Loch Doon - 1745
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:21 pm
Following an extensive rummage in my spare room, I found details of a little-known action early in the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion.
Two units of Edinburgh militia marched off to join the Bonnie Prince under the command of Captain McKneegroper and Menzies of Smith. To their immense delight they were met by 2 units of wild Highlanders, under Chisolm MacChisholm and Red Hairy McLegs, sent to guide them to the Princes camp. Resting overnight at Loch Doon, the Jacobites were shocked to see red coats approaching from the other side of the bridge.
Here the notorious Major Landfill with 2 units of regulars, Captains Ned Season and Finchley Common with 3 units of militia, too freshly raised to even have jackets and Captain Rich-Blood and his Dragoons had followed the Edinburgh militia and were even now preparing to engage.
Menzies of Smith, a noted Edinburgh publisher, was alerted first. As the Jacobite commanders had spent the night in the two local buildings while their men camped in the fields, Menzies had to run pell mell across to his men, just as Captain Rich-Blood led his men in a loud canter over the bridge:
Major Landfill was however outraged at being beaten to the bridge by Capt. Common’s mere militia, who compound their error by dawdling (or possibly playing pooh-sticks).
Capt. Rich-Blood drives his men forward but falls just short of his intended target, will he get to reach them this turn?
Despite taking two volleys, the Dragoons manage to complete their charge and drive the Lowlanders under Menzies of Smith (who sustains a heroic scar) back, but take such severe casualties themselves that they are driven back in turn. Sensing a chance for a noble victory, Red Hairy McLegs leads his Highlanders in a wild charge from the fields!
But Capt. Rich-Blood didn’t get where he is today by hanging around. Seizing the initiative roughly by the throat, he withdraws his men and opens the way for the enthusiastic Capt. Finchley Common’s militia to deliver their first ever volley, giving an impressive shock to Red Hairy McLegs. However Chisholm MacChisolm sees an opportunity to catch the militia unloaded and hurls his men forward.
His attack is devastating, the militia are badly damaged and flee, dragging their wounded commander with them. Unfortunately this is witnessed by the whole Hannoverian force, who also hear Major Landfill’s loud mocking laugh, and overall morale suffers badly.
Despite this, the surving militia group of Capt. Common’s force bravely thrust themselves in front of Capt. Rich-Blood’s damaged Dragoons and give fire. To little effect other than to annoy MacChisholm, who attacks again and forces the militia to retire at some speed.
MacChisholm again charges, this time against Capt. Rich-Blood’s resting Dragoons but in a dramatic face-off, the good captain kills MacChisholm, despite the Scotsman cheating by using a pistol:
Unenthused by this and their own casualties, the Dragoons flee and Red Hairy McLegs moves forward, delivers a volley into Major Landfill’s column on the bridge (causing that gentleman considerable embarrassment).
MacChisholm’s men, attempting to avenge their popular leader, press the attack against Capt. Rich-Blood, who has rallied what’s left of Capt Common’s militia. After several minutes of fierce fighting the militia are killed to a man, but the Highlander’s are forced to withdraw, leaving Capt, Rich-Blood (with two units broken under him) solely in possession of a very bloody field on the wrong side of the river.
With Jacobites rushing forward to the bridge, his own command shaken and only Capt. Ned Seagoon’s single militia group as support, the Major decides that withdrawal is the better part of valour and Capt. Rich-Blood is left to escape the field by himself.
A surprisingly easy victory for the Jacobites, which will be claimed by Red Hairy McLegs in the absence of the late Chisholm MacChisholm. I had thought I’d biased it slightly in favour of the Hannoverians, but the dawdling on the bridge prevented them from bringing enough units to support the Dragoons in time. Sharp Practice rules, Front Rank & Foundry figures (but I’ve got Flags of War to paint up) and ‘historical’ research by me.
50 cress points for anyone who spots which actual engagement this was based on.
Two units of Edinburgh militia marched off to join the Bonnie Prince under the command of Captain McKneegroper and Menzies of Smith. To their immense delight they were met by 2 units of wild Highlanders, under Chisolm MacChisholm and Red Hairy McLegs, sent to guide them to the Princes camp. Resting overnight at Loch Doon, the Jacobites were shocked to see red coats approaching from the other side of the bridge.
Here the notorious Major Landfill with 2 units of regulars, Captains Ned Season and Finchley Common with 3 units of militia, too freshly raised to even have jackets and Captain Rich-Blood and his Dragoons had followed the Edinburgh militia and were even now preparing to engage.
Menzies of Smith, a noted Edinburgh publisher, was alerted first. As the Jacobite commanders had spent the night in the two local buildings while their men camped in the fields, Menzies had to run pell mell across to his men, just as Captain Rich-Blood led his men in a loud canter over the bridge:
Major Landfill was however outraged at being beaten to the bridge by Capt. Common’s mere militia, who compound their error by dawdling (or possibly playing pooh-sticks).
Capt. Rich-Blood drives his men forward but falls just short of his intended target, will he get to reach them this turn?
Despite taking two volleys, the Dragoons manage to complete their charge and drive the Lowlanders under Menzies of Smith (who sustains a heroic scar) back, but take such severe casualties themselves that they are driven back in turn. Sensing a chance for a noble victory, Red Hairy McLegs leads his Highlanders in a wild charge from the fields!
But Capt. Rich-Blood didn’t get where he is today by hanging around. Seizing the initiative roughly by the throat, he withdraws his men and opens the way for the enthusiastic Capt. Finchley Common’s militia to deliver their first ever volley, giving an impressive shock to Red Hairy McLegs. However Chisholm MacChisolm sees an opportunity to catch the militia unloaded and hurls his men forward.
His attack is devastating, the militia are badly damaged and flee, dragging their wounded commander with them. Unfortunately this is witnessed by the whole Hannoverian force, who also hear Major Landfill’s loud mocking laugh, and overall morale suffers badly.
Despite this, the surving militia group of Capt. Common’s force bravely thrust themselves in front of Capt. Rich-Blood’s damaged Dragoons and give fire. To little effect other than to annoy MacChisholm, who attacks again and forces the militia to retire at some speed.
MacChisholm again charges, this time against Capt. Rich-Blood’s resting Dragoons but in a dramatic face-off, the good captain kills MacChisholm, despite the Scotsman cheating by using a pistol:
Unenthused by this and their own casualties, the Dragoons flee and Red Hairy McLegs moves forward, delivers a volley into Major Landfill’s column on the bridge (causing that gentleman considerable embarrassment).
MacChisholm’s men, attempting to avenge their popular leader, press the attack against Capt. Rich-Blood, who has rallied what’s left of Capt Common’s militia. After several minutes of fierce fighting the militia are killed to a man, but the Highlander’s are forced to withdraw, leaving Capt, Rich-Blood (with two units broken under him) solely in possession of a very bloody field on the wrong side of the river.
With Jacobites rushing forward to the bridge, his own command shaken and only Capt. Ned Seagoon’s single militia group as support, the Major decides that withdrawal is the better part of valour and Capt. Rich-Blood is left to escape the field by himself.
A surprisingly easy victory for the Jacobites, which will be claimed by Red Hairy McLegs in the absence of the late Chisholm MacChisholm. I had thought I’d biased it slightly in favour of the Hannoverians, but the dawdling on the bridge prevented them from bringing enough units to support the Dragoons in time. Sharp Practice rules, Front Rank & Foundry figures (but I’ve got Flags of War to paint up) and ‘historical’ research by me.
50 cress points for anyone who spots which actual engagement this was based on.
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