| Battle of Cromdale | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theJacobite rising of 1689 | |||||||
 ThePiper's Stone, a boulder upon which a mortally wounded Jacobite piper played music to encourage his comrades | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Scottish Government |  Jacobites | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Thomas LivingstoneLudovick Grant | Thomas BuchanJohn Cameron | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 | 800 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| ~100 killed | 400 killed | ||||||
| Designated | 30 November 2011 | ||||||
| Reference no. | BTL20 | ||||||
  Location within Scotland | |||||||
TheBattle of Cromdale took place at the Haughs of Cromdale on 30 April and 1 May 1690. The site is on a hillside near the village ofCromdale,Strathspey, historically within the county ofInverness-shire. The battlefield has been included in theInventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland and protected byHistoric Scotland under the Scottish Historical Environment Policy of 2009.[2]
After their defeat at theBattle of Dunkeld in 1689, the Highland clans had returned to their homes in low spirits.Sir Ewen Cameron assumed control over the army's remnant. Sir Ewen and the otherJacobite chiefs complained toKing James over the precarious state of his support in Scotland and the necessity of sending them aid. James was occupied with preparations for resisting a threatenedinvasion of Ireland. To aid his supporters in Scotland, James sent clothing, arms, ammunition and provisions. He also directed a few officers from Ireland to Lochaber, among whom was Major-GeneralThomas Buchan, whom James made commander-in-chief of the Jacobite forces in Scotland.[3]
On Buchan's arrival, a meeting of the chiefs and principal officers was held at Keppoch to formulate a plan of action. While some of the clans proposed to submit to the government, this proposition was resisted by Sir Ewen. The meeting unanimously resolved to continue the war, but not until the labours of the spring season were complete in the Highlands. The general muster of the clans was postponed. In the meantime, a detachment of 1,200 infantrymen was to be placed at Buchan's disposal to weaken the enemy's quarters along the borders of the Lowlands.
General Buchan advanced his men throughBadenoch, intending to march down Speyside into theDuke of Gordon's country, where he expected to muster additional forces. Due to desertion, Buchan's force had dwindled to 800 men. Ignoring counsel from his Scottish officers not to advance past Culnakill, (the modern Coulnakyle nearNethybridge)[4][5][6] Buchan marched down the Spey as far as Cromdale where he encamped on the last day of April, contrary to the advice of his officers who warned him of the dangers of camping thence. Buchan had elected to encamp in view ofFreuchie Castle in the hope that by such a show of strength he could gain the support ofClan Grant.
Buchan was met at Cromdale, near what is now the town ofGrantown-on-Spey, by a larger government force underSir Thomas Livingstone, commander of the garrison of Inverness, who was accompanied by local Grant guides. As Livingstone approached with his men, on the opposite bank of the Spey, the Jacobite forces started to retreat. Livingstone's cavalry crossed the river and intercepted the Jacobites who made a brief stand at the foot of the hill of Cromdale. However, a thick fog came down the side of the mountain and enveloped the outnumbered Jacobites, compelling Livingstone to discontinue the pursuit. According to reports, the Highlanders had 400 men killed and taken prisoner. Livingstone's losses were reported as between none and 100 killed.
A group of around 100 men, who had separated from the main Jacobite force, crossed the Spey the following day. After being pursued by some of Livingstone's men, they were overtaken and dispersed on the moor of Granish nearAviemore, where some of them were killed. They attempted to seize the castle ofLoch an Eilein, but their attack was repelled by the proprietor and his tenants.
The defeat at Cromdale effectively ended the1689 rebellion in Scotland. The battle is commemorated in the balladThe Haughs of Cromdale. The song confuses the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Cromdale withJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose's victory against theRoundheads at theBattle of Auldearn 45 years earlier. Montrose was executed by the Parliamentarians in 1650, and Oliver Cromwell died in 1658.[7]The Haughs of Cromdale is listed inJames Hogg'sJacobite Reliques as song number 2. Hogg described its artistic license as "the worst specimen of the truth of Scottish song that is to be met with", and speculated that the song as collected was originally two different ballads that were later conflated as Jacobite propaganda.[8]
The last verse reads:
The loyal Stewarts, with Montrose,
So boldly set upon their foes,
And brought them down with Highland blows,
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.
Of twenty thousand, Cromwell's men,
Five hundred fled to Aberdeen,
The rest of them lie on the plain,
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.