London Gazette #2044 : 22 June 1685

Monmouth at Taunton & Argyll on the Run

London Gazette #2044, June 18 to June 22, 1685

Whitehall, June 21. 1865

We have an account from Chard of the 19th, that my lord Churchill, having upon his arrival there with his majesties forces under his command, sent out Lt. Monaux with twenty commanded men and a quartermaster of the Earl of Oxfords Regiment. Them came up, within two miles of Taunton with a party of rebels, of the same number and charged them, killed 12 of them upon the place, and wounded most of the rest. Then perceiving another party of the Rebels, they retired, Lt. Monaux was shot in the head so that he cannot live, and three of his men wounded; but this party of the rebels were very well armed, being their best men.

We are informed that the Rebels are between Taunton and Bridgwater. Whilst, his majesties forces commanded by the Earl of Feversham are marching towards them, and we doubt not to have in a few days a very good account of them.

Edinburgh, June 18, Thursday at Noon.

We have an account this day that the Earl of Argyll, upon the notice had of the arrival of His Majesties Ships, had resolved to cause his ships and boats to sail into Loch Fyne, but being detained by contrary winds, his Majesties ships the Kingfisher and Faulcon came up to the entrance of Lochcowal, where the rebel ships lay, by which they were so discouraged, that laying aside the design of sailing into Loch Fyne, they began upon the 10th instant, to fortify a little castle called Ellengreg, and a rock that lies near to it in a little Island for securing there ships in Lochcowal; which done, himself marched away towards the head of Loch Fyne, leaving 150 men for the guard of the ships, having first put his cannon, arms and ammunition into the castle. Upon the 11th, a party of his majesties forces under the command of the marquis of Athol, consisting of 300 foot and 80 horse, and defeated them; some of the rebels being killed upon the place, several wounded, and some of their horses and arms taken; upon which they marched back to the Ellengreg, where they continued until the 15th, at which time the rebels having passed Lochlong, marched towards Lennox in the shire of Dumbarton.

The same day, his majesties ships came up to the castle (where the rebels arms and ammunition still lay) with a resolution to batter it, and to destroy their ships; but upon the firing of the first gun two men came off in a boat with a white flag, and told them they might save their labour, for there were none to oppose them, all the rebels having fled. Whereupon they sent a boat on shore, and finding it to be so, took possession of the castle, ships and boats, with all the arms, ammunition, cannon etc. A particular account where of cannot be given at present, but what are already found, do amount to 5000 arms, 500 barrels of powder, with ball and other stores in proportion, besides the cannon, some whereof are mounted, and other sunk, though easily recoverable. The rebels had a design to blow up the powder; but it was prevented.

On the 16th they marched by the head of Balloch towards the fords of the river Leven, between Lochlomond and the town of Dumbarton. On the 17th in the morning, the Earl of Dumbarton, having an account of their passing that river, and of their being in the shire of Dumbarton sent 3 troops of Dragoons to prevent their crossing the river Clyde, under the command of the Lord Charles Mackray the Lt. Col., whilst the Earl with the Army under his command is marching with all diligence from Glasgow towards the rebels (who are about 12 miles distant) to attack them. The rebels have the river Clyde on the right hand (guarded by the dragoons and the troops of that county) the Duke of Gordon on their left, and the marquis of Athol in their rear.

An express from the Marquis of Athol does inform us that he met a considerable number of the rebels deserting, not only for fear, but also for hunger, having no provisions. On the other part, the nobleman and gentlemen now in arms for his majesties service of great zeal and forwardness and when any of them are sent home (there accidence being judged unnecessary) they repine to be deprived of the honour to serve his majesty upon this occasion.

We have just now received Letters from the Borders, assuring us, that all is in perfect Peace there, both on the Scotch and English side.