Thank you very much for a very interesting and informative video - and for pointing us in the direction of Bill Inglis' booklet on the subject, which I've now ordered a copy of to learn more.
A very good presentation. This battle is routinely regarded as having an inconclusive outcome but I think, at the end of the day, that Sherriffmuir must be regarded as a victory for the Hanoverians. Argyll halted Marr in his tracks which fulfils his strategic objective and held the field with an army that was half the size of his opponent's. That's the tactical aspect covered. Of Argyll's army, only the Buffs, the Royal North British Fusileers and the Scots Greys were Veterans of Marlborough's Army of Flanders (roughly one fifth of the entire Hanoverian army) The remainder were garrison troops from Ireland and units that had been reconstituted in the aftermath of the Almansa disaster with little to no combat experience.
There is a very good Piobaireachd (Pibroch), composed by John MacIntyre, Piper to Menzies of Menzies around the time of the battle called The Battle of Sherrifmuir (Blar Sliabh an t'siorraidh.
My ancestor fought at the battle and was found wounded still holding his sword by the farmers of the area who came to help and cure them after the battle. He was one of the few Macraes who survived the battle. The story is told in chapter 17 of the history of clan Macrae.
Very interesting, Eduardo. Although I state in the video that all the Macraes were wiped out, I believe that you are right and that one or two did indeed survive.
Your video is excellent. Here you have an edited copy of the chapter that I read in the last Gathering of the clan in 2019 when we paid homage to our dead at Sheriffmuir. CHAPTER 17 HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACRAE A Romance of Sheriffmuir -- The Rev. James Macrae of Sauchieburn Among the Macraes who fought at the battle of Sheriffmuir, a certain young man, covered with wounds and apparently dead, with his sword still in his grasp, was found on the field after the battle. On its being discovered that life was still in him, he was taken to a neighbouring farm house, where he was kindly cared for until his wounds were healed. Instead of returning home he settled in the neighbourhood and married the farmer's daughter. By her he had at least one son, Duncan, (son of Sheriffmuir soldier), who joined the Highland army in 1745 on its way south under Prince Charlie. Duncan married and had at least one son, James, (son of Duncan, son of Sheriffmuir soldier), who became a carpenter in the Perthshire Highlands, married and had issue, at least one son, James, (son of James, son of Duncan, son of Sheriffmuir soldier), who was a Berean minister at Sauchieburn, in the parish of Fettercairn, in 1775. His preaching is said to have been evangelical and full of power, and people flocked to his church from all the adjacent parishes. After a long an honourable course of labor he was forced by the increasing infirmities of old age to resign his pastorate, and shortly afterwards died at Laurencekirk in 1813. He had married Jean Low of Fettercairn in 1777, by whom he had a large family, one of whom was the ancestor of the Macraes present today at Sheriffmuir.
@@eduardomacraemoir4930 That's marvellous. It's great that you can trace your ancestry back to someone who actually fought at Sheriffmuir. You must feel a close personal connection when you're at the battlefield. And interesting information on your intermediate ancestors too! These extra stories in the comments section always add value to my videos, so thank you, Eduardo.
what were your sources of information, which books did you read and how did you manage to get accurate maps of the battlefield as the OS map shows the battle site further away to the north east. there are said to be two large pits were the some of the bodies were buried but were later moved, do you know their location, is it near the gathering stone?
Hi Jimi. My two main sources were "Battles of the Jacobite Rebellions" by Jonathan Oates, published in 2019. And a marvellous 60-page booklet called "The Battle of Sheriffmuir" by local historian Bill Inglis, published in 2005. This booklet is reckoned to be the best single work on Sheriffmuir because the author not only has very good local knowledge but his text draws heavily on twelve eye witness accounts to painstakingly recreate the course of the battle. The booklet also has several maps and diagrams showing the movement of troops which greatly aid the reader in understanding what was a confusing battle. I am sorry but I don"t know anything about these pits or the moving of bodies. Many bodies are said to be buried near the gathering stone but exactly where I am not sure.
Just after the gathering stone you’ll notice two sunken holes in the ground, they say many men are buried there. The house I live in now used to be a barn where the red coats hid and the owners before us found some buried in the garden
That's really interesting. Are you near The Linns or Stonehill Farm? You can perhaps infer from my description of the progress of the battle at what point those redcoats took refuge in your house (barn).
Thank you very much, Lisa. I perhaps should have made it clear that the Jacobites called James "the Old Chevalier" and the government called him "the Old Pretender". Also that the term "Jacobite Rising" is preferred to "Jacobite Rebellion" by those with Jacobite sympathies.
That's very interesting, Coni. It must be quite something to feel a personal connection with this battle. Do you know much more about your ancestor? Where he was from? What regiment he was in? Anything like that.
He was 17 yrs old son of lord Hume of wedderburn castle in Berckwickshire. He was imprisoned for 2 yrs . Then exiled to colonies Lots of history of his ancient family desendents of the first king of Scotland. His father was stripped of lands , but his sister married the man who held the lands. I have been back to gathering .
