Battle of Philiphaugh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Philiphaugh
Part of Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Memorial to the Battle of Philipaugh
Date 13 September 1645 Location Philiphaugh, 2 miles from Selkirk, Scotland Result Covenanter Victory
Belligerents
Royalists	Covenanters
Commanders and leaders
Marquis of Montrose	Sir David Leslie
Strength
100 horse 600 musketeers 100 levies	6,000 horse 1,000 foot
Casualties and losses
500	Unknown
Registered battlefield
Designated	21 March 2011
Reference no.	BTL14

The Battle of Philiphaugh was a major fight that happened on September 13, 1645. It took place near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In this battle, the Royalist army, led by the Marquis of Montrose, was defeated. The winning side was the Covenanter army, led by Sir David Leslie. This victory helped bring power back to the Scottish Parliament's ruling group, known as the Committee of Estates.

Why the Battle Happened: The Road to Philiphaugh

Before this battle, Scotland was in a civil war. The Covenanters, who supported the Scottish Parliament and a certain type of church, teamed up with the English Parliament's army. Because of this, King Charles I made Montrose his top general in Scotland. Montrose gathered an army. It included Irish soldiers and Highland fighters from different clans.

Montrose's Amazing Victories

Montrose's army had won many amazing battles in the year before Philiphaugh. His last big win was at Kilsyth. This victory destroyed the last Covenanter army in Scotland. It meant that many towns in the lowlands of Scotland were now open to Montrose's control.

Problems for Montrose's Army

After his victories, Montrose faced some challenges. He did not let his army loot the city of Glasgow. Instead, he accepted money from the city to pay his soldiers. He then planned a meeting for the Scottish Parliament in Glasgow. However, the city complained about the cost and asked not to pay. Montrose agreed, which left his army without pay.

Montrose wanted to march into England to help the King there. But many of his soldiers, especially the Highlanders, refused to go. They wanted to stay in Scotland to protect their homes from their enemies, the Campbells. Also, some of his horsemen, the Gordons, left the army. This happened because Montrose appointed a new leader for his cavalry, the Earl of Crawford.

Montrose Heads South

With fewer soldiers, Montrose hoped to find new fighters in the Borders area. He marched south with only about 500 musketeers (soldiers with guns) and a small group of horsemen. He went to Kelso, expecting thousands of new recruits. But only a few local gentlemen joined him.

Leslie's Surprise March

Meanwhile, the main Scottish Covenanter Army was in England. Their commander, the Earl of Leven, heard about Montrose's victory at Kilsyth. He quickly sent Sir David Leslie, his cavalry general, back to Scotland. Leslie gathered more soldiers from garrisons in England. He crossed the border into Scotland on September 6. He had about 5,000 horsemen and 1,000 foot soldiers.

Leslie first planned to march along the east coast. His goal was to stop Montrose from getting back to the Highlands. But he soon learned where Montrose was and how few soldiers he had. So, Leslie changed his plan and turned south to attack Montrose.

The Battle of Philiphaugh: A Misty Morning Attack

The battle happened on a misty morning. Montrose and many of his officers were staying in the town of Selkirk. His infantry (foot soldiers) and the rest of his cavalry were camped on flat ground across the river, the Ettrick Water, at Philiphaugh. This was about 2 miles (3 km) away from Selkirk.

The Royalist foot soldiers had a strong defensive spot. They were behind a ditch that was hard to cross. They also used walls and hedges for protection. Where these were not strong enough, they dug more ditches and placed musketeers behind the hedges.

Leslie's Sneak Attack

Sir David Leslie's army had arrived nearby the evening before. They advanced quietly up the valley. They pushed back Montrose's small guard posts without alerting the main Royalist force. The next morning, the mist was thick. Montrose's scouts failed to see Leslie's large army approaching.

Leslie split his army into two groups. One group attacked the Royalist position directly. They got very close before the alarm was finally raised. The other group moved around to the side, probably along the south bank of the Ettrick Water.

Montrose's Retreat

Montrose heard the sound of gunfire and rushed to the battlefield. He found his soldiers in great confusion. Even though the Royalist foot soldiers fought bravely from their strong position, Leslie's flanking force arrived and sealed their defeat.

Montrose tried to turn the battle around. He charged 2,000 Covenanter dragoons (mounted infantry) with only 100 of his own cavalry. But his friends urged him to leave. They said that the Royalist cause in Scotland depended on him. So, Montrose fought his way out with 30 men. He escaped and retreated towards Peebles.

After the Fight

Many of Montrose's Irish foot soldiers were killed during the battle. About 100 of them surrendered, believing they would be spared. However, some Covenanter ministers with Leslie convinced him that showing mercy was a bad idea. As a result, these prisoners and about 300 camp followers (many of them women and children) were killed.

In 2011, experts studied the battlefield using metal detectors and digging. They found some old coins, musket balls, and other small items from the 17th century. These findings help us understand more about the battle.

What Happened Next: Aftermath

After the defeat at Philiphaugh, Montrose tried to gather another army in the Highlands. But he could not build a force strong enough to fight Leslie's army again. After fighting a small-scale, hit-and-run war through the winter and spring, Montrose received orders from King Charles to stop fighting. The King himself was now a prisoner.

Montrose and some of his key officers were not pardoned by the winning Covenanter Parliament. They had to leave Scotland and go into exile.

Today, the area where the battle most likely took place is home to the Selkirk Cricket Club and the Selkirk Rugby Club. There are also a few houses. The battle site is now protected by Historic Scotland. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.

Images for kids

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  Memorial to the Battle of Philipaugh