September 11th 1297: the Battle of Stirling Bridge. During the first War of Scottish Independence, William Wallace's and Andy Moray's armies defeated English forces under the Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham, who were travelling towards Dundee, the only English stronghold in the mostly Wallace and Moray controlled country. The Scots camped near Stirling Castle on Abbey Craig, north of the Forth, while the English were south. The English forces suffered more than 5,000 losses. By the following year Wallace was Guardian of Scotland, but was defeated by King Edward at the Battle of Falkirk.