Battle of Stirling ( 1648 ) The second Battle of Stirling was fought on the 12 September 1648 during the Scottish Civil War of the 17th century . Background . The Battle of Stirling in 1648 was part of the War of the Three Kingdoms . By this time , the Presbyterian Covenanter movement had defeated the Scottish Royalists , who favoured unconditional loyalty to King Charles I . The Independent party in the English Parliament and the English New Model Army posed a threat to the Solemn League and Covenant and the aspirations of the Scots and the English Presbyterians to secure a Presbyterian church north and south of the border . One faction of the Covenanters entered into an engagement with Charles I who agreed to sign the National Covenant in exchange for Scottish help to him and the English Presbyterians against the English Independents in the Second English Civil War . Those that supported this engagement between the King became known as Engagers . The Engagers army under the command of the Earl of Lanark was defeated by the New Model Army under the command of Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Preston ( 1648 ) . Those Covenanters who had opposed the Engagement , seized the opportunity presented by the loss of credibility suffered by the Engagers and launched the Whiggamore Raid which led to their successful capture of Edinburgh . This initiated the short civil war between the Engagers and their opponents known as the Kirk party . The Earl of Lanark , younger brother of the Duke of Hamilton , had been left to defend Scotland against Archibald Campbell , 1st Marquess of Argyll , a covenanter and a leading member of the Kirk party who was now in open rebellion against the Scottish parliament , over their Engagement with King Charles . The nucleus of the Marquis of Argyll ' s force amounted to about 300 men , who were joined by another 400 on the way to Stirling . He was also joined by a further 300 militiamen when he arrived in Stirling on the morning of September 12 , 1648 . His men were assigned to guard various areas of the town and his main force joined him to dine at the Earl of Mar ' s residence . The battle . Argyll had barely begun his meal when the Earl of Lanark ' s advance forces , commanded by Sir George Munro , 1st of Newmore , a Highlander , came into the Deer Park ( now the King ' s Park ) . Argyll then mounted his horse and galloped over Stirling Bridge to seek safety . While making his escape he came under fire from Stirling Castle which had not yet surrendered to Argyll and was still flying the King ' s colours . Having learned that Argyll was in Stirling , Sir George Munro moved in on his own initiative to try to capture one of Argyll ' s commanders , a MacKenzie who was his hated enemy , and had actually succeeded in entering Stirling before any of Argyll ' s commanders were aware of his presence . Munro even personally kicked down a postern door to chase out Argyll ' s men . The battle surprised the Marquis of Argyll ' s men , who broke after some initial stubbon resistance , losing about 200 dead and a further 400 taken prisoner . Many more were killed trying to escape and some even drowned trying to swim across the River Forth to safety . Among the dead on Argyll ' s side were William Campbell of Glenfalloch and Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas , both killed in action . Outside Stirling the Earl of Lanark had a force of 4000 horse and 6000 men on foot . Argyll ' s General David Leslie commanded 3000 horse and 8000 men on foot also outside Stirling . It is interesting to speculate what sort of battle would have taken place the next day had it not been for Munro ' s initiative on the morning of 12 September 1648 . Munro urged Lanark to continue fighting after the battle and attack David Leslie ' s forces , but he was overruled and negotiations for peace began on the 15th . Both sides agreed to disband their forces by the 29 September 1648 . Aftermath . Shortly after this battle the armies of the Earl of Lanark and the Marquess of Argyll , which was commanded by David Leslie , made peace and joined forces . On 27 September 1648 the Treaty of Stirling was agreed and led to the end of Engager dominance of Scotland .