Skirmish of Keith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skirmish of Keith |
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| Part of the Jacobite rising of 1745 | |||||||
 The Auld Brig (old bridge) at Keith |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 British-Hanoverians from:Campbell of Argyll Militia |
 Jacobites from:Clan Stewart French hussars |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Captain Alexander Campbell |
Major Nicholas Glasgow Captain Robert Stewart |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 900 or 1000 men | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 9 killed About 80 taken prisoner Between 20 and 30 horses lost |
1 Frenchman killed and a "good number wounded" | ||||||
The Skirmish of Keith was a small but important battle in Scotland. It happened on March 20, 1746, in a town called Keith, Moray. This fight was part of a bigger war known as the Jacobite rising of 1745. This was a time when supporters of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, called Jacobites, tried to put him on the British throne.
Contents
What Happened Before the Fight?
British Troops Arrive in Keith
In March 1746, Captain Alexander Campbell led about 70 men from the Clan Campbell. They were joined by 30 soldiers from the Duke of Kingston's Light Horse. These troops were part of the British-Hanoverian Government army. This army was led by Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. They entered the town of Keith, Moray.
Jacobites Get Ready to Fight
Meanwhile, Jacobite supporters of Prince Charles Edward Stuart were nearby. They were at a place called Spey. A rumor spread that the Duke of Cumberland's army was coming. People feared they would be "cut to pieces."
Lord John Drummond was in charge of these Jacobite forces. He ordered the bagpipes to play and drums to beat. His men began to march, ready for battle. About 500 more men joined them. In total, the Jacobite force grew to about 900 or 1000 soldiers.
A Night March to Keith
As evening fell, a small group of British Light Horse soldiers appeared. They were near the hill of Fochabers. But they didn't see any Jacobite troops.
Lord Drummond sent a group of his men to guard under Captain Ludowick Stewart. Captain Stewart then sent a party over the hill. They were told to wait for orders from Major Glasgow, who would lead the whole force.
Soon, some French hussars (light cavalry soldiers) rode up. They told Captain Stewart that the British Light Horse were in a nearby park. They had been shooting at each other. The French hussars wanted Captain Stewart's men to join the attack. Captain Stewart said he could only act on Major Glasgow's orders.
Major Glasgow arrived later with more men. He had soldiers from Lord Ogilvie's group, plus some French soldiers and horsemen. Together, they entered the park but found no enemy troops. They then marched towards Keith. They arrived around midnight.
The Fight at Keith
Entering the Town
When the Jacobites reached Keith, a Campbell sentry (a guard) challenged them. The Jacobites pretended to be friends of the Campbells. The sentry welcomed them in. The Jacobites then quickly overpowered the guard. They entered the town, and the fighting began.
Battle in the Streets
The French soldiers started the attack. A loud cheer went up, with shouts of "God save Prince Charles!" The battle continued for about half an hour. The Campbells fired heavily from the windows of the local kirk (church).
Captain Robert Stewart was badly hurt. A musket ball went through both of his shoulders. Major Glasgow asked Captain Stewart to send men to the kirk. He thought he might be overwhelmed in the streets. Captain Stewart immediately moved down the street. There was intense fighting there for a while. But in the end, the Jacobites captured all the enemy soldiers.
What Happened After the Fight?
After the skirmish, there was a rumor. People said the Duke of Cumberland had 700 horsemen nearby. They worried the Jacobites might be attacked again. To keep the prisoners safe, Captain Stewart rode at the back of them. They were taken across the bridge to Spey.
In the Skirmish of Keith, the British suffered losses. Nine of the Duke of Cumberland's men were killed. Many were wounded, and about 80 were taken prisoner. They also lost between 20 and 30 horses. On the Jacobite side, one Frenchman was killed. However, many were wounded, especially among Lord Ogilvie's men. They had been exposed to heavy fire from the kirk.
See also
