Free or a Desart!

"By order of the Committee of Organization for forming a Provisional Government. Glasgow April 1st. 1820.",

"Friends and Countrymen! Rouse from that state in which we have sunk for so many years, we are at length compelled from the extremity of our sufferings, and the contempt heaped upon our petitions for redress, to assert our rights at the hazard of our lives." by "taking up arms for the redress of our common grievances". "Equality of rights (not of property)... Liberty or Death is our motto, and we have sworn to return home in triumph - or return no more.... we earnestly request all to desist from their labour from and after this day, the first of April [until] in possession of those rights..." It called for a rising "To show the world that we are not that lawless, sanguinary rabble which our oppressors would persuade the higher circles we are but a brave and generous people determined to be free."

Thus began the Scottish Revolutionary War, effected in the year 1820.

It was done in the most radical manner. Scotland was brought to a standstill by April 2nd. In Glasgow, the leadership were preparing for the next step. In their wisdom, the commitee made the decision to take the Carron Ironworks, near Falkirk, at the time the largest in Europe to gain the arms to support the insurrection. It was agreed that for such a move to be succesful, secrecy would be paramount. As such, it was agreed that the target would be divulged only on a need to know basis.

Despite this, however, the need for men to take the works was also very important. As such, word was spread around that volunteers would be required to meet in George Square in Glasgow on the morning of the 4th. It was hoped that they would then march on the works.

As it was, on the morning of the fourth, over a thousand men turned up. Without uniform, and with little weaponry other than pitchforks and a days food, at nine in the morning, they were ordered to march.

It was only en route that for most the destination was given out. The march was as brisk as could be allowed, but did take time. It took time, but at five in the evening, they arrived. The Ironworks, unprotected fell swiftly into the rebel hands. A standing force of some 250 men were ordered to guard the location.

It was at this point that in the village of Strathaven, James Wilson led some 40 men to Glasgow, flying the banner, 'Scotland, Free or a Desart.' News of the fall of the Ironworks began to spread around the country. In Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Commitees of the Provisional government were established. Inverness was now virtually a fortress town. It was at this time that Scot first killed Scot, when a pro-government militia under Walter Scott was defeated by the rebels just outside Haddington. Scott escaped with his life, to make it to Newcastle.

Scotland was in a state of open revolt. When news hit Westminster, mobilization was ordered. It was their intention to crush it before it got out of control.
 
Lord Liverpool was furious when he heard of the disaster unfolding in Scotland. At once, he ordered that a force be raised to crush the rebellion before it was recognised elsewhere. Whilst he acknowledged that this would take time, with immediate effect, the order went out for the Royal Navy to blockade Scottish ports until the rising was crushed. To lead the force would be Cl George Drummond.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, the rising spread as the month went on. The rebels now had control of almost the entire central belt and the east coast. New Blue uniforms were created in a bid to show the revolutionary zeal. At this point, a force of 9,000 men, mainly veterans of the Napoleonic wars were ordered north to take Inverness. This, of course meant an attempt to lure the garrison at Fort George out, which was not guaranteed.

As in many of these events though, luck was on their side as the commander at Fort George, Frederick Adam had ordered the garrison out in an attempt to defend Inverness from the rebel enslaught.

This led to the Battle of Tomagrain, when the Rebels, under the command of James Baird won the first proper battle of the war. Casualties on both sides were severe, and it was noted afterwords about the humanity of the rebels in caring for the wounded redcoats.

As to the battle itself, Adams forces were heading into Inverness and caught by a pincer movement organised by Baird. Under the circumstances, his force stood no chance. Adam himself survived, to be taken prisoner in the Inverness Tolbooth.

Following the battle, Baird moved quickly on Fort George with forces in disguise in the uniforms of the British Army. By such a move, the largest garrison fortress in the Island fell into rebel hands.

By now, all of Scotland was under the control of the rebels. 20,000 men were being trained to fight. The stage was set for the revolutionary war.
 
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Interesting premis Fletcher!

One thing though: I always got the impression that the insurrection was a pretty small scale one. Would the rebels have had the level of organisation needed to set up provisional governments in all Scotland's major cities?
 
Interesting premis Fletcher!

One thing though: I always got the impression that the insurrection was a pretty small scale one. Would the rebels have had the level of organisation needed to set up provisional governments in all Scotland's major cities?
The strike which was called on April Fools Day was observed by nearly all manufacturing workers in Scotland, so support is not an issue. The premise is twofold, firstly better organisation amongst the leadership and secondly they are luckier.
 
Like as in barren waste? or chocolate cake?:D
On the march from Strathaven to Glasgow in OTL, they had a banner with them which proclaimed, Scotland, Free or a Desart. Given it was in the early 19th centuury, the spelling was out and was intended as desert, but I thought it stood out and went with the spelling on the banner.

With hindsight, maybe I should have mentioned this....:D
 
Hardie was well aware that the force coming to meet the Army of the Revolution would be more experienced, be better trained and in all probability, very well led. This brought forward his plan of action.

The Scots would act as a guerrilla force, harrying the British Army, but not facing it in full battle. In addition to this, the workers were to go on strike in unison for three days every week. It was hoped that by following this strategy following a long struggle, the revolution would be victorious.

The plan was put in place as the forces of the crown marched through Berwick and into Edinburgh. They were met by sullen silence as they marched down the newly constructed Princes Street and into the grounds of the Palace of Holyrood where the British Army established its base.

News came through to the rebel forces that there was discord within the British ranks, with reported fights between Scottish and English soldiers, compounded by disagreement over strategy between officers from the two nations. It was felt within the English ranks that yet another time, the English were saving the Scots from themselves.

The Council of the Revolution took this into account. Patrols sent out by the Army were ambushed on a daily basis for the fortnight they were camped in Holyrood. It was then decided that the rebels must be forced to come out and fight. The army set forth and marched for the one base which would not be surrendered by the rebels lightly. The army marched on Fort George.
 
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