Battles & Campaigns · 1645
Battle of Auldearn
Auldearn, near Nairn, Scotland, UK
What happened
Urry hoped to surprise the Royalists at dawn, but some of his men fired their muskets to clear damp powder and gave the game away. MacColla's men held the front while Gordon cavalry waited hidden in a hollow. When the cavalry charged, they struck the government infantry from the side, and the government army broke.
Why it matters
Montrose destroyed about half of the government forces facing him in the north.
What came next
Urry later changed sides and joined Montrose, who went on to win at Alford and Kilsyth.
Did you know?
A pub on part of the battlefield was renamed the '1645' after the battle.
Timeline
- 2 Feb 1645Battle of Inverlochy.
- 9 May 1645Battle of Auldearn.
- 2 Jul 1645Battle of Alford.
- Aug 1645Battle of Kilsyth.