BJ37-21N - At The Ready

The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his
father.
It took place during the War of The Austrian Succession, when the bulk of the British Army was fighting in
mainland Europe. It proved to be the last in a series of revolts that began in 1689, with other major
outbreaks in 1715 and 1719.
Charles launched the rebellion on 19th August 1745 at Glenfinnan in the Scottish Highlands, capturing
Edinburgh and winning the Battle of Prestonpans in September.
At a council in October the Scots agreed to invade England after Charles assured them of substantial
support from English Jacobites and a simultaneous French landing in Southern England.
Neither of these assurances were to take place or to materialise, therefore the decision to retreat back to
Scotland took place, leading to the defeat at Culloden in April, which ended the rebellion.
Charles was to escape to France, but was unable to win further support for another attempt, and died in
Rome in 1788.
The Battle of Culloden on 16 th April 1745 which is often cited as the last pitched battle on British soil
Lasted less than an hour and ended in a decisive government victory.
Exhausted by a night march carried out in a failed atrtempt to surprise Cumberland’s troops, many
Jacobites missed the battle, leaving fewer than 5,000 to face a well rested and equipped force of 7,000 to
9,000.
Fighting began with an artillery exchange, with the government army vastly superior in training and co-
ordination. James Grant an officer in the Irish Brigade who served as the head of the Jacobite artillery,
was absent, having been wounded at the Siege of Fort William, this obviously contributed to the
government artillery totally dominating the exchange.
Charles held his position, expecting Cumberland to attack, but he refused to do so and unable to respond
to the artillery fire, Charles ordered his front line to charge.
As the Jacobite army advanced, the boggy ground in front of them forced the centre of the army to move
over to the right, where they became entangled with the left wing regiments of the government army.
As the government artillery switched to grapeshot, it inflicted heavy casualties. Despite these heavy
casualties the highlanders crashed into the Cumberland’s left, which gave ground but did not break.
Unable to break the government lines, the highlanders broke and fell back in confusion.
The North eastern regiments, Irish and Scots regulars in the second line retired in good order, allowing
Charles and his personal retinue to escape.
Troops that held together, like the French regulars, were far less vulnerable in retreat, but many
Highlanders were cut down in the pursuit. Government casualties are estimated as 50 killed, plus 259

wounded; many Jacobite wounded remaining on the battlefield were reportedly killed afterwards, their
losses being 1,200 to 1,500 dead and 500 prisoners.
Several thousand armed Jacobites remained at large, and over the next two days, an estimated 1,500
assembled at Ruthven Barracks.
On 20 April, Charles ordered them to disperse, arguing French assistance was required to continue the
fight and they should return home until he returned with additional support.

Brand: John Jenkins