Battle of Kilsyth

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Kilsyth


caption=
partof=Wars of the Three Kingdoms
date=August 15 1645
place=Kilsyth, about 10 miles south-west of Stirling, Scotland
result=Royalist Victory
combatant1=Royalist Irish and Highland Scots
combatant2=Scots Covenanters
commander1=Lord Montrose
Alasdair MacColla
commander2=William Baillie
The Committee of Estates
strength1=4250 foot, 500 cavalry
strength2=6000 foot, 800 cavalry
casualties1=Light
casualties2=c.4500|The Battle of Kilsyth was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms which took place on August 15, 1645 at Kilsyth. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the battle was another victory for Royalist forces over the Covenanters, and marked the end of William Baillie's pursuit of the Royalists.

Troop movements

Baillie and his army were at Perth attending the meeting of the Scottish Estates. He had been given command of 6,000 foot and 800 horse; a mixture of new levies from Fife, a number of regular regiments withdrawn from England, and remnants of other forces already defeated by Montrose. The cavalry was mainly regular dragoons. In addition to these troops, the Earl of Lanark had raised a levy of 1,000 infantry and 500 cavalry from the estate of his brother, the Duke of Hamilton, in Clydesdale, and was en route north to join the main body.

When news of this troop movement reached Montrose, he decided to confront these forces individually, before they could join up. Marching from Dunkeld he skirted Baillie's force at Perth and travelled via Kinross, Glenfarg and Alloa, crossing the Forth near Stirling, and circumnavigating Stirling Castle. By nightfall on the 14 August, the army was camped in a meadow near Colzium, by Kilsyth, in the area around Colzium Castle. This area is still known as Cavalry Park in memory of the event.

Baillie learned of Montrose's advance almost immediately, but it took a little time for its purpose to become apparent. Realising that his opponent had gained an advantage and that Lanark's forces were in danger, he moved his men southward, reaching Stirling by the line of the modern A9 road. On the same night as Montrose reached Colzium, Baillie was only three miles off at Hollinbush. He arrived late and his men had little rest.

Overnight, his scouts located the Royalist encampment, and at dawn the next morning his troops were on the move and, marching directly across country, reaching the village of Banton. This gave the Covenanters the higher ground around the eastern rim of the hollow occupied by the Royalist infantry.

The battle

The Royalist troops were clearly visible, undisturbed by the arrival of the main army of their enemies. Having a healthy respect for his opposition, and appreciating that his own forces had already marched several miles in full kit, Baillie decided to take positions where he was and wait for events. If Lanark's force appeared, he had Montrose trapped between the two, and if Montrose decided to attack Lanark, being the weaker force, then Baillie could take him from the rear. Likewise, if Montrose attacked him, Lanark could provide support.

Although Baillie's decision was sound, he was not allowed to adhere to it. His orders were subject to the approval of the "Committee of the Estates", comprising of the Earls of Argyll, Crawford and Tullibardine, and the Lords Elcho, and Balfour of Burleigh, together with a number of Calvinist clergy. They ordered a flank march around Montrose's position, to the area of Colzium Castle. In full view of an enemy capable of an aggressive defense, such as Montrose's Highlanders, this was a suicidal move. Baillie protested vigorously, but was over-ruled and was told to re-assemble his army in column and move off accordingly.

Montrose reacted quickly to this unexpected opportunity. He sent the Gordon cavalry against the head of the column and the MacLean infantry to seize the central ground where he had expected the battle to take place. Reinforcing both units, the first with both cavalry and infantry, the latter with MacDonalds, he stopped the column's advance.

He then ordered a general attack; the Highlanders charged the Covenanters who were already broken and in retreat. Approximately three-quarters of the Covenanter troops perished. Baillie himself fled south with an escort of cavalry, but was caught in the notorious Dullatur Bog, a marshy area lying between the head waters of the Kelvin and the Bonny. He managed to escape, although he left most of his escort behind, and reached safety at Stirling Castle. During construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal, the bodies of several troopers, one still seated on a horse, were recovered from the bog.

Lanark's forces were told of the defeat, and dispersed. Lanark himself and the Committee of the Estates escaped across the border to England. Briefly, Montrose found himself undisputed master of Scotland, however this was too late for the King; the Battle of Naseby had been lost and his cause was in ruins.