The Battle of Tippermuir (September 1, 1644) was the first battle James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose fought for the king during the Scottish Civil War. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms include an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland, and England between 1639 and 1651 which included the Bishops Wars of 1639 and 1640, the Scottish Civil War of 1644-5; the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Confederate Ireland, 1642-9 and... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... This article is about the town in Scotland. ... James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 - 21 May 1650), 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. ... Alasdair MacColla (circa 1620 to 1647) was Scottish_Irish soldier. ... Earl of Wemyss (pronounced Weems) is the title held by a Scottish family who had possessed the lands of Wemyss in Fife since the 12th century, and of which various members had attained distinction. ... The Scottish Civil War The Scottish Civil War of 1644-47 was part of wider conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which included the Bishops Wars, the English Civil War and Confederate Ireland. ... Battle of Aberdeen Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date September 13, 1644 Place Aberdeen, Scotland Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Aberdeen was an engagement in the Scottish Civil War which took place between Royalist and Covenanter forces outside the city of Aberdeen on September 13, 1644. ... Battle of Inverlochy Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date February 2, 1645 Place Inverlochy Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Inverlochy (February 2, 1645) was a battle of the Scottish Civil War in which Montrose routed the pursuing forces of the Marquess of Argyll. ... Battle of Auldearn Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date May 9, 1645 Place Auldearn, Nairnshire Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Auldearn was an engagement of the Scottish Civil War, which took place on May 9, 1645, near the village of Auldearn in Nairnshire. ... The Battle of Alford was an engagement of the Scottish Civil War, which took place near the village of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on July 2, 1645. ... Battle of Aberdeen Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date August 15, 1645 Place Aberdeen, Scotland Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Kilsyth was an engagement of the Scottish Civil War which took place on August 15, 1645. ... The Battle of Philiphaugh was fought on September 13th, 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and took place outside the town of Philiphaugh near Selkirk in Scotland between the armies of the Royalist Marquis of Montrose, and the Parliamentarian General Leslie. ... The Battle of Dunbar (3 September 1650) was a battle of the Third English Civil War. ... The Battle of Worcester was the final battle of the Second English Civil War. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 - 21 May 1650), 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. ... The Scottish Civil War The Scottish Civil War of 1644-47 was part of wider conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which included the Bishops Wars, the English Civil War and Confederate Ireland. ...

The main objective of the battle was the reclamation of Perth. Montrose had joined forces with Alaster M'Coll Keitach (known as Alasdair MacColla McDonald) and his Irish soldiers. Nevertheless, he was greatly outnumbered by the Covenanters: Montrose's Highlanders and the Irish together made up no more than 2000 men, Lord Elcho on the other side had 7,000 infantry and 700 horse. Yet Montrose's men were more experienced and better motivated, a fact that would count to their advantage during the battle. This article is about the town in Scotland. ... Alasdair MacColla (circa 1620 to 1647) was Scottish_Irish soldier. ... The Covenanters, named after the Solemn League and Covenant, were a party that, originating in the Reformation movement, played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England, during the 17th century. ... The Scottish Highlands are considered to be the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... Earl of Wemyss (pronounced Weems) is the title held by a Scottish family who had possessed the lands of Wemyss in Fife since the 12th century, and of which various members had attained distinction. ... Infantry in the First World War Infantry (or Infantrymen) are soldiers who fight primarily on foot, using personal weapons. ... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ...

The two armies met at Tippermuir, three miles outside of Perth. On the Covenanters' side, Lord Elcho commanded the right wing, James Murray of Gask the centre, and the left flank was given over to Sir James Scott of Rossie, the only veteran soldier present in the Covenant army that day. Montrose put Lord Kilpoint and 400 archers on the left, directly in front of Elcho. Montrose took the left side himself, and in the centre he placed the Irish. Montrose drew up his troops in a line only three deep, thus making the front of his line much longer than Elcho's. The title Duke of Atholl was created several times in British history. ...

At this point Montrose is said to have delivered a speech saying: "Gentlemen: it is true you have no arms; your enemy, however, to all appearance, have plenty. My advice to you therefore is that as there happens to be a great abundance of stones upon this moor, every man should provide himself, in the first place, with as stout a one as he can manage, rush up to the first Covenanter he meets, beat out his brains, take his sword, and then I believe he will be at no loss how to proceed!"

An early assault by Elcho using cavalry was quickly turned back. The Highlanders then attacked Elcho's musketeers in the back, while the Irish attacked the centre. The whole scene soon developed into a complete rout. Sir James Scott of Rossie attempted to hold the left flank, but Montrose led his Athollmen in a charge that placed them in front of Scott's men, and pushed them back into the main body of the Covenanters. The battle now turned into a blood-bath. A group of townspeople had come to view the battle, believing Montrose's army would be quickly subdued. Now they were caught up in the slaughter, and in the confusion many died. Elcho is reported to have lost two thousand men, Montrose only one, although there are no independent estimates, and as Montrose could only field 44 horsemen at the Battle of Aberdeen, less than two weeks later, from the 150 he had been given by the Earl of Newcastle and were fielded in this battle, this is likely to represent Royalist propaganda. A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth-bore long gun. ... The Highlands district of Atholl or Athole in the north of Perthshire in Scotland lies between Braemar, Badenoch, Breadalbane and Lochaber. ...

This battle served two main purposes: it proved Montrose's strategic genius, at the same time as it revived the Royalist cause in Scotland. Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ...

See also

Battle of Inverlochy (1645) Battle of Inverlochy Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date February 2, 1645 Place Inverlochy Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Inverlochy (February 2, 1645) was a battle of the Scottish Civil War in which Montrose routed the pursuing forces of the Marquess of Argyll. ...

External links

• Military History Encyclopedia on the Web (http://www.rickard.karoo.net/articles/battles_tippermuir.html)
• ScotWars (http://www.scotwars.com/html/battle_of_tippermuir.htm)