army commanded by General Robert Lilburne was in pursuit of Glencairn and found their way to Tullich. When the English approached, Ewen sent a warning to Glencairn and prepared to defend the pass. The fighting started shortly thereafter and the Cameron clansmen stopped the English advance fending off several attacks. As the battle continued, the English also attempted to flank the Scots but failed.[3]

After several hours of fighting, Ewen was ordered to retreat, leaving the pass open. The English at that time, however, were depleted and unable to continue their offensive. As the English fell back and attempted to return to Inverness, Ewen and his clansmen went on the offensive taking advantage of the situation and pursuing the English for several miles.[3]

Aftermath[]

Ewen returned in triumph to report back to Glencairn and was hailed as "The Deliverer of the Highland Army." Later, Ewen received written praise for his courage in battle from King Charles.[3]

Ian Mitchell's book On the Trail of Queen Victoria in the Highland is dedicated "to the Unknown Soldiers of Cromwell's Republic who fell in the Battle of Tullich near Ballater in 1654, overcoming bands of Royalist bandits under Locheil. Will we see their like again?" [4]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Wyness (1968), p. 142.
  2. ^ a b Plant.
  3. ^ a b c d Clan Cameron Association.
  4. ^ Mitchell (2000).

References[]

  • Clan Cameron Association (15 July 2007), Battle of Tullich Pass, Clan Cameron.org, retrieved 1 September 2013
  • Mitchell, Ian (2000), "Dedication", On the Trail of Queen Victoria in the Highlands, On the trail of series (illustrated ed.), Dundurn, ISBN 9780946487790
  • Plant, David (28 February 2007). "Glencairn's Uprising, 1653-4". BCW Project. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  • Wyness, J.F. (1968). Royal Valley: The Story of the Aberdeenshire Dee.

External links[]

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