Black Watch Tartan Origin?

[ozone]

I just read an article in the Wall Street Journal that got me curious. It was written by a former black watch member complaining about the kilt shortage in the army. In his article, he commented that the black watch tartan is a modified Campbell tartan. When my wife and I visited Scotland a few years ago, we encountered a number of people who were still pissy about the black watch and its tartan given the history of involvement in the clearances and persecution of many scottish people.

This got me thinking for several reasons. Either the Campbell clan colluded with the English and therefore get the "honor" of a modified version of their tartan being used to finish the job on the rest of the clans during the clearances. Or, the Campbell clan tried to save their lands and titles and were forced to help the English. Or...the English just happened to pick the Campbell tartan for their black watch tartan.


Anyway, if anyone has some insight into this now-decorated military tartan, I would be interested in knowing the answer.

[Woodsheal]

When the tartan was adopted by the Highland Independent Companies in 1725, there were NO clan tartans per se. No Campbell portraiture from that period indicates that tartan, either (they're always shown in red-based tartans!). So, no, it's unlikely it was a "Campbell tartan" in the 1720's.

Read Matt's article:
http://albanach.org/oldtartans.html

[Geomantic]

My limited historical knowledge, the Campbells were the Scottish enforcement of the crown's laws as well as tax collectors of the crown, as evident in the events leading up to the massacre at Glencoe. Anyone is free to correct, elaborate and enlighten myself and others.

[Monkey@Arms]

May I direct you to another excellent article by Mr Newsome, this one about the Black Watch tartan specifically:

http://albanach.org/blackwatch.htm

Best regards,

Jake

[macwilkin]

Thread moved to heraldry & tartans section. Post all tartan-related questions in this section, please.

Regards,

Todd

[macwilkin]

My limited historical knowledge, the Campbells were the Scottish enforcement of the crown's laws as well as tax collectors of the crown, as evident in the events leading up to the massacre at Glencoe. Anyone is free to correct, elaborate and enlighten myself and others.

Actually, there was really only one Campbell associated with Glencoe, Robert Campbell of Glenlyon,who commanded government troops (not Campbell clansmen), under orders from the Earl of Stair and William of Orange.

Regards,

Todd

[MacWage]

I'd second Matt's article.

In short, the history of clan tartans is a MUCH heated and debated matter. Yet, most scholars DO NOT see tartans used as livery before about 1800 (with the exception of a SINGLE Grant chief, which fell apart quickly after producing 3 famous portraits of himself, his champion and his piper-> these would ALL THREE be immediately recognized by most of us).

The "Black Watch" tartan was created so the soldiers of the Black Watch regiment would all be dressed alike. The different regiments raised either adopted the "Government Tartan" (Black Watch was the first of the units to use this tartan), made a variation of it (like Gordon), or adopted a unique tartan. The different clans then adopted the tartan from the regiment bearing their names. As several of the units used "Black Watch" it became also Campbell, Grant Hunting, Munro Hunting, and Sutherland Hunting (probably a few more too). Others were close variations, such as Gordon, Forbes, etc with a different color stripe in the green of the Government Tartan.
Additionally, the Government Tartan became the "base" of hundreds of other tartans.

[MacWage]

Actually, there was really only one Campbell associated with Glencoe, Robert Campbell of Glenlyon,who commanded government troops (not Campbell clansmen), under orders from the Earl of Stair and William of Orange.

Regards,

Todd

Those "in the know" tend to hold Stair as more "at fault" for the travesty at Glencoe than the Campbells. Stair WANTED a total massacre (and manipulated William into calling for one). Some even argue (to relative effectiveness) that Glenlyon's part actually did more to make the operation as sloppy as possible, on purpose, as he could "legitimately" do and still "follow orders." Thus, the Campbell involved probably enabled more MacIan's to live than most other officers in his personal bind (between explicit orders and personal connections and scruples).

[macwilkin]

Those "in the know" tend to hold Stair as more "at fault" for the travesty at Glencoe than the Campbells. Stair WANTED a total massacre (and manipulated William into calling for one). Some even argue (to relative effectiveness) that Glenlyon's part actually did more to make the operation as sloppy as possible, on purpose, as he could "legitimately" do and still "follow orders." Thus, the Campbell involved probably enabled more MacIan's to live than most other officers in his personal bind (between explicit orders and personal connections and scruples).

VERY good points, MacWage; many thanks!

Some historians believe that Glenlyon may have made a "mess" of it because his heart wasn't in the job; others have cited the fact that Glenlyon's men did give the MacDonald's some warning, and that Glenlyon himself was related to MacIan. Others point out that Glenlyon's estates were the victim of a raid by the MacDonald's before Glencoe, a fact that most ardent MacDonald apologists usually ignore. They also ignore that it was a Campbell who took MacIan's oath to William (albiet a few days late) and personally swore for MacIan's tardiness because of the weather. One good source on the Glencoe affair is Baynes and Laffin's "Soldiers of Scotland", which discusses all of the above points.

Regards,

Todd

[ozone]

Very interesting points by all of you. All this tartan stuff is rather convoluted and I guess modern scots really shouldn't be so persnickty about the black watch tartan since the regiment has served honourably for many years past the initial troubles, which were many years ago now.