1594

Battle of Glenlivet
3 October 1594
Between the Catholic army raised by George Gordon Marquis of Huntly and the Protestant troops of 7th Earl of Argyll (and thence most likely men from Ardchattan)
About 50 hours walking away from home Glenlivet is between Grantown on Spey and Dufftown.

Death of Archibald Campbell 2nd of Lochnell the first volley of cannon killed Archibald Campbell, 2nd of Lochnell (and MacNeill of Barra) .. Lochnell supposedly had plotted with Huntly to go over to his side, a conspiracy because Argyll had killed his brother 2 years previously, and with an eye on taking over the Yellow Standard !! (more notes on his page.

http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/BTL33
this link has the background, the description, a map
Map of the battle

Argylls men were ambushed by Huntlys, and several hundred killed, including Archibald Campbell, 2nd of Lochnell, Son of John Gorm Campbell and Mary Campbell

Historical Background from the link above
On 3 October 1595, Huntly, with around 2000 Highlanders and 1500 cavalry, launched a surprise attack on Argyll's army of between 6000 to 7000 men, mostly Highlanders, high on the slopes of Ben Rinnes. Argyll's men were taken at a disadvantage, with his pike coming up behind with the baggage, while his missile troops were in the front of the advancing force. This allowed Huntly's much feared horse to do their worst, pushing the arquebusiers and archers back on to the main body. Although Argyll's missile troops did fire against the oncoming enemy, the presence of horse to the front and on the flank, along with artillery fire, made their position untenable and soon broke Argyll's force, leaving several hundred dead. There are contrasting reports that Argyll was at liberty to remain and bury his dead on the field after the battle or that he and his army fled the field.

The Armies
Huntly: Huntly's men were largely cavalry and would have worn chainmail and carried lances. They were supported by infantry and, according to Robert Bowes, by six cannon. If this is true, then it is the first instance of artillery being used in battle so far north (Brooks 2007, 329).

Argyll: Argyll's men were largely irregular infantry, although they included 500 Irish arquebusiers. In a letter to Sir Robert Cecil, Robert Bowes (the English Ambassador) quotes Argyll's army as having a large number 'of the common sort 'raskalls and poke caryers' 'who 'marched at raggle and in plompes without order'. There was little confidence at court in Argyll's troops:
Argyll: 6000 Highlanders from the Campbell, Murray, Stewart, Forbes, MacGillivray, Maclean and Grant clans and the Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh and Clan MacNeil as well as 500 Irish arquebusiers and 400 men from Atholl. Robert Bowes mentions that the Lairds of Drum (Dromme) and Balquhan (Bloquhan) joined Argyll.

from A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

suggests that Lochnell and Huntly had arranged for the latter to transfer his allegiance and men to Huntly as battle commenced. They reportedly had made arrangements for Huntly use his artillery to attack Argylls forces (firing at the Yellow standard) before charging with cavalry.
It describes that Lochnell was bent on revenge on argyll for the murder of his brother Campbell of Calder, in 1592, and, as the next heir to the Earl, he would inherit.
This strategy tragically misfired as Lochnell, (and MacNeill of Barra) were shot dead in the first firing of the cannon, and as he died, all his men fled from the field.
It is likely that the Highland forces had not yet seen the cannon field pieces, and hence thrown in disarray. Huntly took advantage of this and took the battle.


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