Battle of Inverlochy (1645)

Battle of Inverlochy

Inverlochy Castle, showing Ben Nevis in the background

Date	2 February 1645
Location	Inverlochy
Result	Royalist Victory

Belligerents

Royalist Irish and Highland Scots

Scots Covenanters

Commanders and leaders

Lord Montrose
Alasdair MacColla (Sir Alexander MacDonald)
Sir Thomas Ogilvie (Ogilvy) †

Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck †

Strength

1,500

3,000

Casualties and losses

250

1,500

The Battle of Inverlochy (2 February 1645) was a battle of the Scottish Civil War in which Montrose routed the pursuing forces of the Marquess of Argyll. After being researched, the area was designated as a battlefield by Historic Scotland in 2011.

On 14 January 1645, having sacked Inverary, the seat of the Campbells of Argyll, the Royalist forces left Inverary and headed north. It is believed that Montrose split his army at Glen Etive sending part of it up past Ballachulish while the bulk continued across Rannoch Moor, into Glencoe.

At Glencoe the army crossed the high passes into Glen Nevis, moved around the north slopes of Ben Nevis, circumventing Inverlochy Castle, and then continued up the Great Glen, arriving at Kilcummin to re-supply. Montroses' army was dwindling as his highlanders continued to head home leaving him with about 1500 men. He was aware that a Covenanter army under the command of the Earl of Seaforth was waiting to confront him at Inverness. Montrose was also aware that Argyll, with a force of 3000 men, was pursuing him and was only thirty miles behind at Inverlochy. What followed was one of the greatest flanking marches in British history across some of the toughest and wildest terrain in the British Isles. Instead of marching back down the glen, Montrose decided to surprise Argyll and marched south through the mountains around Ben Nevis to mount a surprise attack.

The Montrose army spent a cold night in the open on the side of Ben Nevis. Argyll was aware that a small force was operating in the area, he did not know however that it was the entire royal army. Just before dawn on 2 February 1645, Argyll and his covenanters were dismayed at the sight that lay before them, as far as they were aware Montrose should have been 30 miles north.

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