Battle of Alford
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Alford was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which took place near the village of Alford, Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
, on 2 July 1645.
Having defeated Colonel Hurry at Auldearn
, the Marquis of Montrose
continued his raiding campaign in the Highlands. Fearing that Montrose intended to attack Aberdeen
again, Major-General William Baillie led the Covenanter
army to cut him off.
The two armies were roughly equal in size at about 2,000 foot, although Baillie had 5-600 horse compared to Montrose's 250-300, giving him a slight advantage. However, this advantage was negated by the effect of the presence of representatives of the Committee of Estates
on his chain of command. This committee was the ruling body of the Covenant, comprising the Earl of Argyll, the Earls of Crawford
and Tullibardine
, the Lords of Elcho
, Burleigh
, and Balcarres
(who had all been involved in recent defeats by Montrose), together with a number of Calvinist clergy, and had the power to overrule Bailie's orders.
Montrose took up a position on a low hill overlooking the ford across the Don
at Alford. Baillie did not want to risk crossing the ford, seeing that his troops would be vulnerable to attack before they could form up for battle, but the Committee, urged on by Baillie's cavalry
commander, Balcarres, insisted on battle. Montrose waited until the Covenanting horse was across the river, and the infantry crossing, before ordering a general attack. A fierce fight ensued around the ford, between the Covenant cavalry, under Balcarras, and the Royalist Cavalry, under Lord Gordon
. Montrose committed his reserves, a force of Gordon
infantry, and the Covenant forces broke. The difficulties presented by escaping across a ford meant that the rout was particularly vicious.
Covenant losses were about 1,500 of their 2,000 infantry, although much of their cavalry, along with the Baillie, Balcarres and the Committee escaped. The Royalists lost several hundred men, including Lord Gordon. Nevertheless, the battle of Alford was one of the few bright moments for the Royalist cause in the aftermath of Naseby, only two weeks earlier.
Alford, Aberdeenshire
Alford is a large village in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland, lying just south of the River Don. It lies within the Howe of Alford which occupies the middle reaches of the River Don....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on 2 July 1645.
Having defeated Colonel Hurry at Auldearn
Battle of Auldearn
The Battle of Auldearn was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It took place on 9 May 1645, in and around the village of Auldearn in Nairn. It resulted in a victory for the royalists led by the Earl of Montrose and Alasdair MacColla over a Covenanter army under the command of Sir John...
, the Marquis of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
continued his raiding campaign in the Highlands. Fearing that Montrose intended to attack Aberdeen
Battle of Aberdeen
The Battle of Aberdeen was an engagement in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms which took place between Royalist and Covenanter forces outside the city of Aberdeen on 13 September 1644....
again, Major-General William Baillie led the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
army to cut him off.
The two armies were roughly equal in size at about 2,000 foot, although Baillie had 5-600 horse compared to Montrose's 250-300, giving him a slight advantage. However, this advantage was negated by the effect of the presence of representatives of the Committee of Estates
Committee of Estates
The Committee of Estates governed Scotland during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms when the Parliament of Scotland was not sitting. It was dominated by Covenanters of which the most influential faction was that of the Earl of Argyll....
on his chain of command. This committee was the ruling body of the Covenant, comprising the Earl of Argyll, the Earls of Crawford
Earl of Crawford
The title Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient extant titles in Great Britain, having been created in the Peerage of Scotland for Sir David Lindsay in 1398. It is the premier earldom recorded on the Union Roll.The title has a very complex history...
and Tullibardine
Duke of Atholl
Duke of Atholl, alternatively Duke of Athole, named after Atholl in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland held by the head of Clan Murray...
, the Lords of Elcho
David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss
David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss was an army officer.Only son of John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss and Jean Gray , daughter of Lord Gray....
, Burleigh
Lord Balfour of Burleigh
Lord Balfour of Burleigh, in the County of Kinross, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1607 for Sir Michael Balfour. He was succeeded by his daughter Margaret, the second holder of the title. She married Robert Arnot, who assumed the surname of Balfour in lieu of Arnot, and...
, and Balcarres
Alexander Lindsay, 1st Earl of Balcarres
Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Lord Balcarres and 1st Earl of Balcarres was a Scottish nobleman.The eldest son of David Lindsay, 1st Lord Balcarres, and grandson of John Lindsay, Lord Menmuir....
(who had all been involved in recent defeats by Montrose), together with a number of Calvinist clergy, and had the power to overrule Bailie's orders.
Montrose took up a position on a low hill overlooking the ford across the Don
River Don, Aberdeenshire
The River Don is a river in north-east Scotland. It rises in the Grampians and flows eastwards, through Aberdeenshire, to the North Sea at Aberdeen. The Don passes through Alford, Kemnay, Inverurie, Kintore, and Dyce...
at Alford. Baillie did not want to risk crossing the ford, seeing that his troops would be vulnerable to attack before they could form up for battle, but the Committee, urged on by Baillie's cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
commander, Balcarres, insisted on battle. Montrose waited until the Covenanting horse was across the river, and the infantry crossing, before ordering a general attack. A fierce fight ensued around the ford, between the Covenant cavalry, under Balcarras, and the Royalist Cavalry, under Lord Gordon
George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly
George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly , styled Earl of Enzie from 1599 to 1636, eldest son of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly by Lady Henrietta Stewart, daughter of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was brought up in England as a Protestant, and later created Viscount Aboyne by Charles I.On...
. Montrose committed his reserves, a force of Gordon
The Gordon Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1794 until 1994. The regiment took its name from the Clan Gordon and recruited principally from Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland.-History:...
infantry, and the Covenant forces broke. The difficulties presented by escaping across a ford meant that the rout was particularly vicious.
Covenant losses were about 1,500 of their 2,000 infantry, although much of their cavalry, along with the Baillie, Balcarres and the Committee escaped. The Royalists lost several hundred men, including Lord Gordon. Nevertheless, the battle of Alford was one of the few bright moments for the Royalist cause in the aftermath of Naseby, only two weeks earlier.