The Gordons of Gight – 6 of 9
Set against the back wall of the castle is the stair well for the main turnpike stair leading from the ground floor to the first floor. All has long since collapsed, with just the stumps of the stair-tread stones left sticking from the walls. On with the story:
(Continued from previous photo)
. . . . . In the late summer of 1594, Argyll with an army of over 10,000 infantry, moved towards the North-East, with the intention of meeting up with the Lord Forbes and his men. The army consisted of Campbells and their supporters, and anyone else that either hated the Gordons or hoped to profit from their downfall and the inevitable pillaging.
The Gordons and the Hays ‘assembled all such as would follow them and their fortune in this extremity’, but in all they had only raised around 1500 mounted men when they rode out to meet Argyll’s 10,000 on October 3rd. Riding out from Auchindoun, they by chance intercepted some of Argyll’s scouts, whom they killed, all except for one, whom they “saved and examined”, thus discovering much of what Argyll intended. The Gordons were apparently much encouraged by this event, considering that it “presaged victory”.
The Gordons found Argyll’s infantry drawn up in a strong position on a hillside in Glenlivet, above ground that was difficult for horses. Wasting no time, Huntly discharged three small field cannon he had brought with him (field artillery was still most unusual in Scotland at that time), ‘which bred a confused tumult among them’, and then charged his vanguard, consisting of 300 horsemen under the Earl of Erroll and William Gordon of Gight, into the resultant confusion. (None of your fancy tactics here, just 'hey diddle diddle, straight up the middle!')
The Battle of Glenlivet lasted more than two hours. Huntly’s uncle, Gordon of Auchindoun was killed leading a charge. At one point William Gordon of Gight and the rest of the vanguard looked as if they would be surrounded and cut-off, and were only saved by a charge made by Huntly, whose horse was killed under him. But in the end it was Argyll’s army that began to waver. His men started to flee in increasing numbers, running for the shelter of the hills, pursued by the mounted Gordons until they reached country inaccessible to horsemen.
In all, Argyll lost 700 men in the engagement, including two of his cousins, Campbell of Lochnell and his brother, and also MacNeill of Barra (who was killed by the artillery discharge at the beginning of the battle). On the Gordons side, the losses were much lighter, but included William Gordon of Gight among the wounded.
Huntly’s victory was short-lived however, the king with a much larger army invaded from the south, methodically burning the houses and castles of the Gordons and Hays as he came, including the Earl of Erroll’s castle of Old Slains, and Huntly’s castle of Strathbogie (Huntly Castle), both of which remain in ruins to this day. Huntly and Erroll were pursued north to Caithness from where they had to flee abroad, although a year and a half later they were recalled by the king, and their honours and dignities restored to them!
(Continued next photo)
The Gordons of Gight – 6 of 9
Set against the back wall of the castle is the stair well for the main turnpike stair leading from the ground floor to the first floor. All has long since collapsed, with just the stumps of the stair-tread stones left sticking from the walls. On with the story:
(Continued from previous photo)
. . . . . In the late summer of 1594, Argyll with an army of over 10,000 infantry, moved towards the North-East, with the intention of meeting up with the Lord Forbes and his men. The army consisted of Campbells and their supporters, and anyone else that either hated the Gordons or hoped to profit from their downfall and the inevitable pillaging.
The Gordons and the Hays ‘assembled all such as would follow them and their fortune in this extremity’, but in all they had only raised around 1500 mounted men when they rode out to meet Argyll’s 10,000 on October 3rd. Riding out from Auchindoun, they by chance intercepted some of Argyll’s scouts, whom they killed, all except for one, whom they “saved and examined”, thus discovering much of what Argyll intended. The Gordons were apparently much encouraged by this event, considering that it “presaged victory”.
The Gordons found Argyll’s infantry drawn up in a strong position on a hillside in Glenlivet, above ground that was difficult for horses. Wasting no time, Huntly discharged three small field cannon he had brought with him (field artillery was still most unusual in Scotland at that time), ‘which bred a confused tumult among them’, and then charged his vanguard, consisting of 300 horsemen under the Earl of Erroll and William Gordon of Gight, into the resultant confusion. (None of your fancy tactics here, just 'hey diddle diddle, straight up the middle!')
The Battle of Glenlivet lasted more than two hours. Huntly’s uncle, Gordon of Auchindoun was killed leading a charge. At one point William Gordon of Gight and the rest of the vanguard looked as if they would be surrounded and cut-off, and were only saved by a charge made by Huntly, whose horse was killed under him. But in the end it was Argyll’s army that began to waver. His men started to flee in increasing numbers, running for the shelter of the hills, pursued by the mounted Gordons until they reached country inaccessible to horsemen.
In all, Argyll lost 700 men in the engagement, including two of his cousins, Campbell of Lochnell and his brother, and also MacNeill of Barra (who was killed by the artillery discharge at the beginning of the battle). On the Gordons side, the losses were much lighter, but included William Gordon of Gight among the wounded.
Huntly’s victory was short-lived however, the king with a much larger army invaded from the south, methodically burning the houses and castles of the Gordons and Hays as he came, including the Earl of Erroll’s castle of Old Slains, and Huntly’s castle of Strathbogie (Huntly Castle), both of which remain in ruins to this day. Huntly and Erroll were pursued north to Caithness from where they had to flee abroad, although a year and a half later they were recalled by the king, and their honours and dignities restored to them!
(Continued next photo)