BattlefieldsSkirmish at Selkirk 1645
English Civil War

Skirmish at Selkirk 1645

1645
Selkirkshire, Scotland
Also known as: Montrose advance skirmish before Philiphaugh
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Selkirkshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalist (Montrose scouts)
Forces
Montrose scouts c.200–300.
VS
Victor
Government (Leslie)
Forces
Leslie cavalry c.500–800
Outcome
Government cavalry surprised Montrose forward scouts near Selkirk
The Battle

History & Significance

In the days before Philiphaugh, Covenanting cavalry under David Leslie moved quickly southward and made contact with Montrose forward parties near Selkirk. The skirmish gave neither side reliable intelligence and Montrose fatally underestimated the size of the approaching force. The failure to properly screen his position led directly to his destruction at Philiphaugh.

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