[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he skirmish of Alness took place during the Jacobite Rebellion. This divided the Scottish Clans between those that supported the rebellion, who wanted Charles James Stuart from the House of Stuart known as ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie” to regain the Scottish throne and those that supported the British Government.

William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth and chief of Clan Mackenzie had allied himself with John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar who was the leader of the rebel Jacobite army. The chief of Clan Mackenzie then took Inverness for the Jacobite cause.

Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet and chief of Clan Munro supported the British Government and he gathered his clansmen with the intention of retaking Inverness. The chief of Clan Mackenzie on hearing of this sent a message to the chief of Clan Munro suggesting “he should return home peacefully, unless his intention was “to throw his lot in with the Jacobites”. The chief of Clan Munro agreed to hold off his forces.

John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland and chief of Clan Sutherland, who also supported the British Government and the chief of Clan Munro appealed to the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Reay to the south for their support. The Earl of Sutherland agreed and join forces with George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay and chief of the Clan Mackay and a force from the Clan Ross and marched northwards.

They arrived at Alness on the 5th of October and they formed up in order of battle with Clan Mackay and Clan Ross on the right, the Sutherlands in the centre and Clan Munro on the left. 

The chief of Clan Mackenzie had been joined by Sir Donald MacDonald the chief of Clan MacDonald which allowed him to outnumber his opponents.

The chief of Clan Mackenzie attacked the Earl of Sutherland’s camp at Alness. Earl of Sutherland and Lord Reay on seeing that they were vastly outnumbered were able to retreat to Bonar Bridge. This withdrawal only resulted in one death. Following this, the pro-British Government forces abandoned their plans and returned home.

A force from Clan Grant which had been due to arrive and support the Earl of Sutherland’s forces did not arrive which may have evened up the numbers and changed the result of the skirmish.

On returning home, the chiefs of Clans Munro and Ross discovered that their lands had been plundered by members of the Mackenzie Clan whilst they were away.