Skirmish of Loch Ailort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skirmish of Loch Ailort |
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| Part of the Jacobite rising of 1745 | |||||||
 Loch Ailort |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 British-Hanoverians |
 JacobitesClan Macdonald of Clanranald |
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Ranald MacDonald |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 500 men | |||||||
The Skirmish of Loch Ailort was a small fight that happened on May 9, 1746. It took place at Loch Ailort in the Scottish Highlands. This event was part of the Jacobite rising of 1745, a time when people tried to put the Stuart family back on the throne of Great Britain.
This skirmish happened almost a month after the big Battle of Culloden, where the Jacobites lost. It was one of the last armed conflicts of the Jacobite rising.
What Led to the Skirmish?
After the Jacobites lost the Battle of Culloden in April 1746, many of their leaders went into hiding. One of them was Young Ranald MacDonald, a chief from the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald. People thought he had gone to France. But he actually stayed hidden in Scotland for about 18 months. He mostly stayed in the wild areas of Moidart, which was a very dangerous place for him.
At this time, the British Government was trying to find and capture Jacobite supporters. The Royal Navy (Britain's navy) and the Campbell of Argyll Militia (a group supporting the government) were searching the Western Highlands of Scotland. Captain John Fergusssone, who commanded a ship called HMS Furnace, led some of these searches.
Captain Fergusssone sailed around the islands, taking prisoners. He also burned down valuable things on islands like Raasay. His goal was to weaken the Jacobite support in the area.
The Fight at Loch Ailort
On May 9, Captain Fergusssone continued his search. He sailed up Loch Nevis and burned a new house belonging to a MacDonald chief. On the very same day, Fergusssone's men were searching caves near Loch Ailort.
Suddenly, they came under fire! About 500 men, led by Young Clanranald, attacked them. Young Clanranald was one of the first people to join the Jacobite cause. He was also one of the last to keep fighting after the main defeat. This small battle was a final stand for some of the Jacobite fighters.
See also
