Independent Highland Companies

The first policing company was known as the "King's Guard" and consisted only of mounted troops and performed a variety of tasks connected with keeping the law.

[4] The appointment of paid and professional soldiers was a major change in trying to control the law and was continued after the death of King James in 1625.

[6] The activities of the Independent Companies was then considered of little significance when compared with the battles and extraordinary feats of the forces under James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose during the Scottish Civil War in 1644–1645.

Over the next 70 years a number of Independent Highland Companies were raised and then disbanded as was the demand by the political and military situation.

[14] The period between the restoration of Charles II in 1660 and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 was amongst the most unruly and unlawful in the history of the Scottish Highlands.

Many men lost land that they had previously farmed and if they were not accepted into another clan they were forced into a life of crime, including robbery and violence.

A start had been made in having paid troops, in local dress, speaking the same language as the native clansmen and who were keeping the peace to some extent.

The first of which began mustering in February of that year was commanded by Major George Munro, 1st of Newmore and included two lieutenants, one ensign, six non-commissioned officers and 100 sentinals.

[22] Due to poor harvests, crime sometimes went beyond the normal cattle rustling, and people were killed or kidnapped for money and attacks were made on large houses.

However, the acts had little effect on how the companies were paid, and they continued to form some defence against lawlessness and in preventing others from joining the Jacobite cause.

King William died in 1702 which evoked much political turmoil with France and James Francis Edward Stuart’s claim for the British throne.

In 1707, the Grant Independent Company was ordered to watch the north-east coast for James's expected landing but that did not take place so they returned to their normal duties of law-keeping in the Highland areas.

Colonel Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet was for a time governor of Inverness, and forced the rebel Mackenzies to give up their arms at Brahan Castle.

Colonel Grant played a lesser role; he established a garrison at Brahan and captured Gordon Castle, holding it until he was relieved by regular troops.

[25] In 1724, Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, wrote to George I of Great Britain stating that the disbandment of the Independent Highland Companies in 1717 had encouraged the lawless situation to run riot.

[26] In 1725, Field Marshal George Wade was appointed Commander of the Forces of North Britain and he gave instructions to re-establish the Independent Highland Companies.

[28] The first three companies were commanded by William Grant of Ballindalloch; Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat; and Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochnell.

[29] Wade tightened up the discipline and training of the Independent Companies and warned the captains that any breach of financial dealings, which had previously been reported, would be severely dealt with.

[29] In September 1745, Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden, a staunch "whig", was given a commission to raise twenty new Independent Highland Companies to oppose the Jacobite rising of 1745.

One of their first actions was when 600 men of the Grant, two Sutherland, Munro and Mackay companies fought in the Siege of Fort Augustus (December 1745).

[48] 300 of Loudon's regiment were taken prisoner but the majority, 900 in all, escaped to the Isle of Skye including the commanders; John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden and Norman MacLeod.

[59] According to Scobie, only a small group of the Independent Highland Companies took part when they joined the Argyll militia in delivering devastating musket fire on the flank of the Jacobite right.

[60] According to Pollard it was a company from Loudon's Highlanders regiment that had joined the Campbell of Argyll militia in delivering the flanking musketry fire.

[61] In the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden some of the MacLeod and MacDonald Independent Highland Companies were sent to capture Prince Charlie but failed to do so and it was later reported that they were not too anxious to find him either.

[62] Much of the "mopping up" work after Culloden was left to the Argyll militia and the Independent Companies who are said to have committed atrocities against their own relations and fellow clansmen.

[63] By June 1746 the Independent Highland Companies had been reduced significantly and within six months after the Battle of Culloden they had been disbanded completely.

[64] In 1760, commissions were given to raise five Independent Highland Companies under the following Captains: Colin Graham of Drainie, James Cuthbert of Milncraigs, Peter Gordon of Knockespick, Ludovic Grant of Rothiemurchus and Robert Campbell of Ballivolin.

Cairn marking the site of the Battle of Mulroy where Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie was killed leading his Independent Highland Company
The pass of Killiecrankie. An Independent Highland Company from the Clan Menzies fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, but did not become an accredited Independent Company until 26 days after the battle when William III sent the Menzies chief a commission after hearing of his coolness and bravery at the battle. [ 17 ]
The Battle of Sheriffmuir 1715
Independent Highland Companies of the Clan Munro and Clan Grant fought at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719.
Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden raised the 18 Independent Highland Companies in 1745 - 1746.
An officer of the "Black Watch" in 1743. By 1738 the Independent Highland Companies were known as Am Freiceadan Dubh or Black Watch
A soldier in 1742 of the regular 43rd Highlanders regiment (later renumbered the 42nd) who were also known as the Black Watch that had been formed from the Independent Companies in 1739.
Painting by David Morier of the Battle of Culloden first published just six months after the battle in October 1746, showing in the foreground British red coat soldiers wearing kilts who were probably the Independent Highland Companies that were kept in reserve at the battle, as described by I. H Mackay Scobie. [ 56 ] William Sutherland, 17th Earl of Sutherland who raised two Independent Highland Companies for the Government was present at the battle. [ 57 ]