Colonel Alastair MacColla’s Lifeguard of Foot
| Active | 1644 to 1648 |
| Country | Scotland |
| Ireland | |
| Allegiance | Royalist |
| Confederate | |
| Clericalist | |
| Conflicts | First Civil War |
| Irish Confederate War | |
| Type | Foot |
| Colonel | Alastair MacColla |
| Area Raised | Western Isles |
| Ireland | |
| Coat Colour | |
| Flag Colour | |
| Flag Design | |
| Field Armies | Montrose 1644-5 |
| Preston 1647 | |
| Taafe 1647 |
Scots Highland contingent raised as MacColla’s Lifeguard
Service History
1644
- May: Take Rathlin Island?
- May: Attacked by the Campbells and flee to Islay and Jura?
- December: Raid on Inverary
1645
- February: Battle of Inverlochy
- 9th May: Battle of Auldearn - 140 men
- 15th August: Battle of Kilsyth - 120 men
1646
- February: Raid on Bute?
- Spring: Siege of Kilberry Castle
- Spring: Siege of Craignish Castle
- Spring: Siege of Duntroon Castle?
- Spring: Battle of Lagganmore
- To August: Siege of Skipness Castle
1647
- May: Skirmish at Rhunahaorine Point?
- August: Battle of Dungan's Hill
- November: Battle of Knocknanuss
1648
- Remnants of the 'redshanks', supporting the clericalist faction, are destroyed at Davidstown by Leinster army cavalry of the Ormondist faction
Notes
MacColla raised his regiment from the Western Isles, whence they returned prior to Philiphaugh. After defeat at the hands of the Covenanters, MacColla returned to Ireland where he led a regiment in the army of the Catholic Confederation, officially attached to the Munster army, but serving with Preston's Leinster army on the Dungan's Hill campaign. Padraig Lenihan opines that the unit were mostly Irish rather than Scots at this stage. MacColla's men were described as 1500 'redshanks' at Knocknanuss, where MacColla was killed in action. Perhaps they were merged into Colonel Angus MacDonald of Glengarrys’ Regiment of Foot thereafter.
