Na Caraidean: John (left) armed with targe, dirk and basket hilted back sword. Ron (right) armed with targe, dirk and claymore, a two handed sword used well into the 17th century.

Alisdair MacColla MacDonald's (son of ColKitto) sixteen hundred Scots-Irish formed the nucleus of Montrose's army. This month we highlight the traditional clothing from this period. Modeling their own attire are John Badger and Ron Cameron of Na Caraidean, a historical reenactment group based in Tucson, Arizona.

Ron is wearing

Wool knitted bonnet

Leine, a long sleeved shirt, falling to just above the knees.

Vambraces on the forearm.

Feileadh Mor, also know as the Belted Plaid or Great Kilt. A long strech of wool tartan, pleated and wrapped around the waist, held on with a belt. The remaining material can be drapped over one or two shoulders or used as a rain cloak, as well as doubling as a sleeping bag. It's perfect, water resistant campaign gear. Ron's is made of 6 yards of ancient Cameron of Lochiel hunting tartan. Lochiel had this tartan made based on a contemporary written description of what the Camerons wore at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.

Plaid brooch(left). Dirk, a long highland dagger.(Right)

Tartan Hose held up with tied garters. Sgian Dubh tucked into the top of the hose. It means 'dark knife', not for its literal name, but for modus operandi. Deer hide cuarrans. With all the sea lochs and marshy land of the highlands it was quite common to take a step only to have your foot sink several inches down into the muck. Rather than lose a shoe, Highlanders laced their shoes with long ties up the ankle. That way they could untie the laces, pull their foot out and then yank on the laces to extract the shoe.

Baldric is holding a basket hilted back sword and scabbard.

Targe strapped across the back. In battle, the targe was strapped on the forearm with a dirk clutched in the hand. A broadsword was held in the other hand. This targe is a hand-tooled replica of a 17th century MacDonald targe depicting a double-headed eagle. It was custom made by Ron Cameron, authentic in all details with a deerskin back. The original is pictured in Highlanders, A History of the Scottish Clans by Fitzroy Maclean.

Leather quiver and carrying a Yew bow with horn knocks

Wool knitted bonnet. This bonnet was patterned after an original that was unearthed from a 17th century highland grave by an anthropologist. If worn with an eagle feather it signifies the wearer a duinnewassal (landed gentry) or chieftain. The white cockade distinguishes support for the Jacobite cause.

Trews (upper right), woolen trousers with the feet sew in. Favored by gentry and chiefs.

Sporran (upper left), a small bag worn hanging from the front of the waist. Used for money, food (usually oats for making drommach), talismans, flints, fishing line, hooks and necessaries.

Dirk, a long highland dagger

Special thanks to John Badger and Ron Cameron

Text by Cynthea Cameron
Photos by S. E. Turner