The Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments, Volume 1 (of 2)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

59468

Title

The Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments, Volume 1 (of 2)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This comprehensive historical volume explores the rich heritage of the Scottish Highlands, detailing the origins and customs of Highland clans, their unique social systems, and the distinguished service of Highland regiments in British military history. Rich with genealogical data, clan tartans, and accounts of major battles from the Jacobite risings to the Napoleonic Wars, it offers an authoritative look at Gaelic culture, antiquities, and the dramatic political struggles that shaped Scotland's past.

Summary up to 500 words

Edited by John S. Keltie and featuring contributions from Rev. Thomas MacLauchlan and Professor John Wilson, this extensive work serves as a definitive history of the Scottish Highlands. The text is divided into three primary sections: General History, Clan History, and Regimental History. In the General History section, the narrative traces the primitive history of the region, addressing controversial questions regarding the Picts and Scots, their race and language, and the early social and political conditions of the Highlanders. It covers the spread of Christianity, ancient manners and customs, peculiar dress, superstitions, and the role of Highlanders in major national disputes, including the Civil Wars under Montrose, the Revolution disputes culminating at Killiecrankie, and the insurrections of 1715 and 1745. The text heavily utilizes recent investigations from various Scottish book-clubs and the works of eminent antiquaries like George Chalmers and W.F. Skene. The second section provides a detailed account of each Highland clan. It traces the origin of every clan to its founder, discusses its claim to be purely Gaelic, and follows its history through all branches down to the present day. The narrative details the clans' involvement in clan strifes, disputes between Highlands and Lowlands, and general wars of Scotland. For each clan, the text provides armorial bearings, descriptions of clan tartans, badges, war-cry slogans, estimated strength, and principal seats. It also examines the clan-system itself, including the relationship between chiefs and clansmen, clan dignities, customs, and its differences from the feudal system. The third section chronicles the history of Highland regiments, framing their service as Britain's battles for over a century. It records the noble services rendered in every engagement, highlighting the bravery, discipline, and morale of these units. The text includes accounts of individual deeds by soldiers and applies direct information from the Colonels of existing regiments to ensure reliability regarding later history, drawing on works related to the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. The volume is richly illustrated with autographs, seals, armorial bearings, and views of Highland scenery, towns, and fortresses. It includes a celebrated essay on Highland scenery by Professor John Wilson and a new account of Gaelic language and literature by Rev. Thomas MacLauchlan, featuring copious examples of old Gaelic poetry. The work aims to be accurate, exhaustive, and consistent with the most recent historical investigations, offering varied information on history, antiquities, clans, literature, and military annals.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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• History
• Travel