The Raid on Rannoch, 1745

In the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745, Scotland was left reeling from the violence and chaos that had ravaged the country. Among the many challenges facing the government and military forces was the presence of Jacobite rebels who had taken to the mountains and highlands to continue their resistance against the crown. One of these rebels was John Dubh Cameron, a member of the powerful Clan Cameron who had supported the Jacobite cause and was now a wanted man.

In June of 1753, Archibald Cameron of Lochiel, the clan chief’s brother, was captured and executed for his role in the Jacobite rising. This put John Dubh Cameron, who was also known as Sergeant Mor, in a difficult position. He had no fixed abode and was facing the consequences of having served in the French army and supporting the Jacobite cause. He formed a band of freebooters and took up residence in the mountains between the counties of Perth, Inverness, and Argyll. He carried out acts of spoliation by stealing cattle and blackmailing local residents.

In the aftermath of the Jacobite rising, the district of Rannoch was in a state of despair. People were starving and returning warriors had no option but to resort to thieving. Soldiers were stationed at the Rannoch Barracks and were tasked with capturing the rebel leaders and curbing the theft. Lieutenant Hector Munro of Novar received special instructions to apprehend John Dubh Cameron.

On a fateful night in 1753, Lieutenant Munro led a strong force of soldiers through Rannoch in search of Cameron. Cameron had been sleeping in a barn on the farm of Dunan in Rannoch, but he was betrayed by someone and was captured by Munro’s party. Despite being a powerful man, Cameron was overpowered and taken to Rannoch Barracks. He was later tried, convicted, and executed for murder and theft in Perth on November 23, 1753.

The aftermath of the raid saw a return to peace in Rannoch, but the man who had betrayed Cameron had to flee the country. Lieutenant Munro was also tasked with the apprehension of another Jacobite rebel, Ewen MacPherson of Cluny. However, in 1755, after nine years of hiding in the mountains of Badenoch, MacPherson managed to evade Munro’s grasp and escaped to France.

The Raid on Rannoch was a significant event in Scottish history. It marked the end of one of the last Jacobite rebellions and the beginning of a period of peace in Rannoch. The actions of Lieutenant Hector Munro and his troops were instrumental in bringing an end to the rebel threat in the region. The story of John Dubh Cameron and his capture serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the Scottish government and military forces in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising and the lengths they went to in order to restore order to the country.