The events of 13th February
1692 have gone down in history as being an atrocity. Although this is
true, the official story is that the MacDonalds of Glencoe were
massacred by the Clan Campbell. I'd like to
correct this misconception.
The
world has seen many greater slaughters. Measured on the simplistic
scale of death toll, it could be classified as "a little local
difficulty". Even in our Scotland there have been other
atrocities in which much greater numbers of people have been
despatched in horrific ways. The massacre took the
lives of 37 men and women. It is estimated that a further 40+ men,
women and children died of exposure while fleeing the scene of the
crime.
Although there were Campbells present
in Glencoe, they were not there as part of a clan force. They were
troops serving in a regiment of the government army. The massacre
was carried out by these troops on the direct order of King William
of Orange. A plot was set in motion which apparently involved John
Dalrymple, Master of Stair and Lord Advocate, Sir Thomas Livingstone,
commander of the forces in Scotland, and even King William, who
signed and countersigned the orders.
In 1688, William, glad to enlist
British help in his wars with France, accepted the invitation to take
the throne of the Kingdom of England. The Scottish Parliament was
more cautious and invited letters from him and James VII (ousted as
James II of England). When the arrogant response from James persuaded
the Scots to accept William, an unsuccessful
insurrection took place in the Highlands. This insurrection failed
due to the death of James Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee, (Bonnie
Dundee) at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.
The Chiefs were ordered, under pain of the full weight of the law,
to present themselves before the nearest civil authority and submit
themselves before the 1st of January 1692. Elderly MacIain, Chief of
the MacDonalds of Glencoe, did not leave for Fort William until the
day before the deadline.
When he arrived the garrison commander there was not authorised to
accept his submission. So MacIain had to ride to Invarary, a seven
day fight through snow storms. Although he was past the deadline his
submission was accepted.
The MacDonalds,
therefore, were not suspicious when troops of Argylls regiment,
under the command of Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, arrived to billet
themselves in their homes. If only they had known of the genocide in
the mind of Dalrymple who had written, If MacIain of Glencoe and
that tribe can be well separated from the rest, it will be a proper
vindication of the public justice to extirpate that sect of thieves.
For two weeks his soldiers enjoyed the MacDonalds
hospitality.
The citation below is the order given to the commander of the government
troops who carried out this atrocity. This is a defining proof as no clan would
have needed governmental instructions to raid another.
You are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebels, the McDonalds
of Glenco, and putt all to the sword under seventy. you are to have a
special care that the old Fox and his sons doe upon no account escape
your hands, you are to secure all the avenues that no man escape.
This you are to putt in execution at fyve of the clock precisely; and
by that time, or very shortly after it, I'll strive to be att you
with a stronger party: if I doe not come to you att fyve, you are not
to tarry for me, but to fall on. This is by the Kings speciall
command, for the good & safty of the Country, that these
miscreants be cutt off root and branch. See that this be putt in
execution without feud or favour, else you may expect to be dealt
with as one not true to King nor Government, nor a man fitt to carry
Commissione in the Kings service. Expecting you will not faill in the
fullfilling hereof, as you love your selfe, I subscribe these with my
hand att Balicholis Feb: 12, 1692
[signed] R. Duncanson
For their Majesties service
To Capt. Robert Campbell of
Glenlyon