[4] These Lowland militiamen had been recalled recently from the Scottish campaign in northern England, where they were quite likely led by Cockburn within the infantry forces commanded by Baillie.
Despite their recent military experience the Lowlanders, together with the rest of the Covenanter force, suffered a crushing defeat following an aggressive pre-dawn charge by the Scottish Royalists and their Irish allies.
Along with a small number of Lowland officers, Cockburn retreated to the relative safety of nearby Inverlochy Castle; outside the walls the survivors of the Covenanter army were pursued ruthlessly and killed.
[5] Nevertheless, by 4 April Lieutenant-Colonel Cockburn commanded the defences of Dundee when the town was assaulted and nearly captured by elements of Montrose's Royalist army.
The threat posed by Montrose's army was effectively ended by Lieutenant-General David Leslie's cavalry-based force at the Battle of Philiphaugh on 13 September.
On 17 January 1646, Cockburn commanded the College of Justice Horse Troop at the siege of Newark, within the Scottish Army of the Solemn League and Covenant led by David Leslie.
It is unlikely that Colonel Cockburn was involved in the ill-fated Scottish Engager-instigated campaign in 1648 in support of the restoration of Charles I during the Second English Civil War (1648-1649).
On 15 March 1649, just six weeks after the execution of Charles I in London, the Scottish Parliament passed an act in favour of Colonel Cockburn, the former governor of Stirling Castle.
In February 1651, Cockburn commanded the garrison of Hume Castle when it was besieged by a Parliamentary force led by Colonel George Fenwick.
Having given his parole to the Parliamentarians, Cockburn would have missed the final disaster that met David Leslie's army at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651.