The Inventory of Historic Battlefields – Battle of Auldearn Designation

The Inventory of Historic Battlefields – Battle of Auldearn The Inventory of Historic Battlefields is a list of nationally important battlefields in Scotland. A battlefield is of national importance if it makes a contribution to the understanding of the archaeology and history of the nation as a whole, or has the potential to do so, or holds a particularly significant place in the national consciousness. For a battlefield to be included in the Inventory, it must be considered to be of national importance either for its association with key historical events or figures; or for the physical remains and/or archaeological potential it contains; or for its landscape context. In addition, it must be possible to define the site on a modern map with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The aim of the Inventory is to raise awareness of the significance of these nationally important battlefield sites and to assist in their protection and management for the future. Inventory battlefields are a material consideration in the planning process. The Inventory is also a major resource for enhancing the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of historic battlefields, for promoting education and stimulating further research, and for developing their potential as attractions for visitors. Designation Record Contents Name Date of Addition to Inventory Alternative Name(s) Date of Last Update Date of Battle Overview and Statement of Local Authority Significance NGR Centred Inventory Boundary Inventory of Historic Battlefields ALFORD Alternative Names: None 2 July 1645 Local Authority: Aberdeenshire NGR centred: NJ 567 162 Date of Addition to Inventory: 21 March 2011 Date of last update: 14 December 2012 Overview and Statement of Significance The Battle of Alford is significant as one of Montrose’s most notable victories in his campaign within Scotland on behalf of Charles I. The victory for the Royalists against an experienced and well-prepared Covenanter force further enhanced Montrose’s reputation, and left the Royalists without any organised opposition in the Highlands. Montrose’s success also convinced Charles to continue the fight in England, in spite of how poorly the war was going for him south of the border. The battle was fought between the Scottish Royalists and the Covenanter Government forces during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It was the fifth battle of the Marquis of Montrose’s Scottish campaign against the Covenanter army, on behalf of Charles I of England. The battle ended in a victory for Montrose and opened the way to the lowlands for the Royalist army. The victory was a great boost for Charles I, whose cause in England was faltering badly after a crushing defeat at Naseby in June 1645. In Scotland, the effect of the battle was to expose the weakness in the Covenanter army, where the commander was subject to the orders of the powerful Committee of Estates. Inventory Boundary The Inventory boundary defines the area in which the main events of the battle are considered to have taken place (landscape context) and where associated physical remains and archaeological evidence occur or may be expected (specific qualities). The landscape context is described under battlefield landscape: it encompasses areas of fighting, key movements of troops across the landscape and other important locations, such as the positions of camps or vantage points. Although the landscape has changed since the time of the battle, key characteristics of the terrain at the time of the battle can normally still be identified, enabling events to be more fully understood and interpreted in their landscape context. Specific qualities are described under physical remains and potential: these include landscape features that played a significant role in the battle, other physical remains, such as enclosures or built structures, and areas of known or potential archaeological evidence. 1 Inventory of Historic Battlefields The Inventory boundary for the Battle of Alford is defined on the accompanying map and includes the following areas: • The southern plains of the River Don, as the direction of the advance of the Covenanter army and their approach to Gallow Hill. • The slopes and summit of Gallow Hill and the views out from the Royalist vantage point, as the position of the Royalists initial deployment and a key landscape feature in Montrose’s exploitation of the terrain to outmanoeuvre the Covenanter army. • Lands to the east and north-east of Gallow Hill including Murray and Haughton Parks, as the probable direction of the Covenanter rout. 2 Inventory of Historic Battlefields Historical Background to the Battle On the night of 1 July 1645, the Royalists quartered at Alford with the Covenanter army under Lieutenant-General William Baillie in pursuit about four miles away. In the morning, Baillie marched after the Royalists, who decided to deploy near Alford to engage him. While the Covenanters had the advantage in infantry, with perhaps 2,800 troops, it is possible that Montrose, with about 2,300 troops, had an advantage in cavalry for the first time in his campaign. It appears that Montrose decided to stand and engage Baillie before the latter could be joined by any other forces. The Royalists probably deployed on the slopes above Alford church close by the main road, while Baillie crossed the river by a ford further to the east near Montgarrie. It is suggested that the Covenanters believed Montrose to be retreating and so advanced too quickly. They found themselves within just half a mile of Montrose when they discovered he had in fact deployed to fight. The Royalist forces stood largely out of sight on the top or back slope of the hill, and so Baillie halted in the valley and took advantage of a strong defensive position amongst enclosures on the low ground. The two armies deployed in a standard formation with two cavalry wings and infantry in the centre. The Royalist cavalry charge, seconded by detachments of infantry who had also been positioned on the wings to strengthen the cavalry deployment, soon drove off the Covenanter horse. In contrast, the Covenanter infantry stood and fought until they were outflanked and attacked simultaneously to the rear by the Royalist cavalry, and to the fore by infantry. According to Baillie, they had had to deploy just three ranks deep, instead of the more normal six deep, to avoid being over- winged by the wider formation of the Royalists. As a result they were unable to respond to a simultaneous attack at both front and rear. Baillie’s infantry broke and ran, the rout soon turning into a bloody execution as the Royalist cavalry pressed home the pursuit. While the Covenanters suffered perhaps 700 killed, the Royalist casualties were very light but did include the death of their cavalry commander Lord Gordon. The Armies The addition of 400 – 1,000 inexperienced local levies (who included Thomas Watt, great-grandfather of James Watt) to Baillie’s army just before Alford did little to make up for the loss of the 1,000 experienced troops from the army to the separate forces under Lindsay. Indeed, Baillie considered his army significantly outnumbered when the action finally took place, though this may represent justification by a defeated commander (Baillie 1775). Baillie claimed he was slightly weaker in horse but had just half the infantry that Montrose commanded (Baillie 1775). In contrast, Montrose, although still lacking Mac Colla’s Irish forces, had been re-joined by Lord Gordon and he considered his army strong enough to engage Baillie on favourable terms. Gardiner suggests that the two forces were perhaps equal in foot but the Covenanters slightly stronger in horse, but more recently authors have suggested a limited Covenanter advantage in foot but not in horse. The most detailed description of the royalist forces is given by Gordon (Gordon & Dunn 1844). 3 Inventory of Historic Battlefields Numbers Covenanter: The Covenanters had a small numerical advantage, but a substantial proportion were unwilling recent recruits. The army appears to have been around 2,400 infantry and 380 cavalry (Reid 2003); Baillie reckoned himself outnumbered 2:1 in foot and very slightly in horse, which may reflect his opinion of his new troops. Royalist: Current estimates for the size of Montrose’s force are around 1,800 infantry and 500 cavalry (Reid 2003). Losses Covenanter: There is a wild variance in the figures given for the Covenanter dead, from 700 in some modern accounts (Marren 1990), to contemporary accounts that claimed all the infantry with their officers were killed, except a few stragglers and 12 officers who were taken prisoner. The lower figures are far more likely. Royalist: All of the accounts suggest very low Royalist casualties, with contemporary accounts putting the Royalist dead in single figures. It is likely that there was a higher mortality rate than this for Montrose’s troops, but certainly their casualties were light; Montrose could not afford heavy casualties. Action On the morning of 2 July, the Covenanter army marched after the Royalists. Montrose, knowing that Lindsay was bringing additional troops to join Baillie, decided he must defeat the latter before the reinforcements arrived. He was riding out to watch the fords when news arrived that the Covenanters were marching quickly to a ford about a mile from Alford, aiming to cut off the Royalist’s retreat, believing Montrose to be fleeing. He therefore sent out detachments of cavalry to that ford to skirmish with the enemy and slow their advance, and to bring news of the enemy approach. Montrose himself personally placed his main force in order on the hill overlooking Alford, where he intended to take the enemy attack. The ground to his rear was a marsh and ‘intersected by ditches and pools’, providing protection from cavalry attack, while in front was a steep hill, concealing his deployment.

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