Following the disasters an '29 betrayals of 1689 and 1715 it was felt that 1719 might be the right time for another attempt at putting a Stuart on the British throne.

Spain and Britain had fallen out the previous year and Philip V's chief minister Cardinal Alberoni had promised James Butler, Duke of Ormonde massive Spanish support if the Highlanders were to rise.

The Spanish support was to come in two parts. A large force would attack England whilst a smaller force under George Keith, the Earl Marischal was to land in Scotland and form the nucleus of an uprising there. Unfortunately, you have just heard, the main Spanish fleet was completely dispersed by a storm. You are awaiting its reformation. However a smaller force of 307 Spaniards landed safely on the West coast of Scotland in April 1719.

Next, the Jacobite exiles accompanying the Spanish had a tiff as to who was in charge. They'd never really got round to sorting this out beforehand. The Marquess of Tullibardine won the toss of the coin, haggis, whatever and became the proud C-in-C of the bold 300 Spanish plus whatever clans could be persuaded to rise.

Things could only get better - or not. The Royal Navy cut off any hope of escape for the Spanish whose rear guard at Eilean Donan on Loch Alsh was overwhelmed. Threats to a further depot at the head of Loch Duich meant that soon the Jacobites had had both their main powder stores captured or destroyed. Further, the clans were unwilling to rise purely on the basis of "third time lucky" alone. They needed to know that there was a chance that the risk was worth the taking.

By May Government troops at Inverness were moving down the Great Glen against you and with insufficient numbers to do much at all the loyal Jacobites set about establishing a blocking position in Glen Shiel. They hoped to, well, who knows?

You are: William Murray, The Marquess of Tullibardine.

With you is William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth and Lord George Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl. (Don't lose this latter gentleman as he's a more glorious part to play in the '45.)

Your Objectives: Well, not a lot really. Make the best of a bad job. See off the forthcoming attack and preserve your forces to see what tomorrow brings. Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide.

Set Up: You may deploy anywhere behind the line A-A and have constructed defences along the line B-B. (As follows.)

Special Rules: You have been in position long enough to have created defences across the base of the glen. The strength of the defences will determine how easy it is to cross them both for you and the enemy. Choose between "hard cover and nearly impassable", "light cover and passable" or "about medium". The glen sides are too steep to charge across or down and disorder all formed troops. i.e. not your highlanders - just the Spanish.

Your Forces:

Seaforth Mackenzies 200
Other Mackenzies 200
Mackintoshes 300
Campbells 300
MacGregors (Yes, Rob Roy's boys) 40
Camerons of Lochiel 150
Murrays 300
Spanish Regulars 250
Total: 1,740

More Glenshiel

Glenshiel: Introduction
Glenshiel: Government Briefing
Glenshiel: Jacobite Briefing
Glenshiel: Notes for Umpire and Map