The 1693 campaign season opened with three contrasting scenarios reflecting the differing challenges facing each of the commanders depending on where they found themselves at the close of 1692.
In Scotland Viscount Dundee found himself nominally in control of the country but with far too few troops to effectively ensure the King's peace.
Having been tipped off by a spy he approached an open air prayer meeting being hosted by Thomas Craig a hell-fire Covenanting minister from the south west. The conventicle had assembled over 1,000 armed Covenanters who were using the prayer meeting as a cover for a military muster and council of war. Dundee's mission was to capture Thomas Craig and break up the assembly and any risk of rebellion.
Dundee's mixed force had to negotiate a deep cut burn on the other side of which the massed Covenenters had mustered. Dundee had sent a wide flanking manoeuvre around the enemy's left in the hope of catching them unawares. Although this troop of dragoons had set off early they were nowhere to be seen when the battle commenced.
The Jacobite army in the south of England had been instructed to aggressively prosecute the war into enemy territory north of Warwickshire. Although a large army of 10,000 was assembled, the advanced flying column under Lord Galmoy was several days ahead of the main body and short of supplies, wanted to occupy the town of Gainsborough. As they are about to enter and quarter there, a defensive force under General Mackay and Brigadier Wolseley appear from the north to block their progress. The forces are somewhat imbalanced with the Williamites numerically superior but less mobile and of generally poorer quality. The outcome was quite surprising.
In an effort to broaden his options King William has ordered offensive operations in the Caribbean. Three uneasy allies - the Huguenots, The New Dutch West India Company and Catholic Spanish troops from Cuba agree to invade Jamaica, the new home of the perennially unpopular Lieutenant General Piercy Kirke. The first encounter takes place in the island's interior as the invaders converge on the slaving post at Santa Marta which Kirke's Creole troops must defend. Kirke has ridden hard from Spanish Town without an escort or any of his own regiment. The forward positioned English troops were a motley assortment of Creole infantry, Planter volunteers and a composite company of grenadiers drawn from various regular regiments. On the defensive, Kirke had to hold off superior forces in the hope that his untested command could weather the initial fury of the enemy attack.
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| Kilbryde 1693 - site of the conventicle (assembling around the house) |
In Scotland Viscount Dundee found himself nominally in control of the country but with far too few troops to effectively ensure the King's peace.
Having been tipped off by a spy he approached an open air prayer meeting being hosted by Thomas Craig a hell-fire Covenanting minister from the south west. The conventicle had assembled over 1,000 armed Covenanters who were using the prayer meeting as a cover for a military muster and council of war. Dundee's mission was to capture Thomas Craig and break up the assembly and any risk of rebellion.
Dundee's mixed force had to negotiate a deep cut burn on the other side of which the massed Covenenters had mustered. Dundee had sent a wide flanking manoeuvre around the enemy's left in the hope of catching them unawares. Although this troop of dragoons had set off early they were nowhere to be seen when the battle commenced.
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| Gainsborough 9from the north east - the Williamite perspective) |
The Jacobite army in the south of England had been instructed to aggressively prosecute the war into enemy territory north of Warwickshire. Although a large army of 10,000 was assembled, the advanced flying column under Lord Galmoy was several days ahead of the main body and short of supplies, wanted to occupy the town of Gainsborough. As they are about to enter and quarter there, a defensive force under General Mackay and Brigadier Wolseley appear from the north to block their progress. The forces are somewhat imbalanced with the Williamites numerically superior but less mobile and of generally poorer quality. The outcome was quite surprising.
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| The slave trading post at Santa Marta (from the south - Kirke's approach direction) |
In an effort to broaden his options King William has ordered offensive operations in the Caribbean. Three uneasy allies - the Huguenots, The New Dutch West India Company and Catholic Spanish troops from Cuba agree to invade Jamaica, the new home of the perennially unpopular Lieutenant General Piercy Kirke. The first encounter takes place in the island's interior as the invaders converge on the slaving post at Santa Marta which Kirke's Creole troops must defend. Kirke has ridden hard from Spanish Town without an escort or any of his own regiment. The forward positioned English troops were a motley assortment of Creole infantry, Planter volunteers and a composite company of grenadiers drawn from various regular regiments. On the defensive, Kirke had to hold off superior forces in the hope that his untested command could weather the initial fury of the enemy attack.