Moray moved against the supporters of Queen Mary in their south-west power base with a military expedition in June 1568 called the 'Raid of Dumfries' or 'Raid of Hoddom.'
Along the way Moray captured houses belonging to Mary's supporters, including Lord Fleming's house of Boghall, as well as Skirling, Crawford, Sanquhar, Kenmuir, and Hoddom, where the cannon were deployed, and Annan where he rendezvoused with Lord Scrope, the Captain of Carlisle Castle, to discuss border matters.