Sheriffmuir

Sheriffmuir

Sheriffmuir, the site of the inconclusive 1715 Battle of Sheriffmuir, lies on the slopes of the Ochil Hills in Scotland, just inside the Perthshire border.

The Battle of Sherrifmuir

The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rising. John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, had declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King of Scots. With an army of about 12,000 men Mar proceeded to take Perth, and commanded much of the northern Highlands. Following unsuccessful skirmishes against John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, Mar decided to lead his full army south, on the 10th November. Spies informed Argyll of Mar's actions, and he moved his army of about 4,000 to Sheriffmuir. The two armies met on the battlefield on 13 November 1715.

Argyll was seriously outnumbered by the Jacobite army, even though it was now somewhat diminished from its previous numbers. His right wing attacked, and managed to drive the Highlanders back, but it wasn’t long before the soldiers were overpowered by a much larger force. By evening, both armies were seriously reduced, and although Mar had a great advantage in numbers, he refused to risk the entirety of his army, allowing Argyll the opportunity to withdraw.

The end result of the battle was inconclusive, with both sides claiming victory. The number of the slain on the side of the Jacobites has been stated to have been eight hundred. Of the government army, there were killed, and wounded, upwards of six hundred. In strategic terms Argyll had been successful in that he had halted the Jacobite advance, and the engagement only served to demoralise the Jacobite army who, with their superior numbers, felt they should have decisively won. Mar's French and Spanish supporters in particular withdrew their forces.

Clan Macrae Monument

A monument stands on the battlefield beside the road to commemorate Clan MacRae, who suffered heavy casualties on the day The plaque on the Sheriffmuir Cairn reads: The Clan MacRae In memory of the MacRaes killed at Sheriffmuir, 13th Nov. 1715, when defending the Royal House of Stuart. The Kintail and Lochalsh companies formed part of the left wing of the highland army and fell almost to a man. Erected at the instance of the Clan MacRae Society. 13th November, 1915.