1685 - Eilean Dearg - The Small Island Fortress of the Argyll Rebellion

[This is part of  a series of articles on the year 1685.  You might want to read the Overview first.]

June 2, 1685

On about this date it was decided to use a small island as a cache for the ammunitions of the rebel forces of Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll.  The island's name was Eilean Dearg which in Gaelic means "Red Island" but was locally known as "One-tree Island."  In Gaelic the "D" is pronounced as a hard "G" so it was sometimes spelled as Eilean Gherraig, and was further corrupted (or simplified) to Ellangreg.  Note that among those who lost lands after the rebellion was one "Colin Campbell of Ellangreig."

It was a very small island, about two thirds the size of an American football field.  But clearly big enough for more than a lone tree.

Satellite View of Eilean Dearg

The island was located in the bay into which the Ruel River runs.   The Ruel River valley is where the Earl had been doing his last bit of frantic "recruiting."  Many would call it "impressing" or forcing the inhabitants into the army.  (More on that in the article on Glendaruel.)

The Ruel River Valley, or Glendaruel, was part of the Campbell lands.  It was where my ancestor Robert Campbell and his father Archibald were tenant farmers.  Part of the tenant agreement was an understanding that the tenant would go into battle at the command of his master.  Robert's master was John Campbell of Kildalvan. (More on that in the article on Kildalvan)

This bay was well protected from the ocean.  For starters, it sat between two peninsulas of the region known as Cowal.  The bay was called Loch Riddon.  [The Scots seem to call every body of water a lake or "loch."] At the outlet of the bay sat a larger island, the Isle of Bute, giving yet more protection to the bay and to Eilean Dearg.

Map of Cowal showing location of Eilean Dearg in Loch Riddon

A further protection was the shallow waters between the Isle of Bute and the two Cowal peninsulas.  These were called the Kyles of Bute.  They were so shallow that the drovers pushed their cattle and sheep across at low tide.  The large ships of the Royal Navy would jeopardize their vessels if they tried to maneuver this far.

Joel's grandfather [Joel is the namesake of this blog.  You can read his short bio and genealogy here.] was on this island while he was briefly in the rebel army.  Joel's grandfather's name was Robert Campbell.   Robert's deposition appears in the Privy Records of Scotland dated August 21, 1685.  "Robert Campbell, sone to Archibald Campbell in Kiltalvien, and declaires that he saw Kildalven [his master John Campbell of Kildalvan] in Allencraig [Eilean Dearg, the island fortress of the 9th Earl in Loch Riddon] and he separet the night before the defeate from Argyles forces, and that he ownes the Kings authority."  

Robert's father, Archibald, also testified regarding island's garrison.  He stated "Elandgreg [undoubtedly Colin Campbell of Ellangreg] keept the garisone of Eland Greg [Eilean Dearg]."

The life of the island fortress was short.  The Royal Navy did manage to navigate up to Loch Riddon and bombed the bejesus out of the fort.  It has lain in ruins since.

On an extremely rainy day I attempted to view the island from the east shores of Loch Riddon.  Unfortunately, the shore road deviates away from the Loch at the point where the island sits.  The land is all private and the rain decreased my desire to trespass.  I did manage to get a zoom shot through a hole in the wet leaves.

Eilean Dearg from the East Shore of Loch Riddon

On the following day I pulled off at a scenic overlook on the opposite side of Loch Riddon to find I was looking right down on the fabled Eilean Dearg.

Eilean Dearg is on the far left.  The Isle of Bute is in the upper right.  The small islands near the droving point can be seen in the Kyle of Bute top middle.

Eilean Dearg from overlook on west side of Loch Riddon.

There are couple of excellent articles and more references to the story of the island here.

Also see the RCAHMS listing.