George Munro of Culcairn

Sir George Munro of Culcairn (died 1746) was a Scottish soldier of the 18th century from Ross-shire, Scotland.

Lineage

George Munro of Culcairn was the second son of Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet of Foulis, chief of the Clan Munro, who was also known as the "Blind Baron". George's elder brother was Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis, the next successive chief of the clan.

1715 to 1719 Jacobite rising

During the 1715 to 1719 Jacobite rising the Munros always supported the British Government. In 1715 the MacKenzie Jacobite garrison at Inverness surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston (1715). Soon after this 31 year old Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops arrived in Inverness towards the end of February, and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on lead by a Munro detachment under George Munro of Culcairn. "The History of the Munroes of Fowlis". p. 104 - 107. By Alexander MacKenzie]

In 1719 Captain George Munro of Culcairn led a detachment of Munros at the Battle of Glenshiel where they helped to defeat the Jacobites. George Munro was wounded during the action. After the Jacobite lines had been broken a Jacobite commander ordered all of his men to fire their muskets at George who was hit in the legs. George, wounded was shielded by his servant, however he told his men to carry on and not to shield him. The Jacobites continued to fire at George after he was down, until Sergeant Robert Munro, son of Hugh Munro of Tullochue, with a small party, dislodged Captain George Munro's assailants, after having previously swore upon his dirk that he would effect his rescue. The Jacobites were soon put into retreat and after the battle the Jacobite rising was over.

The Black Watch and War in France

In 1725 six Independent Black Watch companies were formed. One of Munros, one of Frasers, one of Grants and three of Campbells. George Munro of Culcairn was made a Captain in Munro's company under his elder brother Robert. The regiment then was officially known as the 42nd Regiment of Foot or the 42nd Royal Highlanders. The regiments first action together came at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745 against the French. For the first time in a European battle they introduced a system of infantry tactics (alternatively firing and taking cover) that was not superseded. Springing up and closing with the enemy, they several times drove them back, and finished with a successful rear-guard action against French cavalry.

1745 to 1746 Jacobite rising

Later during the 1745 to 1746 Jacobite rising the Munros continued their support for the British Government. George Munro was appointed the command of the Clan Munro Independent Company. While his elder brother, Robert Munro, now the chief of the clan was appointed command of the English 37th Regiment of Foot and Robert's son, Sir Harry Munro held command in Loudon's Highlanders regiment. General Sir John Cope arrived at Inverness on 29th August 1745. George Munro of Culcairn met him and agreed that the Munros "should instantly take arms and join the King's troops".

Harry Munro joined Sir John Cope at the Water of Nairn and when the army marched for Aberdeen on 4th September Loudon's Highlanders regiment included his three companies, while George Munro of Culcairn's detachment acted as scouts. Sir John Cope remained in Aberdeen where a fourth company of Loudoun's regiment joined the others until 14th September from whence they sailed to Dunbar and their infamous defeat at the Battle of Prestonpans. Harry was among 70 officers taken prisoner and for a time was imprisoned in Glamis Castle but by mid January 1746 he was among 31 men released who arrived at Edinburgh, where he learnt the tragic news of his father Robert and his uncle Duncan's death after the Battle of Falkirk (1746).

Meanwhile the main body of Munros having escorted Sir John Cope successfully to Aberdeen had returned to the north under George Munro of Culcairn and were not present at Prestonpans. However George Munro and his Independent Company seem to have been involved in the events which led up to the Battle of Inverurie (1745) if not involved in the battle itself.

The Earl of Loudoun and Sir John Cope had escaped by sea to London after the Battle of Prestonpans from whence Loudoun later returned north to Inverness to take command in the north but was forced with the Lord President Forbes and George Munro of Culcairn to withdraw through the Black Isle into Ross-shire being pressed by a much larger Jacobite force.

After the Battle of Falkirk (1746), MacKenzie Jacobites had burned Foulis Castle leaving it a semi ruin. In April of that year the Jacobite army was finally defeated at the Battle of Culloden by Government forces, although Loudon's regiment were present Harry Munro was listed as missing on leave and George Munro of Culcairn had already returned north. Clan Munro Magazine No. 14 by R W Munro.]

Assassination

After the rising had been suppressed a Munro Independent Company under Harry Munro of Foulis and the command of his uncle, George Munro of Culcairn continued to police the Highlands. George Munro and his Independent Company burned Achnacarry Castle of the Clan Cameron to the ground, watched by Donald Cameron, chief of the Clan Cameron. The Camerons had been the most staunch of Jacobites and were also responsible for the murder, in cold blood, of George's brother Robert Munro (1684 - 1746) after the Battle of Falkirk.

Around the same time that Achnacarry Castle was burned a Government officer from the Clan Grant was watched ordering the execution of a group of Jacobite Camerons who had surrendered. The Camerons who watched the execution from the hillside said that the officer, Grant of Knockando rode a white horse and wore a long navy blue cloak. Later, on August 31st 1746, Captain Grant of Knockando and Captain George Munro of Culcairn were riding up the side of Locharkaigside and had reached a point on the track just past Kenmore, when George Munro fell from his horse mortally wounded by a shot fired from the wood on the right of the track. He had borrowed Grant's horse and coat and as a result was shot in mistake for him by Dugal Roy Cameron whose brother had been executed on the orders of Grant. [ [http://www.cameron-site.com/Private%20Site/err5.html err5 ] ] [http://chrsouchon.free.fr/hamoleab.htm http://chrsouchon.free.fr/hamoleab.htm] [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/HISTORY/selkirk_appb.htm On Emigration and the State of the Highlands - Appendix B ] ]

Family

George's son, John Munro of Culcairn is also well remembered for the unusual hospitality he showed to a Jacobite Bishop in the 1760s. It is recorded how John Munro of Culcairn treated him to "the best of Strong Ale, Claret of Vintage 49 and good Coffee made of his own Wheat". The Bishop also described Culcairn's improvements: "his grounds produce the best of Wheat and he has erected a Flour-Miln for dressing it". ["The Clan Munro" by CI Fraser of Reeling. p. 10 - 11. Johnston and Bacon Clan Histories. [http://www.clanmunro.org.uk/merchandise_files/munro_book.htm] ]

References