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#otd 21st August 1689, the Jacobite Army commences their assault on Dunkeld and the Earl of Angus’ Regiment of Foot (also known as the Cameronians). 1,200 Presbyterian soldiers fight with such fervour that they beat an army of around 5,000 men. Here’s a short #thread #HighlandWar
The Cameronians had been sent to hold Dunkeld by the Scottish Privy Council. Major-General Mackay, who was pursuing the Jacobite Army, later commented that posting the Cameronians in a majority Episcopalian area was ‘ill-advised’
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#HighlandWar #twitterstorians
They immediately alienated the populace by throwing their weight around: these were, after all, uncovenanted malignants. It wasn’t long before Brigadier-General Alexander Cannon, Dundee’s successor & former Scots-Dutch officer, heard of the isolated regiment.
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#HighlandWar
When the Jacobite Army appeared they began surrounding the town and firing upon it with the 3 leather cannon captured at Killiecrankie. Ironically, these cannons were relics of the Armies of the Covenant.
The tools of the elect turned against them. But the fire was ineffectual.
The tools of the elect turned against them. But the fire was ineffectual.
A little known fact was that Henry Erskine, 3rd Lord Cardross and his Regiment of Dragoons were briefly involved in the fighting. As the town came under siege that morning Cardross and his men formed up around Dunkeld house on the outskirts of town.
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#HighlandWar #twitterstorians
After briefly skirmishing with outlying elements of the Jacobite forces, Cardross prudently decided that he could do little to help the Cameronians alone. The Dragoons rode for Perth where an exasperated Cardross tried to convice Colonel George Ramsay to act
#HighlandWar
#HighlandWar
Ramsay, Colonel of 3rd Regiment of Scots-Dutch Brigade, refused. He would not march out of Perth without orders either from Maj-Gen Mackay or from the Privy Council.
Mackay was in the north, past the Jacobite Army so getting in contact was impossible. The Council were indecisive
Mackay was in the north, past the Jacobite Army so getting in contact was impossible. The Council were indecisive
Whilst this arguing continued, 16 hours of severe street fighting commenced. The Cameronian commander Lieutenant-Colonel William Clelland was killed. A veteran of the Covenanter Risings (1666-1685) he reportedly dragged himself out of sight of his men.
#HighlandWar
#HighlandWar
Dunkeld was ablaze, the bodies of attacking Highlanders and the defenders littered the streets. After running out of musket balls, the regiment began melting down roof slates to make balls. The Cameronians fell back to the Dunkeld Cathedral, Major George Munro now in command.
Men barricaded in the houses were burned alive, the low garden walls proved extremely deterimental to the Jacobite Clans shock tactic charge. The Cameronians began singing Psalms, they were prepared to die. The Clans began to draw off, severely bloodied and disheartened.
After hours of fierce combat, the Jacobite Army relented when Cardross and Ramsay finally marched to Dunkeld with a detachment, including Ramsay’s Scots-Dutch Regiment.
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#HighlandWar #twitterstorians
Mackay later wrote in his memoirs - ‘This attack, which our own people, as well as the ennemy judged could not fail, produced clear another effect; for after that day the Highlanders got a low esteem of the conduct of [Alexander] Canon...’
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![Mackay later wrote in his memoirs - ‘This attack, which our own people, as well as the ennemy judged could not fail, produced clear another effect; for after that day the Highlanders got a low esteem of the conduct of [Alexander] Canon...’ #HighlandWar #twitterstorians](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ef-hqidXsAAVJDk.jpg "Mackay later wrote in his memoirs - ‘This attack, which our own people, as well as the ennemy judged could not fail, produced clear another effect; for after that day the Highlanders got a low esteem of the conduct of [Alexander] Canon...’ #HighlandWar #twitterstorians")
#HighlandWar #twitterstorians
Dunkeld is often seen as the ‘conclusion’ of the Highland War as historians retrospectively point to it, just as they do with Killiecrankie & Cromdale, as indicative of the imminent doom of the Jacobite cause. Miraculous a victory as Dunkeld was, it did not end the War.
