Battle of Aberdeen (1644) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Aberdeen
Part of Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Bon Accord Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen. In 1644 this area was outside the city. Montrose attacked from the approximate line of Willowbank Road, in the distance, towards the camera position and the site of the Crabstane
Date 13 September 1644 Location Aberdeen, Scotland Result Royalist/Irish victory
Belligerents
Royalists Irish Brigade	Covenanters
Commanders and leaders
Lord Montrose Alasdair MacColla Col. James Hay Sir William Rollo	Lord Burleigh Lord Gordon Sir William Forbes
Strength
1,500-foot, 80 horse	2,000-foot, 300 horse
Casualties and losses
Light	520
118–160 people killed in sack of Aberdeen by Royalists

The Battle of Aberdeen, also called the Battle of Justice Mills, was a fight during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. This big conflict happened across Scotland, England, and Ireland. The battle took place outside Aberdeen on 13 September 1644. In this battle, Royalist forces, who supported King Charles I, were led by Lord Montrose. They defeated an army from the Covenanters, who supported a special agreement for the church. The Covenanter army was led by Robert Balfour, 2nd Lord Balfour of Burleigh.

Why the Battle Happened

After a victory at the Battle of Tippermuir near Perth, Montrose's Royalist army got many weapons. But he could not hold Perth. Many of his Highland soldiers went home with their loot. A stronger Covenanter army was also coming. So, Montrose left Perth on 4 September.

He reached Dundee on 6 September and asked the town to surrender. But the people of Dundee refused. Montrose's army also became smaller when one of his commanders was killed. Instead of attacking Dundee, Montrose went north. He hoped to find more soldiers from the Marquess of Huntly's lands.

Montrose had about 1,500 Irish soldiers led by Alasdair MacColla. He also had a few Keppoch clansmen and about 80 horse riders. They moved quickly. But another Covenanter army was waiting for them outside Aberdeen.

The Scottish government had ordered all available local soldiers to gather in Aberdeen by 10 September. Only the soldiers from Aberdeenshire had arrived before Montrose. These included 500 men from the Aberdeen Militia. The Covenanter commander, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, also had two groups of regular soldiers. These were his own group from Fife and a new Aberdeenshire group. In total, the Covenanter foot soldiers may have been 2,000 men. They also had about 300 horse riders.

The Battle Begins

On the morning of 13 September 1644, the Covenanter army marched out of Aberdeen. They took a strong defensive spot south-west of the town. This was on a steep hill above the How Burn valley.

Montrose sent a messenger to ask the city to surrender. He warned that if they did not, his soldiers would show no mercy. He also asked them to send women, children, and the elderly out of the town. The leaders of Aberdeen received this message. They refused to surrender. But they treated Montrose's messenger well. They gave him drinks and a coin.

On the way back to Montrose's camp, a Covenanter soldier shot the messenger's drummer. The drummer was killed. Montrose was very angry about this. He ordered an immediate attack. He also gave his troops permission to take what they wanted from the town.

How the Armies Lined Up

• Royalist Army (Led by James Graham, Lord Montrose)
  • Irish Brigade (Led by Alasdair Mac Colla)
    • Thomas Laghtnan's Regiment
    • Manus O'Cahan's Regiment
    • James MacDonell's Regiment
  • Clan MacDonald of Keppoch soldiers
  • Sir Nathaniel Gordon's Horse riders
  • Sir Thomas Ogilvie's Horse riders

• Covenanter Army (Led by Lord Balfour of Burleigh)
  • Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Regiment
  • Lord Forbes' Regiment
  • Aberdeen Militia
  • Aberdeenshire local soldiers
  • Horse riders:
    • Sir William Forbes of Craigevar
    • Captain Alexander Keith
    • Lord Lewis Gordon
    • Other local horse riders

Montrose spread his men out in a long line. His left side was led by Colonel James Hay. It included horse riders and Irish musketeers. The right side was led by Sir William Rollo. It had more horse riders and Highland foot soldiers. The middle of Montrose's army was made up of the Irish soldiers under Mac Colla.

Burleigh put most of his horse riders on his left side. This was where the hill was not as steep, making it a weaker spot. His regular horse riders were on his right side. The foot soldiers were in the middle. Some of Burleigh's musketeers were in the buildings of the Justice Mills. This was on his right side of the battlefield.

Key Moments of the Battle

The battle started with shots from the Covenanters' cannons. On the Royalist left side, Gordon's horse riders tried to push some Covenanter musketeers out of the Justice Mills buildings. But Alexander Keith's horse riders attacked them. Then, Mortimer's musketeers fired a volley, pushing Keith's men back.

Next, Craigevar's horse riders moved downhill towards the Royalist soldiers. O'Cahan's men simply moved aside to let the horse riders pass. Then they fired at the riders' backs. In the confusion, Gordon's horse riders charged and defeated the Covenanter horsemen. Craigevar and his second in command were captured.

On the Royalist right side, Sir William Rollo and MacDonnell's foot soldiers defended against several attacks. These attacks were not successful. Montrose then ordered another Irish group, Laghtnan's, to move up the steep hill towards the Covenanter center.

There was a strong fight at the top of the hill near the Crabstane of Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Militia gave way after a final "Highland charge". They ran into the town, with Laghtnan's men chasing them. This started a general retreat of the Covenanter forces.

One group, the Fife regiment, tried to stay together. They attempted to escape southwards. But Montrose ordered MacDonnell's regiment to attack them. They were scattered, and many were killed. Most of the 520 Covenanter casualties came from this group. The Royalist army had few casualties. The battle lasted about two hours.

Royalists Take Over the Town

The Royalist soldiers chased the fleeing Covenanter troops into Aberdeen. They killed any men they found in the town. This violence continued for several days. People in the town eventually started wearing a twist of oats in their hats. This was the Royalists' symbol. They hoped it would protect them from the soldiers.

One writer, John Spalding, who was there, wrote: "Everyone had in his cap or bonnet a rip of oats, which was his sign. Our town's people began to wear the like in their bonnets... but it was little safeguard to us." This event caused great harm to the Royalist cause. This was because Aberdeen had generally supported the Royalists. It also stopped Montrose from getting more soldiers from the area. Even though the Royalists won the battle, this event was probably the most important result.

What Happened Next

Montrose stayed in Aberdeen for three days. Then he left for Rothiemurchus in the Highlands. He wanted to find new soldiers. He also wanted to avoid a fight with the Covenanter army that was coming. This army was led by the Marquess of Argyll.

A book called And No Quarter by Irish writer Maurice Walsh tells a story about the taking of Aberdeen. It also shows the Royalist campaign of 1644–1645. The story is told from the view of two soldiers from O'Cahan's Regiment.