The Battle of Dryfe Sands, 1593

The Battle of Dryfe Sands was a significant event in the long-standing feud between the Maxwell and Johnstone families in Scotland during the 16th century. The Maxwells were based at Caerlaverock Castle and were considered more powerful than the Johnstones, who were based at Lochwood Tower. The feud between the two families had been fueled by various events, such as the burning of Lochwood Tower by the Maxwells and the partial burning of Lockerbie by the Johnstones. In 1593, the tensions between the two families reached a boiling point, leading to the Battle of Dryfe Sands.

The battle took place on December 15, 1593, on the banks of the River Dryfe near the present-day farm of Dryfesdalegate. The Maxwells, led by Lord Maxwell, had gathered an army of around 2,000 men, including contingents from various Nithsdale families such as the Crichtons, Douglases, Kirkpatricks, and Griersons. The Johnstones, led by Sir James Johnstone, had also gathered a large army, numbering perhaps up to half the size of the Maxwell’s army. This army included not only Johnstones, but also allies such as the Scotts, Elliots, Irvines, Murrays, Carruthers, Grahams, and even “divers Englishmen.”

The battle began with a skirmish between a detachment of Maxwell’s army, led by Captain Oliphant, and a force of Johnstones led by James Johnstone of Kirkton. Oliphant was killed and his men were forced to seek refuge in Lochmaben Kirk, which was then set on fire by the Johnstones, forcing the occupants to surrender. The main body of the Maxwell army may have camped on a hill near Skipmyre the night before the battle, while the Johnstones took up a position on higher ground overlooking the Maxwells.

The battle itself was marked by confusion and chaos. Johnstone’s horsemen provoked some of the Maxwell’s men into pursuing them into an ambush, which allowed the main Johnstone army to fall upon the advancing Nithsdale force and throw it into confusion. The Maxwells’ army quickly broke and fled the field, with many being killed as they tried to cross the River Dryfe. The Johnstones pursued the fleeing Maxwells and inflicted further casualties, although some accounts suggest that the Johnstones’ victory was not as decisive as initially thought and that the Maxwells may have suffered fewer losses than reported.

After the battle, negotiations between the two families led to the signing of an agreement in 1594, which officially ended the feud. However, the conflict between the Maxwells and Johnstones continued on a smaller scale for several more years. The Battle of Dryfe Sands was a significant event in Scottish history and has been remembered and celebrated by the Johnstone family for centuries.