Book Review: William Wallace

William Wallace. By Andrew Fisher.(Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers Limited, 1986.)

The author’s thesis is that the Scottish military hero Sir William Wallace is perceived mainly through an unreliable poem and the 1995 film Braveheart, not historically sound sources. Fisher thoroughly illustrates where Hollywood and tradition have taken precedence to History. He gives documented accounts that both confirm and contradict the traditional account of Wallace’s life. Fisher shows on multiple occasions where the traditional sources were either speculating, embellishing or just wrong altogether.

This work is an interpretive narrative. Fisher issues questions most have failed to ask. He puts events in Wallace’s life in context with contemporary facts that offer alternate explanations for his actions and motives. Fisher does not attempt to erase the heroic image of Wallace, but to gain a deeper, more historical understanding of him. The author turned to many sources, both Scottish and English soldiers’ accounts. He also proved the traditional background of Wallace’s life is false and completely opposite by his use of a letter of Wallace’s found in Germany.

This book is not intended as an entertaining drama for a popular audience, but rather for a scholarly one that wants to know the real William Wallace. Each chapter is followed by endnotes that make the book an excellent research tool. Fisher includes several illustrations and portraits of Wallace–all high quality.

Fisher’s work is an excellent contribution, if not the best, to the subject. His work wades through the folklore and legend and helps the reader see where history and legend divide. Unlike other works that cling to the Hollywood version of Wallace, Fisher makes history come alive and presents a Wallace that is human, limited and far more passionate than previously portrayed.

Battles My Ancestors Fought In

*Confirmed Ancestors present

Imperial Rome 

The Roman Invasion of Britannia and Caledonia (Britain and Lower Scotland)*

 

Wars for Scottish Indenpence

Stirling Bridge (Scotland)*

Falkirk (Scotland)*

Bannockburn (Scotland)*

 

Jacobite Uprisings

Boyne River (Ireland)*

Jacobite Rebellions (Scotland, England)*

Prestonpans (Scotland)*

Falkirk 1746 (Scotland)*

Culloden Moor (Scotland)*

 

The French-Indian War

Monongahela (North America, near Pittsburgh.)

Fort Ticonderoga (Canada)

Louisburg (Nova Scotia)

Quebec (Canada)

 

The American Revolution

Camden (South Carolina)*

King’s Mountain (North Carolina border)*

Guilford Courthouse (North Carolina)*

Eutaw Springs (  )*

Yorktown (Virginia)*

 

The Peninsular War

Salamanca (Spain)

Vitoria (Spain)

 

The War of 1812

New Orleans (1812)*

 

Napoleonic War

Quatre Bras (Belgium)*

Waterloo (Belgium)*

 

The Crimean War

Balaclava (Ukraine)

 

The American-Mexican War

Vera Cruz (Mexico)

Puebla (Mexico)

Chapultepec (Mexico City)

Humantla (Mexico)

 

The War Between the States

Fredericksburg

Gettysburg

Chancellorsville

Sharpsburg “Antietam”

Spotsylvania

Chattanooga

Petersburg

Atlanta

Savannah

Vicksburg

 

 

 

 

 

The Great War WWI

Verdun (France)*

 

World War II

Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)*

Clan Gunn

Motto: Aut Pax Aut Bellum; translated literally as “Either peace or war”, colloquially translated as “In peace and war” or, alternatively, with the raised sword of the crest, as “Stand ready for peace or war.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin

The origin of the name Gunn is Norwegian. The word “Gunni” i

n the Old Norwegian language means “War” or “Battle.”

It is believed that a member of Clan Gunn was among the party of Henry Sinclair, a Scottish Earl whom some believe to have made a voyage to the New World in 1398, traveling to Nova Scotia and New England. This individual is believed to have perished on this expedition and is also known as the Westford Knight. Often, it is claimed by enthusiasts devoted to this tale that the knight is Sir James Gunn, who reportedly traveled with Sinclair. There is no documentary evidence to support this theory.

15th century and clan conflicts

Clanngvn tartan, as published in 1842 in Vestiarium Scoticum.

The origin of the name Gunn is Norwegian. The word “Gunni” in the Old Norwegian language means “War” or “Battle”. The Battle of Harpsdale was fought in 1426. The Clan Gunn fought an inconclusive battle with the Clan Mackay.^[1]

The Battle of Tannach was fought in 1464. It was fought between the Clan Keith, assisted by the Clan Mackay against the Clan Gunn. The inhabitants of Caithness assembled an army and met the Mackays and Keiths at a place in Caithness called Blair-tannie. There ensued a cruel fight, with slaughter on either side. In the end the Keiths and Mackays had the victory by means chiefly of John Mor MacIan-Riabhaich (an Assynt man), who was very famous in these countries for his courage shown at this conflict. Two chieftains of Caithness were slain. Angus Mackay would later be defeated by Clan Ross.^[2][3]

The Battle of Champions was fought in 1478 between twelve men of the Clan Gunn and twenty four men of the Clan Keith where the chief of Clan Gunn was killed (reputedly, the agreement was for “twelve horse” of each clan to meet and parley, and the Keiths arrived with two men on each horse). The chief of the Clan Keith was also soon after killed by the Gunns in a revenge attack at the chapel of St. Tears.^[4]

In later years William MacKames Gunn, grandson of George Gunn, ambushed chief George Keith, his son and ten of their retainers as they were traveling at Drummoy in Sutherland. All of the Keiths were killed by the Gunns. It was around this time a large majority of the Gunns, under James Gunn, removed from Caithness into Sutherland.^[5]

16th century and clan conflicts

In 1517 the Clan Gunn supported the Clan Sutherland in defeating the Clan Mackay at the Battle of Torran Dubh.^[6]

Alistair Gunn, son of John Robson Gunn, chief of the clan, had become a man of much note and power in the North. He had married the daughter of John Gordon the Earl of Sutherland and for this reason “he felt entitled to hold his head high amongst the best in Scotland”. His pride, or perhaps his loyalty to the Earl of Sutherland, led to his undoing when in 1562, he led Gordon’s retinue and encountered James Stewart, Earl of Moray, and his followers on the High Street of Aberdeen. The Earl was the bastard half-brother of Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as the son-in-law of William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal, the head of Clan Keith. It was the custom at the time to yield thoroughfares to the personage of greater rank, and in refusing to yield the middle of the street to Stewart and his train, Alistair publicly insulted the Earl. Stewart soon afterwards had him pursued to a place called Delvines, near Nairn. There he was captured and taken to Inverness, and following a mock trial, he was executed.^[7]

In 1586 at the Battle of Allt Camhna the Clan Gunn was victorious but they were defeated shortly afterwards by a massive force at the Battle of Leckmelm.^[8]

17th century and Civil War

The most notable of the Gunns after the differentiation of the Clan was Sir William Gunn, who fought under Charles I, and was knighted by him. After Charles’ cause failed, William crossed to Europe, and served in the army of the Holy Roman Empire, became an imperial general and married a German baroness. Much of the clan, however, had to forfeit their lands due to debt at about this time. The Gunns of Killearnan were fortunate enough to obtain new land at Badenloch.

18th century and Jacobite uprisings

Unlike some highland clans, the Gunns did not rise under the standard of the Stuarts during the Jacobite rebellions, and indeed supported the government in the conflict of 1745 along with other Highland clans such as Clan Munro, Clan Campbell, Clan Mackay, Clan Sutherland and Clan Ross. The Clan Gunn came out for the government, led by the MacKeamish. There were about 120 men under arms. They were attached to the Earl of Loudon’s regiment.

 

 

 

 

 

Clan MacDonald

Motto: per mare per terras (by sea and land”)

Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by theLord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan MacAlister. Notable branches without chiefs so-recognised are: the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg, MacDonalds of Lochalsh, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and the MacDonalds of Ardnamurchan. The MacDonnells of Antrim do not belong to the Scottish associations and have a chief officially recognised in Ireland.

Origins

The Norse-Gaelic Clan Donald traces its descent from Dòmhnall Mac Raghnuill (d. circa 1250),^[4] whose father Reginald or Ranald was styled “King of the Isles” and “Lord of Argyll and Kintyre”.^[5] Ranald’s father, Somerled was styled “King of the Hebrides”, and was killed campaigning against Malcolm IV of Scotland at the Battle of Renfrew in 1164. Clan Donald shares a descent from Somerled with Clan MacDougall, who trace their lineage from his elder son, Dugall mac Somhairle.^[6] Their dynasties are together commonly referred to as theClann Somhairle. Furthermore they are descended maternally from both the House of Godred Crovan and the Earls of Orkney, through Somerled’s wife Ragnhildis Ólafsdóttir, daughter of Olaf I Godredsson, King of Mann and the Isles and Ingeborg Haakonsdottir daughter ofHaakon Paulsson, Earl of Orkney. It remains uncertain if the Clann Somhairle are also descendants in some manner, through one or another of the above dynasts, of the House of Ivar, but this is commonly argued.^[7]

Gaelic tradition gave Somerled a Celtic descent in the male line,^[5][8] as the medieval Seanachies traced his lineage through a long line of ancestors back to the High Kings of Ireland, namely Colla Uais and Conn of the Hundred Battles.^[9] Thus Clan Donald claimed to be bothClann Cholla and Siol Chuinn (Children of Colla and Seed of Conn).^[10] Possibly the oldest piece of poetry attributed to the MacDonalds is abrosnachadh (an incitement to battle) which was said to have been written in 1411, on the day of the Battle of Harlaw.^[10] The first lines of the poem begin “A Chlanna Cuinn cuimhnichibh / Cruas an àm na h-iorghaile,” (Ye children of Conn remember hardihood in the time of battle).^[10] A later poem made to John of Islay (1434–1503), last of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, proclaims “Ceannas Ghàidheal do Chlainn Cholla, còir fhògradh,” (The Headship of the Gael to the family of Colla, it is right to proclaim it), giving MacDonald’s genealogy back to Colla Uais.^[10]

However a recent DNA study has shown that Somerled may have been of Norse descent in his male line.^[11] By testing the Y-DNA of males bearing the surnames MacDonald, MacDougall, MacAlister, and their variants it was found that a substantial proportion of men tested shared the same Y-DNA and a direct paternal ancestor.^[12] This distinct Y-chromosome R1a1 haplotype found in Scotland has been regarded as often showing Norse descent in the British Isles.^[11] According to the Clan Donald USA DNA Project about 22% of tested participants have this signature, most importantly including the chiefs,^[13] but despite the sensational claims it remains unclear whether Somerled himself was of paternal Norse ancestry. A non-paternity event remains a possible cause.^[14]

Famous Battles

Battle of Bannockburn

Jacobite risings

Battle of Prestonpans

Battle of Falkirk (1746)

Battle of Culloden

Bagpipes For Hire: Make it a day you’ll never forget.

If you are in need of a professional bagpiper, search no farther.

While in high school, I began researching my ancestry and found that I have deep Scottish roots in Northern Scotland. I acquired a beginner set of pipes and taught myself how to play the great highland bagpipes, “the great war pipes of the north.” I eventually purchased a professional set of pipes and have not been quiet since.

When performing, I wear full Highland regalia and dawn the Black Stewart tartan in honor of my ancestors that fought the Romans, the English and were present in famous battles such as Stirling, Falkirk, Bannockburn, Culloden and Waterloo.

If you have never experienced an authentic Scottish bagpiper, you owe it to yourself to see why this legendary instrument has brought tears to eyes, inspired men to valor and sent a shiver down the spine of those who hear it approaching.

Please allow me to make your event, joyful or serious, one that will forever be engraved in the memory of all who attend.

-Kenneth Willis

I have performed for:

-Weddings, funerals, SCV meetings, nursing homes, charity events, banquets, dinners, meetings, birthday parties, veterans celebrations, memorial services,   etc.

My contact Information:

email: kennethdwillis@gmail.com

Home Phone: 864-277-2707

Cell: 864-901-4741

Photos

Prayer Breakfast for the SCV, Spartanburg, SC. 2012

Piping at Falls Park, Greenville, SC

Confederate Memorial Day 2011

Birthday Party Performance

No Other Choice

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Make no mistakes of me having fantasies that my historian / Southern opinion will instantly and overwhelmingly change your minds or cause mass action. I do however know many of you who read here and interact with me in life; I wish to submit a serious, heart-felt treatise on my historian perspective on the upcoming election, more specifically, the South Carolinian Primary.

Before I begin, I would like to add a personal note to those of you who have seriously and kindly asked me to reconsider Ron Paul as the Republican candidate. I have indeed reconsidered and come to the following conclusions:

Before I give my conclusions, know that I am first a Christian, then a South Carolinian and then an American. My outlook on the world is affected by spiritual beliefs, Southern historical principles of small, limited government where the states have the last say. This is how our founders understood the document they wrote and signed called the Constitution.

Also I will add that I am a self-educated student of military strategy and warfare. I look primarily at the world through a military commander’s perspective. I ask the following questions as I look at our national situation: (1) Who are our friends and who are our enemies? (2) What are our weaknesses? (3) What can we do to become stronger and more prosperous and remain secure? In answer to the first question, our allies are chiefly Great Britain and Israel. These are trusted allies we can depend on and trust completely with no doubt. Our enemies are obviously radical Islam, I would argue all Islam is our enemy as per the Koran (I have read it.) I see it impossible for any good Muslim to love America. More specifically our main enemies are the nations of North Korea, Iran and most Middle Eastern countries. China is certainly no friend, but now is more an economic enemy than a military one. The danger from North Korea is certainly obvious, but is easier to define and fight should we have to. However, the Islamic threat is much more complicated because it is a threat waged in unconventional, cowardly and with unthinkable hatred toward us. Iran is the most pressing threat chiefly because they have been in fact enriching uranium and are working towards a nuclear weapon which they either possess or will soon possess. They are the chief threat and must be dealt with before the weapon is used. Secondly, our weaknesses are mainly from within. Our “president” and I use the term in quotations because he is not a United States citizen, has systematically crippled our economy and wants to bring our nation down to third-world status. He has destroyed American healthcare, should the Supreme Court uphold his unconstitutional act and he has repeatedly violated the constitution and tested his power beyond his legal rights as the executive leader. Thirdly, we must first remove Barack Hussein Obama and put an American in office who is proud of his country and loves it. We must not allow Iran to nuclear power or more importantly weapons. We must not break ties with our allies, specifically Israel, as we have a Biblical mandate to support them and as they are our best ally. We must break dependency on foreign oil and must reverse the oppressive, unconstitutional acts of the traitor Barrack Hussein Obama.

 

Now, here is my careful, well-researched statements on the candidates.

Rick Perry: Perry is wisely utilizing the Southern Bible belt and evangelicalism to his own gain. I do not trust that move as he previously had little interest in them. My chief concern is that he will not defeat Barrack Obama. Also against him is the mandatory vaccinations he required in Texas. In my mind, though it was in his state, it was something a politician had no right to do; it was dictatorial and scares me just as much as Obama. I will not vote for another dictator, no matter what party he is in.

Rick Santorum: Santorum is a good Catholic man. He has great values and morals, but will not beat Obama. He is historically shown that he cannot win. He was defeated in Pennsylvania’s senate race by the largest margin in state history. If we choose this man, he will lose to Obama. The opposition is too strong for him and Obama far too crafty. Right now, the best thing he can do is draw more votes to Romney. I have to vote for a man who can defeat Obama, not help him get reelected.

Mitt Romney: Romney is a Massachusetts moderate. This a fact not many have picked up on and that is quite disturbing. He has raised taxes over and over again after vowing not to; he has changed his platform to a conservative one to get elected; he has displayed dictatorial tendencies by ordering all Catholic Churches to mandatory award-ship of adopters to gay homes regardless of the churches’ constitutional right to conscientious objection. He is not fit to beat Obama. He is already shown that he cannot answer direct questions and will fumble under pressure. He is no match for Obama. He will never get my vote.

Jon Huntsman: Huntsman is certainly the least of the contenders and on top of his arrogance and abstract strategy for Iraq and the Iranian crisis, he stands no chance of winning the Republican nominee. He might as well drop out.

Ron Paul: As mentioned before, I have reconsidered Ron Paul and carefully examined from his own words, interviews and statements to decide if I will vote for him. The issue most concerning to me before reconsidering, was that he was anti-Israel and had lax policies towards Iran and the threat of Islam. After much reconsideration, I am utterly horrified at what our nation might look like if this man gets the presidency. First of all, he will not beat Obama, save on the grounds of the youth of this nation voting him in to legalize marijuana. He believes the constitution provides Americans the right to smoke pot in their own homes. He has a seriously defective view on this as he fails to see the catastrophic ramifications should this occur. People will be more widely addicted to drugs than ever before, the police will be helpless in controlling the number or crimes committed under the influence of drugs, people will have their homes broken into by drug addicts, mugged, killed and drunk driving will be succeeded by driving high. Secondly, Paul is anti-Israel. He claims to be an isolationist and that Israel wants and needs us to leave them alone and be less involved. This is untrue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu constantly urges the United States to remain a strong, involved ally against the overwhelming threat of being completely by hostile, ruthless Arab and Palestinian nations seeking to “drive her into the sea.” Paul would leave Israel on her own, abandon her, all in the name of helping her. More disturbing in my research was that Paul has stated that Israel has provoked the hatred and retaliation of Islamic nations and terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Paul is more concerned with “the sufferings of the innocents in Gaza” than the existence and survival of the Israeli people, who are descendants of Abraham and the chosen people  of God, who are protected by the Old Testament promise that “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee.” Paul certainly is not blessing Israel. I will not even entertain the Reformed argument that the Church has replaced Israel and that they are still being judged for their rejection of Christ. Paul tells us they have been put in blindness and it is our responsibility to witness to them before all other nations. “To the Jew first.” Those words are eternal, not allegoric or seasonal. No Christian can vote for a man who would curse Israel in their darkest hour since the Holocaust. It is utter madness to believe this is going to go unpunished by Almighty God. Even non-believers know the vital and loyal ally Israel is to the United States. No offense to our armed forces, but they go to the Israelis for training. Our most elite unit, the Navy Seals, goes to the Israeli Defense Forces for training. Finally, Ron Paul would completely ignore Iran at the most dangerous time in human history to do so. Even the most liberal politician would admit the catastrophic consequences should Iran possess nuclear weapons. I am aware that Mr. Paul is a good man, a pro-life doctor and strongly against Obama Care. These are nullified by the fact that so are other candidates who do not share what I am calling his “insane foreign relations and domestic policies.” They are insane. I mean no offense to any of you who support him, but I am more afraid of Ron Paul than Barrack Obama. He is dangerously oblivious to how to protect this nation and run a strategic campaign against our enemies. I will not vote for anyone who is against Israel, prophecy or not. Some have pointed out that God will providentially cause Israel to stand in the end times with no allies. This is irrelevant to my decision for the next president. I will not be the one who votes to leave them on their own and furthermore, “Who hath known the mind of God.?” It is not our place to decide that God would have us abandon Israel just because a prophecy in regards to the FUTURE says they will have no allies. I by no means will be an instrument of causing Israel to stand alone. I would fear and tremble standing before Yahweh knowing I had abandoned Issac to the wolves. I will not and cannot conceive how any Christian can vote for Paul.

Newt Gingrich: All I hear about Newt in the negative light is this: “He has baggage and was remarried twice.” If this was the Protestant state of Cromwell’s England or Calvin’s Geneva, that would be damning. But this is America and we do not live in a Theocracy. We have been put under human, imperfect governments by God and he expects us to be ruled by unbelievers and believers alike. Heathen Kings have ruled all throughout history and yet God “holds the king’s heart in His hand.” This argument about baggage is irrelevant and petty. As an American, I must choose the man I believe is best suited to run a nation, to protect its people and maintain our constitutional and God-given liberties. From the first time Newt appeared in the race. No one, friend or foe can deny that is by far the most experienced and formidable challenger of Barrack Obama. He has successfully balanced the United States budget, twice created massive amounts of jobs and understands unlike any other American alive foreign policy, domestic policy and constitutional supremacy. Newt will stand with Israel, take care of Iran, reverse Obama Care, give states more sovereignty, create jobs, break foreign oil dependency, abolish mandatory social security and numerous other government programs and policies that restrict American business and freedom. He is the school master among pupils. He is the only candidate that can and would make Obama tremble at a debate. He loves this country, is real and humble–knowing that he is “created by God and has a duty to protect the rights we have in our constitution and our creator.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no choice at all. Newt is our last HUMAN chance before secession. If Newt is not elected, Obama will be reelected and our only alternative to an Obama dictatorship and socialist nation will be secession.

I know not what course others may take, but I’m with Newt. I love my country, this man shares my love for America and our Southern heritage of nobility, fearing God and loving our constitution. God bless Him and may the LORD grant us mercy by giving us a president who will protect us from terror from without and tyranny from within.

Sincerely,

Kenneth D. Willis