Battle of Bothwell Bridge Memorial
This obelisk commemorates the Covenanters that fell at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge which took place on 22nd June 1679. The monument was dedicted in 1903 on the 224th anniversary of the battle.
Background
The National Covenant was opposition to the interference by the Stuart kings in the affairs of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and was signed by the leading Scottish nobles. It was distributed around the country to be signed by the peasantry. Those who signed it were known as ‘Covenanters’.
The Government had attempted to break up a conventicle at Drumclog in Lanarkshire on 1 June 1679, the ensuing battle resulted in a victory for the Covenanters.
Drumclog bolstered their cause and there was a recruitment boom. The emboldened Covenanter Army then marched on Glasgow but it ended in complete failure. A Government army under the Duke of Monmouth came north to meet the Covenanters positioned to the south of Hamilton.
The Battle
The Battle of Bothwell Bridge was fought between Royalist government troops and militant Presbyterian Covenanters. Their brutal defeat here ended the series of Covenanter risings of the 17th century.
Bothwell Bridge – Present Day
The 4,000 Covenanters were commanded by Sir Robert Hamilton, and they were deployed on the south bank of the River Clyde. The Royalist government army of 5,000 troops was led by the Duke of Monmouth, supported by John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee). Monmouth tried to offer a peaceful settlement, but this was rejected by the Covenanters.
300 Covenanters, with just one cannon, held the bridge. They were bombarded by Monmouth until they ran out of powder and a cavalry charge saw government forces take the position. They had put up a tremendous fight, keeping the bridge for nearly three hours.
While the main bulk of the Covenanter army was preparing for battle, Monmouth crossed the bridge and threw the Covenanters into disorder. Initially, he granted quarter to the Covenanters but Claverhouse wanted revenged for the defeat at Drumclog. 400 Covenanters were killed and over 1200 surrendered, with the rest fleeing the field.
Covenanters Prison – Edinburgh
The 1200 prisoners were taken to Edinburgh and placed in the Covenanters Prison in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Some were held for months before they were transported to the colonies. Those supporters of the Covenanters were declared traitors and brutal repression ensued during what was to become known as the ‘Killing Time’.
The Memorial
The monument is inscribed,
‘In honour of the Covenanters who fought and fell in the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, 22nd June 1879
In defence of civil and religious liberty’
‘Erected by public subscription 1903’
On either side are religious inscriptions,
‘Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt. V.10
‘Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life’. Rev. II.10.
Next to the monument is the beautiful Clyde Walkway
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