Siege of Ruthven Barracks (1745)

The remains of Ruthven Barracks

Date	29 August 1745
Location	Ruthven, Scotland, Great Britain
Result	Government victory^[1]

Belligerents

Great Britain

Jacobites

Commanders and leaders

Terrance Molloy^[2]

Archibald Cameron

John O'Sullivan^[2]

Strength

15^[2]

150^[2]

Casualties and losses

1 killed^[2]

2 killed^[2]

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The siege of Ruthven Barracks by Jacobite rebels of a small group of government soldiers took place in August 1745 and was part of the Jacobite rising of 1745.^[1]

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Background

On 29 August 1745 a force of 300 Jacobite rebels marched on the Government held Ruthven Barracks.^[2] The barracks were under the command of Sergeant Terrance Molloy who had with him only 14 private soldiers.^[2] The Jacobites came to the gate of the barracks and demanded that Molloy surrender.^[2] Molloy was defiant and refused despite the Jacobites telling him that they would hang him and his men if he refused.^[2] The Jacobites then retreated some distance.^[2]^[3]

The assault

At nightfall around about 150 Jacobites returned and attacked the barracks.^[2] They set fire to the door gate but the defending soldiers managed to put it out.^[2] The man who started the fire was spotted and became an early victim.^[2] At about half past three in the morning the Jacobites withdrew.^[2] Sergeant Molloy then agreed to speak to two of the Jacobite leaders but he still refused terms of surrender.^[2] However, Molloy did agree to allow the Jacobites to remove their dead and wounded.^[2] The Jacobites had lost two men dead and several others wounded.^[2] The Government soldiers had only lost one man, who had been killed when he raised his head above the parapet, despite orders to keep his head down.^[2]

Aftermath

The Jacobites then left Ruthven but not without stealing many provisions from the residents of Ruthven Village.^[2] Sergeant Molloy was immediately promoted to the rank of lieutenant.^[2] On 10 February 1746, 300 Jacobites returned to attack Ruthven Barracks again and this time they had the advantage of having brought artillery with them.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Fremont-Barnes, Gregory (2011). The Jacobite Rebellion 1745-46. p. 41. ISBN 1846039924.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v Love, Dane (2007). "15: Over the Corrieyairack". Jacobite Stories. p. no page numbers. ISBN 1903238862.
^ Kybett, Susan Maclean (1988). Bonnie Prince Charlie: A Biography. London: Unwin Hyman. p. 128. ISBN 0044402139.