by Jonathan Tucker

This is the tenth in a series of articles about MacIntyres in general and the life and descendants of Micum McIntire, a Scottish prisoner of war who settled in York, Maine. This article is about the involvement of Micum and his brothers Robert and Philip in the Battle of Dunbar on September 3, 1650—the event that started Micum on his journey to the New England colonies and a new life. This article may be revised as new information becomes available.

The most definitive and comprehensive current source for information on MacIntyres in general is the newly-published book, “Clan MacIntyre: A Journey Into the Past,” Martin L. MacIntyre, Regent Press, Berkeley, CA, 2018, second edition. Copies may be purchased by contacting Martin at martin.macintyre@juno.com.

The definitive geneaology is “Descendants of Micum McIntire,” Robert Harry McIntire, revised edition, 1983, Bookcrafters, Chelsea, MI. Used copies can still be obtained from time to time through online booksellers. Those interested in new copies should contact Dan Davis, 1 Stanley Avenue, Kingfield, ME, 04947 (snailmail only). There is an earlier version published in 1940—it is less complete but still useful.

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WHY WAS MICUM AT THE BATTLE OF DUNBAR?

In the Scottish Highlands in the mid-1600s, clan members owed allegiance first to their chief and then, through their chief, to whatever larger clan held theirs in feudal obligation. In Argyll at the time, Clan Campbell was ascendant, and Clan Macintyre was tied to them by both feudal and dynastic family obligations. The Campbell chief during the period in question was Archibald Campbell. Archibald Campbell’s allegiances on behalf of the interests of Clan Campbell decided who the members of subordinate clans in Argyll would fight for or against, and they were usually calculated to enhance the strength and influence of the Campbells.

The MacIntyre chiefs during this time period were married to the daughters of local Campbell lords. It was a way to create a binding network of obligations that protected everybody and discouraged open conflict. Chief Donald MacIntyre, who lived from 1596 through 1655—the period coinciding with Micum’s life in Scotland—was married to Isobel Campbell. Donald’s son Chief Duncan MacIntyre, First of Glenoe (i.e., first of written record), lived from 1640 to 1722, and was married to Mary Campbell, a younger daughter of Patrick Campbell, Lord of Balcardine.

Inverlochy 1645 – Feudal obligations, however, did not overwhelm the need to preserve one’s own clan. There is a story (parts of which are unconfirmed) that at the battle of Inverlochy on February 2, 1645, the MacIntyre clan chief was standing next to his Campbell brother-in-law with their backs to Inverlochy Castle and Loch Linnhe, along with Campbell forces, allied Protestant clans, the MacIntyre chief’s household retinue and about half the clan’s warriors. They were nominally defending the interests of Clan Campbell, which were at the time aligned with those of the Protestant government in Edinburgh and the Puritan English Parliament.

Coming down the hill at them was a Royalist force that supported the Catholic King, Charles I. Led by the Marquis of Montrose, this army included warriors from assorted Royalist (Catholic) Highland clans, and ‘gallowglass’ mercenaries (also Catholic) from northern Ireland.

And with the Royalist army coming down the hill were some of the MacIntyres of Badenoch, fighting under the banner of Captain Donald Macpherson of Phoness, as well as (here’s the unconfirmed part) many of the rest of the local MacIntyre warriors, led by the Macintyre chief’s piper. It was said that the MacIntyre chief had loaned his piper to Alastair ‘Colkitto’ MacDonald, the leader of the northern Irish troops (many of whom were MacDonalds, and thus related to the Macintyres from very early on) in gratitude for Colkitto honoring their ancient kinship and choosing not to put the MacIntyres’ home glen (Glenoe) to fire and sword. A tangle of relation and obligation. It’s not unlike having all the relatives over for Thanksgiving. Sometimes it gets complicated.

On the field at Inverlochy, Macintyre warriors on both sides were just very careful about who they chose to attack (except possibly for the settling of some old personal scores). No matter the outcome of the battle, MacIntyre interests would be protected. As it turned out, the Campbells lost badly (Archibald fled the scene early on, by boat). The MacIntyre chief’s Campbell brother-in-law was severely wounded, and our chief (mysteriously unscathed) took him home to Glenoe where his brother-in-law’s sister (our chief’s wife) could nurse him back to health. The MacIntyre warriors who had fought under Montrose filtered back to their various homes unobtrusively, and everybody’s interests were served. One foot firmly planted on either side of the conflict. As noted, parts of this story are unconfirmed, but it illustrates how complex warfare in Scotland could be.

GETTING TO THE BATTLE OF DUNBAR

The English Civil War was really a civil war of the entire British Isles, largely fought between Royalist Catholic forces loyal to the king on one side, and Protestant forces under Oliver Cromwell representing the English Parliament on the other. The war was fought in England and Scotland, and in Ireland, as well.

Campbell of Lawers Regiment

In 1639, Sir Mungo Campbell of Lawers organized a regiment of infantry for his chief (Archibald) to go fight in Ireland on the Campbells’ behalf. Micum McIntire was 14 years old. Over time, this regiment became the premier infantry regiment for the Campbells. The Campbells of Lawers’ home territory was located on the western edge of Perthshire, along Loch Tay in Scotland, and very close to Argyll. They were perhaps the oldest branch of Clan Campbell, and were descended from the Campbells of Glenorchy and Breadalbane, both of which are in Argyll and are also MacIntyre territories. So, conscripted foot soldiers from the other smaller clans in those areas could, under feudal obligation, be required by their own chiefs to fight as members of this Campbell regiment. This included the MacIntyres.

Sir Mungo and his regiment of infantry fought on the losing side at the battle of Inverlochy in February 1645. A month later, at the May 9, 1645 Battle of Auldearn, Mungo Campbell’s regiment was defeated, and he and many of his officers were killed. His son Sir James Campbell of Lawers took over and began reconstituting the regiment. Being from Glenorchy and Glenoe, Malcolm (Micum), Robert, and Philip MacIntyre were most likely to have been members of this regiment. Of the three of them, Micum might already have seen battle at Inverlochy in 1645—he would have been about 20 years old, with Robert 16, and Philip 15. It is interesting to speculate whether Micum would have been with the Campbells by the castle or coming down the hill with Montrose. Probably the former. Micum might have also fought at and survived the subsequent battle of Auldearn, during which the regiment was defeated and their leader lost.

THE BATTLE OF DUNBAR

In 1650, five years after Inverlochy and Auldearn, the conflicts of Scottish allegiance had gotten even more complicated. In January 1649, King Charles I had been executed by the English Parliament under the influence of Cromwell. Charles’s son, Charles II, was convinced to seek the monarchy and was forced to enter into a treaty supporting an earlier Covenant with Scottish Protestant leaders in exchange for their support for his bid to be king. The Scottish Army supporting Charles II was therefore often referred to as a Covenanting Army, and its solders as Covenanters. As chief of Clan Campbell, and a Protestant, Archibald Campbell had decided to switch sides and throw Clan Campbells’ fate (and that of much of the western Highlands) in with the Covenanters who, in supporting Charles II as king, were now trying to preserve Scotland’s sovereignty from the English.

We need not review all of the conflicts and campaign that led up to Dunbar. Suffice it to say that after Charles II declared himself king of England and Scotland in Edinburgh, Cromwell hurried his armies north to challenge this new threat. But he was stymied at Edinburgh and then forced east toward Dunbar.

When our curtain opens in early September 1650, the Scottish army under General David Leslie is occuping the high ground of Doune Hill, south and west of the village (and castle) of Dunbar. Together with a large Scottish infantry regiment waiting due west of Dunbar, Leslie and the Scottish army essentially had Cromwell and his Puritan Roundhead army trapped against the North Sea.

It is important to describe the basic outline of the Battle of Dunbar itself, so that we can get some idea what Micum and his brothers experienced. But first let’s talk about the regiment in which they found themselves. Micum was about 25, Robert 21, and Philip 20.

As noted, Micum, Robert, and Philip were most likely in the elite infantry regiment under Sir James Campbell of Lawers, and had been for some time. The regiment numbered about 600 men. Lawers’ infantry was dressed in Scots ‘hodden grey’ jackets and trews (trousers) woven locally (in Argyll) out of a blend of rough white and black wool—very practical and warm in the chill of an early Scottish fall at Dunbar. They were wearing distinct blue woolen bonnets (tams), and their regimental flags included the iconic blue and white Scottish saltire (the cross of St. Andrew) as well as Clan Campbell flags and pennants.

The musketeers in the regiment were principally armed with ‘firelock’ (matchlock) smoothbore muzzle-loading long guns that used a slow-burning wick. These guns were primitive and slow to reload, and their burning wicks were hard to keep dry in wet weather. Many of the English soldiers had more modern and reliable flintlocks. About forty percent of Lawers’ regiment were probably armed with pole weapons like pikes and halberds—stout poles affixed with different kinds of spear points, blades, axeheads, and hooks. These weapons allowed you to engage your opponent at a distance, and, if equipped with hooks, could be effective against cavalry, which were always a problem for foot soldiers. Finally, it is likely that these Highlanders, trained to arms from a young age, also carried their own personal bladed weapons—broadswords, small fighting axes, dirks, and knives. Whether they had any protective mail or armor depended on how what they could afford, and the extra weight was not an advantage for a foot soldier. Many wore instead thick leather vests under their jackets that could turn at least the initial thrust of a blade. 

HOW THE BATTLE PROGRESSED

Scottish General Leslie had Cromwell trapped, and he wanted to maintain the high ground and starve the English into submission. He also knew the weaknesses among his assembled troops, many of whom were young, untrained Lowland conscripts—essentially farm boys who had been handed weapons. But the fiery Protestant kirk leaders who had browbeaten Charles II into signing the Covenant were certain that their God would deliver them the victory. Oddly, the fiercely devout Puritan English army leadership had exactly the same belief. Claiming to have received a vision of divinely-assisted victory the previous evening, on September 2, 1650, the Scottish “dominies” forced Leslie’s hand.

That evening, the word went quietly around that an attack was imminent the following day. The Highlanders among the Scottish troops began to fast, which they believed sharpened their wits and focus in battle. It rained heavily that night. Micum and his brothers probably huddled under their plaides, trying to keep themselves and their weapons dry.

During the dead of night, the Scottish infantry and cavalry troops began to move into position and down the hill. In doing so, they abandoned the advantageous high ground and placed the furthest end of their left flank in a narrow valley formed by the hill, the nearby Broxburn (a wide stream), and a rise to the west. Observing these maneuvers, Cromwell was delighted—the trap was being lifted—and he repositioned his own forces in the rainy dark to meet the likely attacks.

In the dim misty morning, there were several prolonged early skirmishes along the center of the front lines, as Cromwell’s army took the initiative. As the light grew, the battle joined in earnest.

Where Were They?

Imagine the Scottish army all in a rough line facing north across the Broxburn on flat, soggy ground below Doune Hill after a night’s hard rain. Campbell of Lawers’ infantry regiment of 600 men, including Micum, Robert, and Philip, occupied the exact center of that line. To their immediate left were other infantry brigades under Major-General James Holbourne of Menstrie, Major-General Colin Lindsay of Pitscottie, and Colonel John Innes (who also had some cavalry, which he himself led). Further to the left, next to the narrowing valley, were Scottish cavalry commanded by Colonel William Stewart.

Sir James Campbell of Lawers himself led Lawers brigade. Other officers commanding regimental units within the brigade included Colonel Alexander Stewart and Sir John Haldane of Gleneagles.

To the immediate right of Lawers’ regiment was a large infantry troop composed largely of about 2,000 recent Lowland conscripts—many of them very young–under the command of Sir James Lumsden of Invergallie. The mature lower-level combat leaders (the equivalent of squad sergeants) for these men had been purged from the troop because the kirk leaders found the seasoned warriors to be less than commited to the Covenant, and too profane. Further to the right, against the sea, was a troop of Scottish lancers (cavalry) under Colonel Archibald Strachan. Across the Broxburn in front of them were English regiments of infantry and cavalry.

When the initial battle was joined, a regiment of English infantry charged across the Broxburn and assaulted the untried young troops under Lumsden. They folded quickly. They may have folded because they had exhausted their ammunition during the early skirmishes, but most likely they simply panicked. They had no real experience of combat and no battle-tested squad-level leaders to tell them what to do. In response to this development, Lawers’ regiment turned and extended to its right, successfully beating back the nearest English infantry (led by Colonel George Monck) who had overrun Lumsden’s men.

Strachan’s cavalry on the far right of the Scottish line against the sea were attacked both by English lancers (cavalry) from the front, and, with many of Lumsden’s men gone, by English infantry from their left flank. After a time, the combined attack proved too much, and Strachan’s cavalry broke and fled.

With Lumsden’s infantry non-existent and Strachan’s cavalry fleeing, the right hand side of the Scottish line had collapsed. This freed up English cavalry to attack the right flank of Lawers’ regiment, who were busily fighting off an infantry attack along their front line.

Over-extended, and fighting on two fronts, Lawers’ regiment began after a time to break apart, and, after fierce fighting, they were overrun. The Highlanders in Lawers’ regiment—we presume this included Micum, his brothers, and warriors they knew—were experienced and used to fighting alongside one another, and they progressively formed and reformed into smaller defensive groups and kept fighting until, as the defensive groups were completely surrounded, they were forced to surrender. Their skill and discipline accounted for their survival, and allowed them to be taken as prisoners rather than being killed in battle.

With the collapse of Lawers’ regiment at the center, the entire Scottish line dissolved. Unable to maneuver well in the narrow valley between Doune Hill and the Broxburn, the remaining infantry and cavalry units on the left side of the Scottish line retreated north across the Broxburn to more level ground. They were covered in a desperate rearguard action by a contingent of infantry from Lawers Brigade under Sir John Haldane of Gleneagles. In the process, Haldane’s men were completely destroyed, and he and his officers were killed. So was the regiment commanded by Colonel Alexander Stewart, who was also killed. The ensuing rout of Scottish infantry, who were pursued for miles as they ran west for Edinburgh and were cut down from behind by English cavalry, became known as the “Race of Dunbar.”

Numerous historical accounts of the battle—including English accounts—single out the regiment of Campbell of Lawers as the backbone of the Scottish army, and the regiment that gave the best account of itself.

The battle was over in about 3 hours. Cromwell claimed to have killed 3,000 Scottish soldiers and captured 10,000 at Dunbar—a clear exaggeration, but it was without doubt his greatest victory in a long career filled with military victories. The most badly wounded Scots were released, as no longer representing a threat.

Later that day or the next, after Cromwell’s men had mopped up the battlefield, reassembled themselves, treated their wounded, fed themselves on captured stores, and reorganized to head for home, about 5,000 Scottish prisoners of war began a long and deadly march southward toward England and Durham Cathedral. Micum, Robert, and Philip MacIntyre and other survivors of Lawers’ regiment were among them. Though they could not know it then, the MacIntyre brothers’ journey to a new world and a new life had begun.