[MR] Battle of Stirling Bridge

[Garth Groff]

Noble Friends, especially Fellow Scots,

11 September is the anniversary of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 
William Wallace's triumph over the English in 1296. The battle was a 
major set-back for the ambitions of Edward I to conquer Scotland. The 
wily Scots held the ground beyond the north end of Stirling Bridge over 
the River Forth, but the bulk of their army was hiding in the nearby 
woods. When the English/Welsh vanguard and some of their cavalry had 
crossed the river on the narrow bridge, Wallace's Scots attacked with 
disciplined schiltrons (blocks of pikemen) from the woods. The English 
were pressed back to the bridge which became a fatal choke point. The 
English were cut down by the Scots, or drowned trying to cross the 
river. In the midst of the battle, the bridge collapsed (or was broken) 
leaving the English with no escape. The remainder of the English army on 
the south bank made a disorderly retreat back across the border, 
harassed by the Scots all the way.

Wikipedia has a very good summary of the battle at 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stirling_Bridge .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, A Proud Scot