Earl of Eglinton’s Regiment of Horse

Later Colonel Robert Montgomerie's, then Hugh, Viscount Montgomerie's Regiment of Horse

Covenanter Regiment of Horse raised for the Bishop's Wars, then for service in England, forming part of Leven’s army, returning to Scotland in 1645, later part of the Scots New Model Army and raised again in the Third Civil War

• Raised in Ayrshire
• Defence of Galloway and Ayrshire in case of Irish invasion
• Travel to Duns Law via Leith
• June: Standoff at Dun’s Law
• June: Disbanded following the Treaty of Birks

• Raised anew in Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire

• January: Skirmish at Shieldfield Fort
• April to July: Siege of York
• 2nd July: Battle of Marston Moor
• July: Siege of York

• July to September: Siege of Hereford?
• September: Return to Scotland with Leslie
• September: Battle of Philiphaugh
• Robert Montgomerie replaces Eglinton as Colonel
• November: Quartered in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire
• December: Two companies of Lord Coupar’s Dragoons added to the regiment at Angus
• December: Small detachment at Siege of Newark

• January to April: Garrison Aberdeen
• April: Join Middleton's force
• May: Loss of Aberdeen

• February: Majority disbanded apart from Montgomerie's troop that survives as part of the Scots New Model Army
• March to July: Serve under Leslie in the northeast and northwest Scotland

• March: Robert Montgomerie opposes the Engagement and resigns
• May: Robert's brother Hugh, Viscount Montgomerie is commissioned colonel of a troop of horse from Renfrewshire and Ayrshire and also takes over Robert's old troop
• September: Robert Montgomerie raises men in Ayrshire and attacks a troop of the Earl of Lanark’s Regiment of Horse in Ayrshire, sparking the Whiggamore Raid, then joins his father, the Earl of Eglinton, in taking Edinburgh

• Robert Montgomerie made Major General by the Kirk party, also commissioned colonel to raise horse in Ayr & Renfrew
• April to May: Quartered in northeast Scotland
• June: Ordered to Aberdeen & Banff

• January: At Ayr
• April: Montgomerie's troop joins Strachan at Tain
• April: Skirmish at Carbisdale (Montgomerie's troop)
• June: Quartered in East Lothian, Kyle and Cunningham and Renfrew
• June: George Montgomerie's troop ordered to Fife (perhaps part of the regiment)
• July: Join Leslie's army at Edinburgh
• July: Skirmish at Musselburgh
• September: Battle of Dunbar
• September: Retire to Perth
• October: Sent north to find the King
• November: Ordered against the Western Association, reaching Campsie before hearing of their defeat
• December: March via Loch Lomond, Port and Kilmadock
• December: Garrison Craigbarnet house with a cornet at 20 troopers

• February: In Fife
• April: Raid on Linlithgow
• May: Assigned to Montgomerie's 3rd Cavalry Brigade
• September: Battle of Worcester

A history of the unit is shown in Edward M. Furgol’s A Regimental History of the Covenanting Armies 1639-1651 Edinburgh, 1990. ISBN 0 85976 194 0

Included one troop of dragoons during the First Civil War. Little is known of the unit's service in 1648. George Montgomerie's troop may be part of the Third Civil War regiment, but unconfirmed as yet.

A list of officers is shown in Stuart Reid's Scots Armies of the 17th Century 1. The Army of the Covenant 1639-1651 Partizan Press 1998 ISBN 094652550

Earl of Eglinton

A younger son of Eglinton, he was promoted from Lieutenant Colonel in 1645. He led the Scots a Powick bridge and was wounded during the battle of Worcester, his regiment remained with Leslie.

Hugh Montgomerie was the elder son of the 6th Earl and replaced his brother when Robert resigned rather than join the Engagement in 1648.

• 1639: 100 gentry and 200 tenants
• 1643: 7 troops
• 1647: 1 troop of 80, reduced to 75
• May 1648: 2 troops (one to be of 80 horse)
• 1648: Expanded to a regiment
• 1649: 1 troop
• February 1649: 400 horse planned to be levied
• July 1649: 4 troops of 60 men each; Montgomerie, Gadgirth, Cathcart and Greenock
• August 1649: Ayr and Renfrew to levy a further 231 troopers
• June 1650: Ayr and Renfrew to levy a further 231 troopers
• September 1650: Further reinforcements assigned
• December 1650: 146 recruits already received but more hoped for
• May 1651: Strength of 415 officers and men
• June 1651: 180 more levies ordered