BattlefieldsLord Loudon retreat skirmish across Dornoch Firth 1746
Jacobite Risings

Lord Loudon retreat skirmish across Dornoch Firth 1746

1746
Scotland
Era
Jacobite Risings
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Jacobite: Master of Lovat pursuing force
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Government: Loudon c.2,000 men retreating
Outcome
Loudon crosses Dornoch Firth into Sutherland; Jacobite pursuit checked at the crossing; Loudon neutralised in north
The Battle

History & Significance

Lord Loudon, retreating northward through Easter Ross after the Rout of Moy and unable to hold Inverness, crossed the Dornoch Firth into Sutherland in February-March 1746. A Jacobite pursuing force under the Master of Lovat shadowed Loudon's retreat. Skirmishing occurred at the Dornoch Firth crossing as Jacobite advance parties attempted to catch Loudon before he crossed into Sutherland where the pro-government Sutherland clan would reinforce him. Loudon crossed successfully but remained trapped in Sutherland for the remainder of the campaign, unable to affect the final battle at Culloden. His 2,000 men were lost to the government cause at a critical moment.

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