Battle of Coille Bhan
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Coille Bhan (Scottish Gaelic for White Wood) was fought in 1721 near Attadale
, in the county of Ross
in the Scottish Highlands
. It was fought between a British government force against Highlanders of the Clan Mackenzie
.
in 1721 when government forces had failed to take the lands of Mackenzie of Seaforth. The taxes being collected by Macknezie’s factor, Donald Murchison were being sent to Mackenzie himself who was living in exile
in France
for his part in the Jacobite Rising
of 1715, rather than the taxes going to the British crown. It was decided that a second attempt should be made to seize Mackenzie of Seaforth’s estates.
This time 160 soldier’s of Colonel Kirk’s regiment left Inverness
under the command of Captain McNeil who had previously served in the Highland Watch regiment. Unlike their predecessors who had been ambushed in Glen Affric, McNeil took a longer but easier route, from to Inverness
to Dingwall
, Strath-garve, and Loch Carron
.
Mackenzie’s force were led by Colonel Donald Murchison who had been in command at the preivious conflict in Glen Affric. Donald Murchison marched his main force to the top of Mam Attadale while a relative of his, Kenneth Murchison went forward with 13 men, all armed with muskets to prepare for an ambush at Coille Bhan (White Wood).
However although Captain McNeil had defeated this advance force, he soon heard of the larger group of Mackenzies waiting at Attadale under the command of Donald Murchison. As a result McNeil and his men returned back to Inverness.
General George Wade
, in his report to the King in 1725, stated that the Mackenzie of Seaforth tenants, who were formerly reputed to be the richest of any in the Highlands, had now become poor, by neglecting their business, and applying themselves to the use of arms. "The rents" he says, "continue to be collected by one Donald Murchison, a servant of the late Earl's, who annually remits or carries the same to his master in France. The tenants, when in a condition, are said to have sent him free gifts in proportion to their circumstances, but are now a year and a-half in arrear of rent”.
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
did not return from exile
in France to Scotland until 1726.
Attadale, Scotland
Attadale is a settlement and estate in Wester Ross, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is on the southern shore of of Loch Carron, between the villages of Stromeferry and Strathcarron....
, in the county of Ross
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. It was fought between a British government force against Highlanders of the Clan Mackenzie
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
.
Background
The Battle of Coille Bhan followed on from the Battle of Glen AffricBattle of Glen Affric
The Battle of Glen Affric took place in 1721 in Glen Affric, in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between forces of the Clan Ross against the forces of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan MacRae.-Background:...
in 1721 when government forces had failed to take the lands of Mackenzie of Seaforth. The taxes being collected by Macknezie’s factor, Donald Murchison were being sent to Mackenzie himself who was living in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for his part in the Jacobite Rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1715, rather than the taxes going to the British crown. It was decided that a second attempt should be made to seize Mackenzie of Seaforth’s estates.
This time 160 soldier’s of Colonel Kirk’s regiment left Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
under the command of Captain McNeil who had previously served in the Highland Watch regiment. Unlike their predecessors who had been ambushed in Glen Affric, McNeil took a longer but easier route, from to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
to Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
, Strath-garve, and Loch Carron
Loch Carron
Loch Carron is a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. It is the point at which the River Carron enters the North Atlantic Ocean....
.
Mackenzie’s force were led by Colonel Donald Murchison who had been in command at the preivious conflict in Glen Affric. Donald Murchison marched his main force to the top of Mam Attadale while a relative of his, Kenneth Murchison went forward with 13 men, all armed with muskets to prepare for an ambush at Coille Bhan (White Wood).
The battle
Captain McNeil with 18 men of his government force advanced on Kenneth Murchison’s position. They received fire in which several of the government troops were wounded and one was killed. However McNeil persisted in attacking his enemy and eventually he defeated them and Kenneth Murchison’s men withdrew, as they were unable to resist any further.However although Captain McNeil had defeated this advance force, he soon heard of the larger group of Mackenzies waiting at Attadale under the command of Donald Murchison. As a result McNeil and his men returned back to Inverness.
Aftermarth
No further attempts were made on Mackenzie of Seaforth’s lands.General George Wade
George Wade
Field Marshal George Wade served as a British military commander and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.-Early career:Wade, born in Kilavally, Westmeath in Ireland, was commissioned into the Earl of Bath's Regiment in 1690 and served in Flanders in 1692, during the Nine Years War, earning a...
, in his report to the King in 1725, stated that the Mackenzie of Seaforth tenants, who were formerly reputed to be the richest of any in the Highlands, had now become poor, by neglecting their business, and applying themselves to the use of arms. "The rents" he says, "continue to be collected by one Donald Murchison, a servant of the late Earl's, who annually remits or carries the same to his master in France. The tenants, when in a condition, are said to have sent him free gifts in proportion to their circumstances, but are now a year and a-half in arrear of rent”.
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth was a Scottish nobleman.He who joined the Jacobite standard at Braemar, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties...
did not return from exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in France to Scotland until 1726.