Battlefield Britain [00] Battles of the Scottish Lowlands by Stuart Reid

Author:Stuart Reid [Reid, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: English Civil Wars, Battles & Campaigns, Early Modern, Strategy & Tactics, Medieval
ISBN: 9781844150786
Google: lExdAAAACAAJ
Goodreads: 5036717
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2004-08-02T08:00:00+00:00

Cavalry fight as depicted by John Cruso c.1632.

As to the infantry, the five brigades identified in an English intelligence summary (BM Harl.6844) can be placed with rather more confidence. As the senior infantry commander, Sir James Lumsden had his brigade on the extreme right by the Berwick road. As next in seniority, Major General James Holburne’s Brigade will by convention have stood on the extreme left, while the third major general, Colin Pitscottie, had the centre. There is ample evidence that Sir James Campbell of Lawers’ Brigade was posted on the right between Lumsden’s and Pitscottie’s men, which leaves Colonel John Innes’ Brigade standing between Pitscottie’s and Holburne’s.

Sir James Lumsden’s brigade was at least a fairly strong one, comprising the General of the Artillery’s Regiment, Sir William Douglas of Kirkness’ Regiment and his own, and mustering over 2,000 men at the outset of the campaign. Unfortunately although long-standing custom in all armies placed the brigade on the right it was unique it being entirely made up of new recruits. Lawers’ brigade made up of his own, Sir George Preston of Valleyfield’s and Sir John Haldane of Gleneagles’ regiments had about the same number. Pitscottie’s, which included a composite battalion of Borderers under Sir David Home of Wedderburn, and Colonel John Lindsay of Edzell’s Regiment, had only about 1,600 in total. Colonel John Innes’ Brigade, which came down from the north and comprised his own and Colonel John Forbes of Leslie’s regiments as well as element’s of Lovat’s and Argyle’s was even weaker and probably only had something between 1,200 and 1,500, although Major General Holburne’s Brigade, made up of Sir George Buchannan of Buchannan’s, Holburne’s, and Colonel Alexander Stewart’s regiments must have had around 2,000 men.

In total the Scots infantry may have mustered as many as 9,500 men, rather than the 16,000 claimed by Cromwell, although it has to be stressed that this estimate does not allow for wastage. In any case any slight advantage in numbers which might have existed was to be compromised both by Leslie’s faulty dispositions and above all by the trick of fate which placed his rawest brigade squarely in the path of the English breakout.

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