(Former Month's Feature) - August, 2008
(Former Month's Feature) - August, 2008
The MacDonalds of Glencoe are MacIains, as are other branches of Clan Donald, being descended from Iain Ogh, surnamed Fraoch, (Young Heather John) or, as the Glencoe people called him, Iain Abrach (John of Lochabhar - Loch of the Confluence), probably due to Iain Ogh having been fostered in Lochaber. He was a natural son, apparently by a hand-fast marriage, between Oengus Ogh, 6th Lord of The Isles, and a daughter of Dugal MacEanruig, chief of "Cineal Eanruig" (MacHenry, MacKendrick or Henderson) of Glencoe. They lived at Inverlochy for a time, where their first son and heir was born, who became the first of ten consecutive Iain MacIains of Glencoe. Iain Ogh was the half-brother of Iain, 7th Lord of The Isles. Their father, Oengus Ogh died early in the 14th Century, leaving three sons, and perhaps another.
The eldest, "Iain ar Ile" (John of The Isles), was not loyal to the Scottish crown, as had been his father. Having a dispute with the Regent, Randolph, Earl of Moray, concerning some lands which had been granted by Bruce, he joined the party of Edward Balliol, ambitious to depose and replace young David II and, by a formal treaty concluded on December 12, 1335, and confirmed by Edward III on October 5, 1336, agreed to support the claims of England. In return, Edward gave Iain a grant of the lands and islands claimed by the Earl of Moray, and other advantages.
Iain Fraoch settled in Glencoe, a wild and gloomy vale in the district of Loarn in Argyll, in about 1350, as a vassal of his father, Oengus Ogh Ar Ile. Some of his descendants still possess land in Glencoe, which was the home of his mother’s family, Cineal Eanruig who, it is said, had lived there for hundreds of years. These Hendersons, who were known for their strength, always formed the bodyguard of the chief of Cineal Iain Abrach, and were his hereditary pipers.
The juncture where the lands of the Camerons, Campbells and MacIains met on Rannoch is now where the counties of Argyll, Inverness and Perth meet, although it is in the middle of "Loch á Chlaidheimh" (Lake of the Sword). The seannachaidh tell that the chiefs of Glencoe, Lochiel and Glenorchy met to fix the frontier on the shores of the loch and to seal their agreement, each threw a sword into the loch. Of course, each had a strong party, or "tail" hiding nearby, but they were not needed. The Glencoe MacDonalds lived here quietly for eleven generations, loyal to, and participating in, the affairs of the Lordship of The Isles.
They were the smallest branch of Clan Donald, usually numbering no more than a hundred warriors, but with a remarkable genealogy, being blessed with a continuous line of twelve consecutive strong chiefs. This allowed a spirit of unity among them which, in turn, guaranteed achievement and reputation far beyond what their numbers would dictate.
In 1678, "the Glencow men were verie remarkable, who had for their ensigne a faire bush of heath, wel spred and displayed on the head of a staff." In 1688, Alasdair MacIain, or Alexander MacDonald, 12th of Glencoe, who was married to Coll MacDonald of Keppoch’s aunt, promised aid in Keppoch’s quarrel with MacIntosh and Clan Chattan. It culminated in the Battle of "Maoile Ruaidh" (Red Bald - Mulroy), the last clan battle of the Highlands. MacIntosh had some 1200 men, whereas Coll of Keppoch had about half as many, and Alasdair of Glencoe and his men were late in arriving, at that! Nevertheless, the MacDonald forces won a complete victory.
Alasdair, 12th of Glencoe, his two sons, and about 100 men, were at "Coille Chnagaidh" (Crooked Wood - Killiecrankie) on Saturday, July 27, 1689, in support of King James. They fought alongside the Camerons of Lochiel and the Grants of Glenmoriston, to the left of the center, which consisted of Dundee’s own loyal 40, some 400 MacDonnells of Antrim, the cavalry of William Wallace of Craigie, and was commanded by James Graham, Lord Claverhouse, known to the Highlanders as "Bonnie Dundee." To the left of Lochiel and Glencoe were 400 MacDonalds of Sleate, The brunt of the battle was born by the Highlander’s left wing, which included the Glencoe men, and they won a brilliant victory, although the cost was too high. The Williamites under General Hugh MacKay were caught in the narrow mountain pass and overwhelmed by the Highlander’s charge from the heights above, in spite of the superior discipline and massed fire of the Williamites. Dundee himself was hit by a rifle shot as he and his cavalry charged the Red Coats, and died the next day at Blair Castle, while only nine hundred of his original 2,500 Highlanders remained fit for duty.
Killiecrankie had provided encouragement to the Highlanders, most of whom were Jacobites, and ready for revolt. Each of their chiefs claimed their clan authority, their lands and their privileges from the same source as the Stuart kings did theirs. James was still "King of Scots," and several generations of these chiefs had been raised since childhood at his court. It was therefore a blow to them when The 26th Foot, a regiment of 1200 men formed from the Cameronians in the first flush of the Revolution, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Cleland, held off what the government claimed was a superior force of five thousand Highlanders under Dundee’s successor, Colonel Cannon, at Dunkeld shortly after Killiecrankie. There is no apparent explanation however, as to how the 900 remnants from Killiecrankie grew to 5000 so quickly. More likely, 1,200 fresh Cameronians, perhaps joined by MacKay’s surviving 400 and some stragglers, defeated 900 exhausted Highlanders whose general had been killed a few days earlier. When the Highlanders occupied some of the houses of Dunkeld as firing positions, the Cameronians fired their thatched roofs, causing terrible casualties and burning down most of the town. Only the cathedral and three houses survived and what was left of the Highland army dispersed.
Caol Abhainn (Narrow River - River Coe)
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An order was issued by the crown following Cromdale requiring an oath of allegiance from the chiefs of the clans and their principal tenants. John Campbell, Earl of Breadalbane, called a meeting at Achallader for June 30, 1691, inviting all the major chieftains. But leopards never change their spots and Grey John, instead of offering the incentives given him for the purpose by the government, offered only threats and airy promises. Playing both ends against the middle as usual, Campbell made private agreements with the chiefs contrary to King William’s interests and even promised that in the event of a rising, he would join the clans with 1,000 men! Campbell was no Jacobite but, by fostering the misconception among the clans that a new rising might have a better chance than the last one, Sir John put himself in the position of being indispensable to the government as the only force who could defeat it. Of course, an excuse to invade MacDonald territory using government troops would give him the opportunity to acquire new lands, as well as to revenge himself for Glencoe’s raid on his property of Glen Lyon!
Colonel Hill, had participated and reported the results of the Achallader meeting, including Campbell’s deceits, to General MacKay, who described Breadalbane as "one of the chiefest and cunningest fomentors of the trouble of that kingdom not for the love of King James, but to make himself necessary to the government . . . as cunning as a fox, wise as a serpent, slippery as an eel . . . He knows neither honour nor religion but where they are mixed with interest . . . always on the side he can get most by, and will get all he can by both."
Protesting innocence, Campbell wrote to Sir John Dalrymple, Master of Stair, for support. Stair, who believed the Catholic clans would refuse to submit because James’ restoration offered the only hope of relief from the penal laws passed against them, replied, "No body believes your lordship capable of doing either a thing so base, or that you could believe there could be any secret treaties, where there were so many ill eyes upon your proceedings; but the truth will always hold fast." Yet the bribes were not paid and the money was not returned to the treasury. Instead, in December, 1691, Stair wrote again to Breadalbane:
"God knows whether the £12,000 sterling had been better employed to settle the Highlands or ravage them . . . I think Clan Donald must be rooted out, and Locheil. Leave the MacLeans to Argyll."
From London, the Earl of Argyll had already mounted an expedition to Mull and MacLean had been forced to flee to his fortress of Cairnburgh on its tiny Isle. Gilleasbuig Gruamach had taken another bite off the carcass of the lordship of The Isles. Argyll was also made one of the lords of the Treasury in 1690 and undoubtedly had facilitated Breadalbane’s acquisition of his bribery fund. William recognized his friend Campbell’s seizure of Mull and from that time on, the earls of Argyll were feudal superiors of the island. Campbell strategy was consistent and consistently successful. Breadalbane had made himself intermediary with the clans, trusted by Stair, if no one else. Dalrymple, in turn, was Secretary of State and virtual ruler of Scotland, while Argyll was in London, close companion of the king. Who in Scotland had more power than this clique, and who hated the MacDonalds more?
Campbell Cattle
It has been said that the measure of a man is the stature of his enemies. Who was Alasdair MacIain, Chief of Glencoe? He was a fine figure of a man, over six feet tall, with long hair swept back over his shoulders, moustaches and forked beard and the physique of an athlete, in spite of his more than sixty years. He was an educated man, having traveled in France. Locheil says in his "Memoirs" that MacIain "was a person of great integrity, honour, good nature and courage. He was strong and active and of the largest size, much loved by his neighbours and blameless in his conduct." He was admired by the entire clan, for he was a true patriarch, caring for them with dedication and ability, albeit often by using the tactic of lifting Lowland cattle to feed Highland bairns in times when crops failed, or when the government was
unusually oppressive. Lady Glencoe was likewise a true MacDonald, daughter of Archibald of Keppoch and sister of Coll, chief of that branch.
The government reopened the Castle at Inverlochy in 1691, again to be commanded by Colonel John Hill, but he had been honest and straightforward with the chiefs during the Commonwealth. His troops again patrolled the countryside and were kindly received by the Highlanders, who respected him. He was considered irreplaceable by Stair and was able to report that all was quiet. Sir Thomas Livingstone, the crown’s military commander in Scotland had some 6,500 men at his disposal at this time, enough to secure the Lowlands, but not sufficient for a major campaign in The Isles. Besides, William’s continental campaigns might demand some or all of these troops at any time. There were 1,500 dragoons including 450 Guards, 360 of Livingstone’s own, 360 of Cunningham’s Dragoons and one other troop of similar size. But cavalry had limited usefulness in the Highlands. There were also some 5,000 infantry in six regiments under Leslie, Leven, Lauder, Argyll, Buchan and Hill respectively, each authorized 780 soldiers. Two of these regiments, Argyll’s and Hill’s, were about to be diverted for a nefarious purpose.
Giant old Alasdair MacIain of Glencoe had been told at Achallader that any money intended for him would rather be withheld by Campbell as compensation for the "creach" taken following Killiecrankie. The Campbells still had not found the MacDonalds’ "Corrie Gabhail" (Hollow of Spoil). MacIan responded dryly that killing red-coat soldiers seemed to be forgivable, but the lifting of a few cows was apparently beyond pardon. Still, seeing their danger and with no trust in Campbell at all, most of the chiefs eventually agreed to comply with the government’s ultimatum, provided that James VII gave his consent. But a royal proclamation was issued on August 27, 1691 asserting new terms of compliance and promising "the utmost extremity of the law" against all who should not take the oath of allegiance to King William III by January 1, 1692. Hill reported that the "middle men" were responding and that he was administering the oath to them. These included two of MacIain’s grandsons, Achnacon and Achtriochtan, whom Hill had given letters of indemnity. But the principal chiefs were not so cooperative and the new proclamation required that they,
"should plead and take benefit of this our gracious indemnity, shall swear and sign the oath of allegiance to us by themselves, or a sheriff clerk subscribing for such as cannot write, and that before famous witnesses, betwixt and the first day of January next to come, in the presence of the Lords of our Privy Council, or the sheriffs, or their deputies, of the respective shires where any of the said persons live."
All of those now eligible to administer the oath in the Highlands were civil authorities under the control of the Campbell clique and they didn’t bother to inform those who were to take it of the change. There is no specific record that this was intentional, although Stair hated the clans and had been planning their extermination for some time. Nevertheless, all the chiefs signed except MacDonell of Glengarry, and MacIain of Glencoe. Tradition asserts that they alone, of all the Highland chiefs, had not received permission from James. They, who had supported Montrose, who had fought for the Stuarts under Dundee and who apparently were still committed to their cause and their king, had been ignored by that king? Perhaps rather, they continued to negotiate until they received equal treatment from Breadalbane and the crown.
Reports rendered to the government show that Locheil and Appin took the oath at Inveraray. Keppoch went to Inverness and took the new oath. Donald of Benbecula, tutor of Clanranald, took the oath on behalf of his ward, who was in France. Many of the Sleate gentry took the oath, although Sleate himself was abroad. But it is clear from an order issued to Livingstone and Hill by the king that Glengarry did not take the oath by the required date. Rather, some sixteen days after the deadline, Hill was given full powers to compromise with Alasdair Dubh in any way he saw fit, so long as the oath was taken in the end. Glengarry did so on February 4 and Hill wrote on the 14th that Invergarry had been surrendered. Glengarry’s home was to be occupied by government troops for the next 23 years.
And so we come to the account of the most famous atrocity in the long history of Cineal ua Dhomhnuil. Only 38 were murdered, an insignificant number when compared to many of the battles, genocidal massacres, and murders which more seriously decimated the clan’s numbers. But due to an official investigation after the fact, this incident is meticulously documented so that there can be no doubt as to the evil, ruthless cruelty of the Sasunnaich and of Cineal ua Duibhne.
The Massacre Of The MacDonalds Of Glencoe
Memorial Service at the Monument to
Creagan na Beinn Nebhis (Cliffs of Venomous Mountain - Ben Nevis), Lochaber
Returning home from the battles of Killiecrankie and Dunkeld, MacIain, his sons, and the MacDonalds of Glencoe made their way through Glen Lyon, actually attacking and partially destroying Achallader Castle, a stronghold of John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane. This Protestant Campbell, "cunning as a fox, wise as a serpent, slippery as an eel" had, in 1688, convinced the exiled King James that he was still a loyal Stuart supporter; but had then offered General Mackay one of his castles to garrison for King William. In retaliation, the Glencoe men, taking "creach" as they went, were so thorough that the Campbells of Glen Lyon were beggared and never forgot! Campbell sources numbered their losses at 240 cows, 36 horses, 993 sheep, 133 goats and numerous household goods to a total value of £7,540 sterling! Robert Campbell of Glen Lyon, was therefore obliged to take a commission in Argyll’s regiment to support himself and his family. In the village of Glencoe, on February 13, 1692, thirty eight of the unsuspecting MacDonalds of Glencoe were to be murdered at dawn in midwinter in a famous massacre by the Government troops who had been billeted on them in the most friendly manner for a fortnight, led by this same Robert Campbell of Glen Lyon.
Following Killiecrankie, the government took steps to "pacify" the clans at the urging of MacKintosh and Breadalbane. But, on August 17, 1689, the Highland chiefs sent a letter to MacKay scornfully rejecting his peace overtures. The following March, William of Orange commissioned Lord Tarbat to offer as much as £2,000 and any title less than an earldom to Glengarry, Clanranald, Sleate, Duart, Lochiel or the uncle of Seaforth, if they would come in. Having presented the "bribe," the alternative was shown when General MacKay erected (or more likely restored) a fort at Inverlochy in only eleven days, which he named "Fort William" in honor of the king, and placed under the command of Colonel John Hill. MacKay declared it was strong enough to withstand any attack by the clans. The Highlanders were not intimidated, however. Two of William’s frigates landed a force on Skye and burned Armadale Castle. But, when a party of twenty of their men attempted the same at Caisteal Chamuis, they were ambushed by Sleate MacDonalds, captured and hanged from a gibbet made from their own oars, while the rest of the invaders were driven back to their ships. The MacDonald chiefs were still committed Jacobites and refused submission to William until King James absolved them of their vows of loyalty to him.
Nevertheless, the rising in Scotland effectively came to an end on May 1, 1690, when a force of Jacobites under General Buchan, who was never trusted by the Highlanders, was dispersed at Cromdale by government troops under Sir Thomas Livingstone and James Montgomery. Finally, on July 11, 1690, James Stuart himself lost the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland, and hastily returned to France. Then, when the Irish lost at Aughrim the next year, there seemed to be no remaining course to victory for the Gael.
The Entrance to Glen Lyon, Perthshire
Sliabh Rhaineach, (Moor of Ferns - Rannoch Moor) Lochaber, in early morning
"Gearr Aonach" (Short Hill), one of the "Peathraichean Triúir" (Three Sisters) of "Gleann Chaol" (Narrow Glen - Glencoe), Lochaber
(The Children of John of Lochabhar, aka The MacDonalds of Glencoe)
