This was the first significant Jacobite rising, and was followed by more than a half century of abortive attempts to bring James II and VII or his heirs back to the throne. On hearing of the expulsion of James and his replacement with William of Orange, and of the government’s plan to set up a garrison in Inverlochy, Viscount Dundee, John Graham of Claverhouse, gathered his supporters and prepared for confrontation. The Government’s men were led by General Hugh Mackay, who met them at the narrow pass of Killiecrankie in Perthshire. Dundee was killed in the action and although the victory lay with his party, both sides suffered dreadful losses. Colin, the third Earl of Balcarres, tells the story in a letter to James.
As the Viscount was marching to Atholl, Major-General Cannon arrived from Ireland; he brought about three hundred new-raised men with him. Their arrival had been seasonable if two accidents had not happened, which made their coming do the Viscount more prejudice than all the good could be expected from so few men; he had been often promised by the Earl of Melfort, that a considerable body should be sent over, both of horse and foot, with ammunition and all other necessaries, which they were in great want of, (insomuch that many of the best gentlemen who had followed him for many weeks had seen neither bread, salt, or drink, except water;) instead of this hope from Ireland, the Clans saw all their expectations reduced to this three hundred men, who were in as great misery as themselves, which discouraged them extremely; next, the loss of some provisions, as beer, cheese, &c., which was coming to them in ships, which General Cannon detained so long at Mull, that an English frigate came and took them. But, notwithstanding all these discouragements, the Viscount resolved to secure the Castle of Blair, and, about the end of July, marched down to Atholl.
When he came to the Castle of Blair, he called a Council of War, having intelligence that Mackay was entering by the narrow pass of Killicrankie into that country. Many of the Clans and other officers were for maintaining that pass, because they thought not themselves strong enough to encounter him, and as their general rendezvous was to be in two days, when they should become considerably stronger. But the Viscount convinced them that, in all appearance, they never could have so fair an opportunity, Mackay having then only two troops of horse with him, but, if they delayed, he would soon bring up all the English horse and dragoons, which the Highlanders of all things most fear. This determined them, and it was resolved to suffer Mackay to enter the pass, and to fight him with half his number, rather than stay till his cavalry had joined him. Mackay, having entered the pass without resistance, formed his army, of above four thousand men, upon a plain, having a small river in his rear, upon the further side of which he placed his baggage.
The Viscount of Dundee encamped upon a heath the night before the battle, and was desirous, before so bold an undertaking, to have some symptoms that his Highlanders (after so long a peace) still retained the courage of their ancestors, so manifest upon former occasions. For this end, while his men slept in their plaids, near the break of day, he caused a loud alarm be made the enemy was at hand. The Highlanders instantly were roused, threw away their plaids, seized their arms, and ran to the front of their camp, drew up into order, then calmly stood, expecting the enemy. When the Viscount perceived this, and that not a man of them had retired, with full assurance he instantly began his march to meet the enemy. When he came to a height that overlooked the plain where Mackay was, he was much pleased to observe them drawn up in but one line, and without any reserve; he assured his men they should beat them if they observed his orders.
The posture of the enemy made him change the order of his battle; he formed his small army, of near two thousand, into three divisions, deep in file, with large intervals between them, that he might not be outflanked by Mackay, who was more than double his number, and of veteran troops. Having completed his disposition, which took some time, in the afternoon he marched down to the attack. The Highlanders suffered their fire with courage, – then, when nearer them, delivered their own, and with sword and targe rapidly broke through their line and fell upon their flanks and rear, so that, in a moment, the whole intervals of this extended front gave way and fled. The Viscount put himself at the head of his small body of horse; Sir William Wallace had produced a commission from your Majesty, that morning, to command them, to the great mortification of the Earl of Dunfermline, and even of others who thought themselves injured, yet had that respect for your service that no dispute was made at so critical a time. The Viscount advanced to attack their cannon, but thought Sir William advanced too slowly; he called them to march, but Sir William not being so forward, the Earl of Dunfermline and some others left their ranks and followed the Viscount; with these he took their cannon before the rest came up.
When he observed the foot beaten and horse fled, he rode towards a body of Macdonalds in the rear, intending to make use of them to attack the regiments of Hastings and Leven, who were retiring unbroken from not being fronted; but unhappily, while doing this, he was, by a distant shot, mortally wounded; he attempted to return, but fell from his horse. – Although the Highlanders had acted with order and intrepidity, yet unluckily, when they came to the enemies’ baggage, it stopped their pursuit, and lost them part of the fruits of their victory, for Mackay and these two regiments got off, – yet many of them were killed next day by the Atholl men, as they were repassing at Killiecrankie.
General Mackay fled to Stirling, and arrived the next day, with not above two hundred of his army; he had two thousand men killed upon the field, and near five hundred made prisoners. The victory was complete, but, I must own, your Majesty’s affairs were undone by the irreparable loss of the Viscount of Dundee. Your friends who knew him best were in doubt if his civil or military capacities were most eminent. None of this nation so well knew the different interests, tempers, and inclinations of the men most capable to serve you; none had more the ability to insinuate and persuade; he was extremely affable, and, although a good manager of his private fortune, yet had no reserve when your service and his own reputation required him to be liberal, which gained him the hearts of all who followed him, and brought him into such reputation, that, had he survived that day, in all probability he had given such a turn to your affairs, that the Prince of Orange could neither have gone nor sent into Ireland, so your Majesty had been entirely master of that kingdom, and in a condition to have landed with what forces you pleased in Scotland, which of all things your friends most desired.