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Song History
Battle Of Stirling
A simple brief
thought on Scottish
Independance.

Were the outdated
union not of some very
high value to England and
the English, why would
they fight so to try to
keep it?

There are only so many
slices to a pie, for one to
have more, another must
have less.

Lastly - to those Scottish
"Loyalists" - to whom are
you loyal?
Scots royalty died in the
1700's so it can be no
Scots crown - And
certainly not it appears to
those who came before,
that bled for Scotland
and her freedom !  
In the words
of Burns, as he
wrote from the heart.

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victorie.

Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power,
Chains and slaverie.

Wha would be a traitor-knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a Slave?
Let him turn and flie:

Wha for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Free-man stand, or free-man fa',
Let him follow me.

By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your Sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

Lay the proud Usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us Do - or Die!!!

Choose your destiny.
The Battle of Stirling Bridge was part of the First War of
Scottish Independence.

Date:
William Wallace's forces were victorious at Stirling Bridge
on September 11, 1297.

Armies & Commanders:
Scotland
William Wallace
Andrew de Moray
300 cavalry, 10,000 infantry

England
John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey
Hugh de Cressingham
1,000 to 3,000 cavalry, 15,000-50,000 infantry

Battle Summary:
In 1297, English forces under the Earl of Surrey and Hugh
de Cressingham moved north put down a revolt in
Scotland. Having defeated a relatively disorganized
Scottish army the year before at the Battle of Dunbar,
English confidence was high and Surrey was expecting a
short campaign. Opposing the English was a new Scottish
army led by William Wallace and Andrew de Moray. More
disciplined than their predecessors, this force occupied
the flat ground to the north of Stirling Bridge.

As the English approached from the south, Sir Richard
Lundie, a former Scottish knight, informed Surrey about a
local ford that would allow sixty horsemen to cross the
river at once. After conveying this information, Lundie
asked permission to take a force across the ford to flank
the Scottish position. Though this request was considered
by Surrey, Cressingham managed to convince him to
attack directly across the bridge. As King Edward I's
treasurer in Scotland, Cressingham wished to avoid the
expense of prolonging the campaign and sought avoid
any actions that would cause a delay.

On September 11, 1297, Surrey's English and Welsh
archers crossed the narrow bridge but were recalled as
the earl had overslept. Later in the day, Surrey's infantry
and cavalry began crossing the bridge. Watching this,
Wallace and Moray restrained their troops until a sizable,
but defeatable, English force had reached the north shore.
When approximately 5,400 had crossed the bridge, the
Scots attacked and swiftly encircled the English, gaining
control of the north end of the bridge. Among those who
were trapped on the north shore was Cressingham who
was killed and butchered by the Scottish troops.

Unable to send sizable reinforcements across the narrow
bridge, Surrey was forced to watch his entire vanguard be
destroyed by Wallace and Moray's men. One English
knight, Sir Marmaduke Tweng, managed to fight his way
back across the bridge to the English lines. Others
discarded their armor and attempted to swim back across
the River Forth. Despite still having a strong force,
Surrey's confidence was destroyed and he ordered the
bridge destroyed before retreating south to Berwick.























Seeing Wallace's victory, the Earl of Lennox and James
Stewart, the High Steward of Scotland, who been
supporting the English, withdrew with their men and
joined the Scottish ranks. As Surrey pulled back, Stewart
successfully attacked the English supply train, hastening
their retreat. By departing the area, Surrey abandoned the
English garrison at Stirling Castle, which eventually
surrendered to the Scots.

Aftermath & Impact:
Scottish casualties at the Battle of Stirling Bridge were not
recorded, however they are believed to have been
relatively light. The only known casualty of the battle was
Andrew de Moray who was injured and subsequently died
of his wounds. The English lost approximately 6,000 killed
and wounded.