Montrose issues his orders to Hurry on April 9 at a conference on board his ship, the Herderinnan, anchored in Scapa Flow.

He is instructed to cross to Caithness that same evening with part of the little army and advance to Ord of Caithness, a high hill overhanging the sea just north of Kildonan.

Montrose crosses with the rest of his force a few days later.

He had heard that the local Highland Scottish Clans of Munro, Ross and MacKenzie were up in arms and are likely to join him, although as it turns out, they do not.

Montrose hopes to meet up with the Clan Munro and Clan Ross.

When none of the clans arrive, he presses on the Strathoikell and into the narrow valley of Carbisdale.

He waits for two days in the valley for the Munros and Rosses.

Waiting for them is his biggest mistake, as the clans have sided with the Scottish government, and Argyll has already set his counter plans in operation.