The victory at Drumclog had been a…
June 1679 CE
The victory at Drumclog had been a huge success for the rebellious Covenanters, following which the Covenanters have spent the past few weeks building their strength, as has the government.
Charles' son James, Duke of Monmouth, is sent north to take command, and the militia are raised.
The Covenanters’ euphoria is to be short lived, however.
The Covenanters had established their camp on the south bank of the Clyde, north of Hamilton.
The rebels number around six thousand men, but are poorly disciplined and deeply divided by religious disagreements.
They have few competent commanders, being nominally led by Robert Hamilton of Preston, although his rigid stance against the Indulged ministers only encourages division.
The preacher Donald Cargill and William Cleland, the victor of Drumclog, are present, as are David Hackston of Rathillet and John Balfour of Kinloch, known as Burley, who are among the group who had murdered Archbishop Sharp on May 3.
The government army numbers around five thousand regular troops and militia, and is commanded by Monmouth, supported by Claverhouse and the Earl of Linlithgow.
Battle centers around the narrow bridge across the Clyde, the passage of which Monmouth is required to force in order to come at the Covenanters.
Hackston leads the defense of the bridge, but his men lack artillery and ammunition, and are forced to withdraw after around an hour.
Once Monmouth's men are across the bridge, the Covenanters are quickly routed.
Many flee into the parks of nearby Hamilton Palace, seat of Duchess Anne, who is sympathetic to the Presbyterian cause.
Around six hundred Covenanters are killed, while some twelve hundred are taken prisoner.