Battle of Alford

[2] Following the Scottish Parliament's decision to intervene in the First English Civil War on the Parliamentarian side, King Charles I had appointed Montrose as his Captain-General in Scotland and charged him with conducting the Royalist resistance.His troops plundered large parts of the west Highlands that winter, before routing and destroying the forces of key government supporter the Marquess of Argyll at Inverlochy on 2 February.Conscious of the weakened state of his army, Baillie spent the early summer months trying to evade contact with Montrose, and both forces manoeuvred through Moray and Aberdeenshire for several weeks in an attempt to secure an advantage.[4] Early on the morning of 2 July, he received word that the Covenanters were rapidly approaching the ford of the Don and made a decision to attack, mainly as he knew that Lindsay was finally en route to reinforce Baillie.In Mac Colla's absence, the Irish troops supporting Montrose were commanded by Col. Manus O'Cahan, who showed a high degree of military discipline in the coming battle by unleashing his men at the critical point.[4] Balcarres' cavalry broke and retreated: Baillie, now having no choice but to commit to the battle, ordered Halkett forward but the latter was driven off by the Royalist left wing under Aboyne.[2] After the defeat an unhappy Baillie tendered his resignation to the Committee of Estates, but was compelled to stay in command until his intended replacement, Maj-Gen. Monro, could be recalled from the war in Ireland.
The view up from the battlefield towards Gallow Hill, where Montrose drew up his army
Scottish Civil WarAlfordAberdeenshireIrish BrigadeLord MontroseJames Gordon, 2nd Viscount AboyneManus O'CahanWilliam BaillieAlexander Lindsay, 1st Earl of BalcarresRegistered battlefieldScotland in the Wars of the Three KingdomsBishops WarsBrig of DeeNewburnFirst English Civil WarNewcastleBoldon HillMarston MoorTippermuir1st AberdeenCarlisleInverlochyAuldearnKilsythPhiliphaughAnnan Moor2nd AberdeenLagganmoreRhunahaorine MossSecond English Civil WarDunavertyMauchline MuirPrestonWinwickAnglo-Scottish war (1650–1652)Whiggamore RaidStirling1st Inverness2nd InvernessCarbisdaleDunbarInverkeithingDundeeWorcesterGlencairn's risingTullichDalnaspidalAlford, AberdeenshireRoyalistJames Graham, 1st Marquess of MontroseCovenanterInventory of Historic Battlefields in ScotlandHistoric ScotlandParliamentarianKing Charles I2,000 menConfederate IrelandAberdeenMarquess of ArgyllSir John UrryAlasdair Mac CollaCommittee of EstatesEarl of ArgyllCrawfordTullibardineBurleighBalcarresCalvinistRiver DonClan MacDonell of GlengarrycavalryBattle of NasebyBattle of KilsythballadJames WattKildrummyHistoric Environment Scotland