Having taken Aberdeen, Viscount Aboyne attempted to subdue the surrounding country as well. One the night of the 14th, he sallied from Aberdeen to attack a Covenanter force at Stonehaven.
Brooks, Richard "Cassell's Battlefields of Britain and Ireland" 2005, p.363, Weidenfield and Nicolson
Upon arriving outside Stonehaven at dawn, Aboyne's forces occupied Megray Hill and settled down for breakfast.
Brooks, Richard "Cassell's Battlefields of Britain and Ireland" 2005, p.364, Weidenfield and Nicolson
Aboyne's infantry drew up on Megray Hill and waited for the Covenanters to make a move.
The first contact of the battle was made by the Royalist cavalry under Colonel Johnstone, who advanced to skirmish with Montrose's outposts. After a brief exchange of ineffectual long-range fire, the Covenanters fell back, luring the cavalry into the range of their 14 cannon. After a few barrages, the cavalry fled back the way they came.
Once the Royalist cavalry had routed, the Covenanter guns turned their attention to the infantry. The two heavy guns opened fire at maximum range, sowing distress and confusion amongst the infantry.
Their morale broken by the cannon fire, the infantry retreated behind the shelter of Megray Hill.
Unwilling to face the cannon again, Aboyne's forces began to march back to Aberdeen in the afternoon, ending the engagement.
Following the retreat from Megray Hill and the subsequent disintegration of the army, Colonel Johnstone set about fortifying the Bridge of Dee, which was at the moment the only viable way across the flooding river.
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