17
S
AVED BY THE
D
UNGEON
The MacTavish, as did many of the Highland Clans,
supported the Stuart cause. When Charles Edward Stuart,
Bonnie Prince Charlie, landed on Scottish soil in July of 1745,
some Highland Clans were preparing to join the Prince in his
quest to put the Stuarts once again on the throne of
Scotland. Dugal MacTavish Younger of Dunardarie wrote
several letters to his neighbor, Sir James Campbell, making
arrangements to raise their men to join Prince Charles
Edward Stuart. Four of these letters were intercepted by a
spy for the king. The Sheriff of Stonefield (John Campbell)
confronted Chief Archibald MacTavish of Dunardarie and
Dugald MacTavish Younger. Dugald admitted "these are of
my hand". A warrant was issued. Dugald MacTavish Younger
was arrested for treasonable acts and transported to
Dunbarton Prison, September 1745.
The result of the McTavish intrigue and the
subsequent imprisonment of the clan leader meant the
MacTavishes, leaderless, could not go en masse as a clan to
the Battle of Culloden. This was a fortuitous circumstance of
history for after the routing of the Bonnie Prince, the Argyll
Highland troops (having been loyal to and now acting for the
British government) were charged to rid the Highlands of the
traitorous
Highlanders—men,
women
and
children.
Genocide. The defeat at Culloden began the eradication of
the Highland way of life.