Spies and Secrets

The Hidden War at the Battle of Sheriffmuir

The Battle of Sheriffmuir, also known as the Battle of Dunblane, was a significant confrontation during the Jacobite rising of 1715. Fought on November 13, 1715, it pitted an army of over 8,000 Jacobites led by the Earl of Mar against approximately 3,500 royalists under the command of the Duke of Argyle. This battle occurred simultaneously with the Battle of Preston, creating a critical moment in the Jacobite uprisings. The battle unfolded on a boggy, uncultivated tract of land on the lower slopes of the Ochil Hills, northeast of Dunblane. Both armies were maneuvering for strategic advantage, with the Jacobites aiming to force the passage of the Forth River and join forces with other Jacobite factions in Scotland and England. Intelligence and espionage played a pivotal role in shaping the events leading up to and during the battle.