James Lumsden (1598–1660) was a Scottish soldier who served in the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus during the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle ...

, and subsequently commanded Scottish Covenanter armies. Having commanded a regiment of Scottish soldiers in Swedish service, and fought at the Battle of Lutzen as part of John Hepburn's Green Brigade. Lumsden was made governor of Osnabrük in May 1634 which he held with his regiment until relieved by Field Marshal Alexander Leslie in 1636 against considerable odds. Lumsden left the Swedish Army in 1639 like many Scottish officers and returned to Scotland. He commanded troops during the

Bishop's Wars The 1639 and 1640 Bishops' Wars () were the first of the conflicts known collectively as the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which took place in Scotland, England and Ireland. Others include the Irish Confederate Wars, the First and ...

, and in 1644 he was Sergeant Major General of Foot in General

Alexander Leslie Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven (15804 April 1661) was a Scottish soldier in Swedish and Scottish service. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of a Swedish Field Marshal, and in Scotland b ...

's Covenanter Army which entered England to support the English Parliament during the

First English Civil War The First English Civil War took place in England and Wales from 1642 to 1646, and forms part of the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. They include the Bishops' Wars, the Irish Confederate Wars, the Second English Civil War, the Anglo ...

. He played a major part in the

Battle of Marston Moor The Battle of Marston Moor was fought on 2 July 1644, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms of 1639 – 1653. The combined forces of the English Parliamentarians under Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester and the Scottish Covenanters und ...

, and though many of his own regiment were routed, he did much to regroup the remainder and rally the reserve battalions which helped secure victory for the allied forces of the parliaments. Lumsden left an account of the battle, published anonymouslyAnon. ajor General Sir James Lumsden ''The Glorious and Miraculous Battell at York: This Letter being Directed to a Noble and Honourable Leaguer Lying at Yorke'' (Edinburgh, 1644). A manuscript copy of this letter (which identifies the author) and including an order of battle can be found at York Minster Archives, MS ADD 258. Lumsden's Report on Marston Moor Lumsden was subsequently Lieutenant General of Horse in the Covenanter Army which, now fighting for King Charles II, was defeated at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. He was captured, and released in 1652.

References

* * Steve Murdoch and Alexia Grosjean, ''Alexander Leslie and the Scottish Generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618–1648'' (London, 2014). 1598 births 1660 deaths Scottish generals Covenanters 17th-century soldiers 17th-century Scottish people Scottish mercenaries Scottish expatriates in Sweden {{UK-mil-bio-stub