The Burning of Auchterarder and Dunning

A Dark Chapter in Jacobite History

In the annals of Scottish history, the Jacobite Uprisings of the early 18th century are often remembered for their romanticism and daring. However, this period was also marked by events that starkly illustrate the brutality of civil war. Among these were the tragic burnings of the villages of Auchterarder and Dunning in Perthshire, a harrowing chapter in the 1715 Jacobite uprising.

Prelude to the Fire

January 1716 was a critical time for the Jacobite cause. John Erskine, the Earl of Mar, leading the Jacobite forces, found himself in a precarious position. Facing the advancing troops of John Campbell, the Duke of Argyll, loyal to the Hanoverian government, Mar ordered a retreat from Perth, a strategic Jacobite stronghold. It was during this retreat that the decision was made to burn Auchterarder and Dunning.

Auchterarder: A Village in Flames

Auchterarder's fate was sealed as the retreating Jacobite forces viewed the village not just as a mere settlement, but as a strategic asset for the advancing government troops. As they set the village ablaze, the night sky was lit with the flames of homes, businesses, and livelihoods. The air was filled with the cries of villagers, who could do nothing but watch in horror as their world turned to ash.

The rationale behind this severe action was clear yet grim: to deny shelter, food, and any form of aid to Argyll's advancing army. This scorched earth tactic, though militarily pragmatic, had dire consequences for the innocent villagers caught in the crossfire of this great game of thrones.