Battle of Culloden

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Accounts of this battle and its aftermath vary and are contradictory on some points. This article attempts to provide a reasonable summary.
Battle of Culloden
Part of the Jacobite Rising of 1745-46

Battle of Culloden, by David Morier
Date April 16, 1746
Location Culloden, Scotland
Result Decisive Hanoverian Victory
Combatants
Flag of the United Kingdom Hanoverians Jacobites
Commanders
Flag of the United Kingdom William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender
Strength
8,000 ca. 7,000
Casualties
50 killed
254 wounded		 1,250 killed
1,000 wounded
558 captured
Second Jacobite Rising
Highbridge – Prestonpans – 1st Carlisle – Clifton – 2nd Carlisle – Inverurie – Falkirk – Fort William – Culloden

The Battle of Culloden (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr Chùil Lodair) (April 16, 1746) was the final clash between the French-supported Jacobites and the Hanoverian British Government in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. It was the last battle to be fought on mainland Britain. Culloden brought the Jacobite cause—to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of the Kingdom of Great Britain—to a decisive defeat.

The Jacobites—most of them Highland Scots—supported the claim of James Francis Edward Stuart (aka "The Old Pretender") to the throne; the government army, under the Duke of Cumberland, younger son of the Hanoverian sovereign, King George II, supported his father's cause.

The aftermath of the battle was brutal and earned the victorious general the name "Butcher" Cumberland. Charles Edward Stuart eventually left Britain and went to Rome, never to attempt to take the throne again. Civil penalties were also severe. New laws attacked the Highlanders' clan system, and highland dress was outlawed.

Contents

For further detail see Jacobite Rising.

Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender, successfully raised forces, mainly of Scottish Highland clansmen and defeated the Hanoverian Army stationed in Scotland at the Battle of Prestonpans. The city of Edinburgh was occupied, but the castle held out and most of the Scottish population remained hostile to the rebels. The British government recalled forces from the war with France in Flanders to deal with the rebellion.

After a lengthy wait, Charles persuaded his generals that English Jacobites would stage an uprising in support of his cause. He was convinced that France would launch an invasion of England as well. His army of around 5000 invaded England on November 8, 1745. They advanced through Carlisle and Manchester, to Derby, and a position where they appeared to threaten London. It is often alleged that King George II made plans to decamp to Hanover, but there is absolutely no evidence for this and the king is on record as stating that he'd lead the troops against the rebels himself if they approached London. The Jacobites met only token resistance. There was, however, little support from English Jacobites, and the French invasion fleet was still being assembled. The armies of General George Wade and of William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, were approaching. In addition to the militia, London was defended by nearly 6,000 Foot, 700 Horse and 33 artillery pieces and the Jacobites had (fictitious) reports of a third army closing on them. The Jacobite general Lord George Murray and the Council of War insisted on returning to join their growing force in Scotland. On 6 December 1745, they withdrew, with the Pretender petulantly leaving the command to Murray.

On the long march back to Scotland the Highland Army wore out its boots and demanded all the boots and shoes of the townspeople of Dumfries as well as money and hospitality. The Jacobites reached Glasgow on 25 December. There they reprovisioned, having threatened to sack the city, and were joined by a few thousand new men. They then defeated the forces of General Henry Hawley at the Battle of Falkirk. The Duke of Cumberland arrived in Edinburgh on 30 January, to take over command of the government army from General Hawley. He then marched north along the coast, with the army being supplied by sea. Six weeks were spent at Aberdeen training.

The King's forces continued to pressure Charles. He retired north, losing men and failing to take Stirling Castle or Fort William. But he invested Fort Augustus and Fort George in Invernessshire in early April. Charles now took command again, and insisted on fighting a defensive action.

Hugh (Rose of Kilravock), 16th Baron, entertained the Pretender and the Duke of Cumberland repectively on 14th and 15th April 1746, before the battle of Culloden. On the occasion the Pretender's manners and deportment were described by his host as most engaging. Having walked out with Mr. Rose, before sitting down, he observed several persons engaged in planting trees. He remarked, "How happy, Sir, you must feel, to be thus peaceably employed in adorning your mansion, whilst all the country round is in such commotion." Kilravock was a firm supporter of the Hanoverian family; but his adherence was not solicited, nor were his preferences alluded to. Next day, the Duke of Cumberland called at the castle gate, and when Kilravock went to receive him, he bluffly observed, "So you had my cousin Charles here yesterday." Kilravock replied, "What am I to do, I am Scottish", To which Cumberland replied, "you did perfectly right."

The British Army under Cumberland, assembled and trained at Aberdeen, was well supplied. It included:

  • Three regiments of Scottish horse; Kerr's Dragoons protected the left flank, led by Lord Mark Kerr, chief of Clan Kerr. Possibly also included some German Hanoverians.
  • Twelve battalions of foot, two thirds were English and one third was made from Scottish Lowland and Scottish Highland clansmen:
  • One battalion and a militia had been largely raised from Clan Campbell Scottish Highlanders.
  • James Sinclair, chief of the Highland Clan Sinclair commanded The Royal Scots along with Charles Cathcart.
  • Three battalions of Scottish Lowlanders foot soldiers supported the government at Culloden from Clan Cathcart, Clan Colville, Clan Sempill, Clan Kerr and Clan Cunningham (company of artillery). Most of the these clans fought in mixed regiments such as The Royal Scots Regiment of Foot and some were under the name of an English officer such as Barrel's Regiment of Foot.
  • Other Highland clans such as the Clan MacKay, Clan Munro, Clan Ross, Clan Sutherland, Clan Gunn and Clan Grant, sided with the government during the uprisings but were assigned other military duties at the time of Culloden and were not present at this battle. The Clan MacKay intercepted and captured gold and supplies to stop them reaching Jacobite leader Bonnie Prince Charlie before the battle commenced and the Clan Ross defended Inverness Castle against the Jacobites. It is often suggested that men from these clans fought for the government at Culloden but there is little if any evidence for this.

Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden

The Duke of Cumberland and his army of around 8,811 men arrived at Nairn on 14 April. The Jacobite forces of about 5,400 left their base at Inverness, leaving most of their supplies, and assembled 5 miles (8 km) to the east near Drummossie, around 12 miles (19 km) before Nairn. The Pretender had decided to personally command his forces and took the advice of his adjutant general, Secretary O’Sullivan, who chose to stage a defensive action at Drummossie Moor, a stretch of open moorland enclosed between the walled Culloden[1] enclosures to the North and the walls of Culloden Park to the South. Lord George Murray "did not like the ground" and with other senior officers pointed out the unsuitability of the rough moorland terrain which was highly advantageous to the Duke with the marshy and uneven ground making the famed Highland charge somewhat more difficult while remaining open to Cumberland’s powerful artillery. They had argued for a guerrilla campaign, but the Pretender refused to change his mind.

On 15 April the Government army celebrated Cumberland's birthday, drinking his health at his expense. At the suggestion of Murray the Jacobites tried that evening to repeat the success of Prestonpans by carrying out a night attack on the government army encampment, but the half-starved Highlanders who had only had one biscuit apiece during the day were still 2 miles (3 km) short of Nairn by dawn and had to march back, then dispersed to search for food or fell asleep in ditches and outbuildings. Many of them lay exhausted in the grounds of Culloden House throughout the battle.

Early on 16 April the Government army marched from Nairn, and Jacobite guns sounded the alarm (though not all heard) to bring their troops to form two lines. The front line of exhausted highland foot soldiers had guns in the centre and on the flanks, the second line included their horse regiments, worn out from the night march, and the Scots and Irish regiments of the French army. The weather was very poor with a gale driving sleety rain into the faces of the Jacobites. The Duke's forces arrived around mid day and initially deployed in three lines. Upon observing the ground and rebel dispositions, the Duke thinned his army to two lines, which he extended to his left, their left flank anchored on a low stone wall running along the south end of the field towards Culloden Park. The Duke posted Wolfe's Regiment forward of his left flank, able to enfilade any attack by the Jacobite right wing. Horse Dragoons and Government militia moved round behind the wall to infiltrate the park around the Jacobite flank. The Pretender's artillery, outnumbered some three to one, opened fire first but due to a lack of trained gunners had little impact.

Over the next twenty minutes Cumberland's superior artillery continued to batter the Jacobite lines, while Charles, moved for safety out of sight of his own forces, waited for the government forces to move. Inexplicably, he left his forces arrayed under the Government fire for over half an hour. Although the marshy terrain minimised casualties, the morale of the Jacobites began to suffer. Several clan leaders, angry at the lack of action, pressured Charles to issue the order to charge. When he was eventually persuaded to issue the order, the McDonalds refused, angry because they had been placed on the left flank overturning their traditional right to take the right flank. The Clan Chattan was first away, but an area of boggy ground in front of them forced them to veer right so that they obstructed the following regiments and the attack was pushed towards the wall. The Highlanders advanced on the left flank of the Government troops but were subjected to several volleys of musket fire and the artillery which had switched from roundshot to grapeshot.

Culloden Battlefield.
Culloden Battlefield.

Despite this, a large number of Jacobites reached the Government lines, and for the first time a battle was decided by a direct clash between charging highlanders and formed redcoats equipped with muskets and socket bayonets. The highland charge broke and failed, the few rebels who managed to penetrate Cumberland's first line simply being shot down by the battalions in the second line. The fiercest fighting took place between Barrell's Regiment on the Royal left and Clan Cameron.


While the attack was still in progress, a small number of the Government forces had breached the park wall and the Campbell militia advanced unseen to fire at the right flank of the Jacobite lines. This added to all the other brutal gunfire, and threatened by cavalry the Jacobites were forced to retreat. The Duke ordered in his dragoons to rout the Jacobite forces, but the small contingent of Irish and other regular regiments covered the retreat as the Jacobites withdrew.

Monument at the site of the battle.
Monument at the site of the battle.

In a total of about 60 minutes the Duke was victorious, around 1,250 Jacobites were dead, a similar number were wounded, and 558 prisoners (336 Scots and Irish as well as 222 Frenchmen) were taken. Cumberland had about 52 dead and 259 wounded among his Government forces.

After their victory, Cumberland ordered his men to execute all the Jacobite wounded left on the field. Certain higher-ranking prisoners survived to be tried and executed later in Inverness and three 'rebel lords' were taken to London. It was for his insistence that these aristocrats were not pardoned, not for his actions in Scotland, that Cumberland was nicknamed 'Butcher' by some. To most Scots, other Britons and inhabitants of the British colonies he was 'Sweet William'.

The Pretender fled the battlefield and survived for five months in Scotland despite a £30,000 reward for his capture. The Pretender eventually returned to France, making a dramatic if humiliating escape disguised as a "lady's maid" to Flora MacDonald.

Immediately after the battle, Cumberland rode into Inverness, his drawn sword still covered in blood, a symbolic and menacing gesture. The following day, the slaughter continued, when patrols were sent back to the battlefield to kill any survivors; contemporary sources indicate that about 70 more Jacobites were killed as a result of this. Cumberland emptied the jails of English prisoners, and replaced them with Jacobite sympathisers. A numbers of the prisoners were taken south to England to stand trial for high treason. Trials took place at Berwick upon Tweed, York and London with many Jacobite prisoners being held in hulks on the Thames or in Tilbury Fort where there is a memorial stone. Executions were conducted on the basis of drawing lots on a ratio of about 1 in 20. In total 3,470 Jacobites supporters and others were taken prisoner in the aftermath of Culloden, with 120 of them being executed and 88 dying in prison; 936 transported to the colonies and 222 more "banished". While many were eventually released, the fate of nearly 700 is unknown. As well as dealing out summary justice to his captives Cumberland was equally ruthless, executing 36 deserters from his own forces found amongst the prisoners.

By contrast to the ruthless treatment of many captured clansmen, the detachments of Irish soldiers from the French army were permitted to formally surrender and were treated well and eventually returned to France. They were considered as regular soldiers of a foreign ruler and accordingly subject to the normal practices of warfare. The captured Jacobites were regarded as traitors (even if many had had no choice but to follow their clan leaders) and treated accordingly.

The Hanoverian forces' assault on the Jacobite sympathizers continued in the coming months—destroying the clan system with the Act of Proscription disarming them, banning the kilt and the tartan, the Tenures Abolition Act ending the feudal bond of military service and the Heritable Jurisdictions Act removing the virtually sovereign power the chiefs had over their clan. Statute provisions were aimed at proscribing the perceived religion of the Jacobites, Episcopalianism (Catholicism was already banned). Government troops were stationed in the Highlands and built more roads and barracks to better control the region, adding to the Wade roads constructed for Major-General George Wade after the 'Fifteen rising, as well a new fortress at Fort George to the east of Inverness. The proscribed clan dress of kilt and tartan was, at least officially, only permitted in the Highland regiments serving in the British Army.

Mass graves of clansmen at Culloden Battlefield.
Mass graves of clansmen at Culloden Battlefield.

(approximately 5,400 men)

  • Army Commander - Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender
  • FIRST LINE - 3,810 men
    • Right Wing - 1,150 men (Lord George Murray, brother of the Chief of Clan Murray)
    • Centre - 1,760 men (Lord John Drummond)
    • Left Wing - 900 men (James Drummond, 3rd Duke of Perth, Chief of Clan Drummond)
      • Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald - 200 men (Ranald MacDonald of Clan Ranald, "Young Clanranald", son of the Chief of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald)
      • Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Regiment - 200 men (Alexander MacDonnell of Keppoch, Chief of Clan MacDonnell of Keppoch)
      • Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry Regiment - 420 men (Donald MacDonell of Lochgarry)
        • Clan Grant of Glenmorriston Unit - 80 men (Alexander Grant of Corrimony) - attached to Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry Regiment
  • SECOND LINE - 1,190 men (Lt.Col. Walter Stapleton)
    • Clan Ogilvy Angus Regiment (Lord David Ogilvy, son of the Chief of Clan Ogilvy)
    • 1st Clan Gordon Regiment (Lord Lewis Gordon, brother of the Chief of Clan Gordon)
    • 2nd Clan Gordon Regiment (John Gordon of Glenbucket)
    • Duke of Perth's Regiment (Unknown)
    • Régiment Écossais Royaux (Lord Louis Drummond)
    • Irish Piquets Regiment (Maj. Summan)
  • THIRD LINE - 400 men
    • Kilmarnock's Regiment (William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, Chief of Clan Boyd)
    • Pitsligo's Regiment (Alexander Baron Forbes of Pitsligo)
    • Régiment Baggot (Unknown)
    • Lord Elcho's Horse (David Wemyss Lord Elcho, son of the Chief of Clan Wemyss)
    • Life Guards (Unknown)
    • FitzJames's Horse (Sir Jean McDonell)
  • ARTILLERY (Unknown)
      • 2 x 2pdr cannon
      • 3 x 4pdr cannon
      • 3 x 6pdr cannon

Note 1: Of the commanding officers listed above:

  • Donald Cameron of Lochiel, de facto Chief of Clan Cameron, was wounded and had to be carried from the field;
  • Charles Fraser of Inverallachie was mortally wounded;
  • Alexander MacGillivray of Dunmaglass, Chief of Clan MacGillivray, was killed, with all but three officers of the Clan Chattan Regiment;
  • Lachlan MacLachlan of MacLachlan, Chief of Clan MacLachlan, was killed, probably by a cannon shot;
  • Charles MacLean of Drimnin was killed, with two of his sons;
  • James Drummond, 3rd Duke of Perth and Chief of Clan Drummond, was severely wounded - he was carried from the field, but died on his way to France;
  • Alexander MacDonell of Keppoch, Chief of Clan MacDonell of Keppoch, was killed.

Other persons of note on the Jacobite side to be killed at Culloden were:

  • William Drummond of Machany, 4th Viscount of Strathallan;
  • Robert Mercer of Aldie, an officer in the Atholl Highlanders Regiment;
  • Gillies Mhor MacBean of Dalmagerry, who led the MacBeans of the Clan Chattan Regiment.

Note 2: More clans fought (and died) at Culloden than is apparent from this order of battle.

The Atholl Highlanders Regiment (also known as the Atholl Brigade) was mostly made up of members of Clan Murray, Clan Ferguson, Clan Stewart of Atholl, Clan Menzies, and Clan Robertson.

Also, the clan regiments are not quite as easily defined as their names suggest. Note that:

  • in the Clan Cameron Regiment there were also members of Clan Macfie and Clan MacMillan;
  • the Appin Regiment was not only made up of members of Clan Stewart of Appin, but also of Clan MacLaren, Clan MacColl, Clan MacInnes, Clan MacIntyre, and Clan Livingstone ;
  • the Clan Chattan Regiment was mostly made up of Clan MacIntosh, Clan MacGillivray, and Clan MacBean, but also included members of Clan MacKinnon and Clan MacTavish, which were not part of the Clan Chattan Confederation;
  • the Clan MacDonnell of Keppoch Regiment included, apart from Clan MacDonnell of Keppoch, also Clan MacDonald of Glencoe (also known as Clan MacIan), Clan MacGregor, and Clan MacIver;
  • Lord Ogilvy's Angus Regiment consisted mainly of members of Clan Ogilvy and Clan Ramsay;
  • the Duke of Perth's Regiment consisted mainly of members of Clan Drummond;
  • Kilmarnock's Regiment hardly contained any who shared the Earl's surname of Boyd;
  • Pitsligo's Regiment consisted mainly of members of Clan Forbes;
  • and Lord Elcho's Horse consisted mainly of members of Clan Wemyss.

  • Army Commander - 'William Duke of Cumberland

Note: Of the British officers present, one, Lord Robert Kerr, the commander of Barrell's 4th Regiment of Foot, was killed. Colonel Rich who served in Barrell's lost his left hand and was badly cut on his head by a Jacobite swordsman. In addition, a small number of captains and lieutenants received wounds ranging from severe to minor.

Note 2: The majority of the casualties sustained by the British were borne by Barrell's 4th Regiment of Foot. Of the 438 men present, 17 were killed and 108 wounded.

1st): 0 killed, 4 wounded

3rd): 1 killed, 2 wounded

4th): 17 killed, 108 wounded

8th): 0 killed, 1 wounded

34th): 1 killed, 2 wounded

14th): 1 killed, 9 wounded

48th): 1 killed, 5 wounded

13th): 0 killed, 0 wounded

25th): 1 killed, 13 wounded

21st): 0 killed, 7 wounded

27th): 0 killed, 0 wounded

37th): 14 killed, 69 wounded

36th): 0 killed, 6 wounded

20th): 4 killed, 17 wounded

62nd): 0 killed, 3 wounded


Highland Militia: 6 killed, 4 wounded

Cobham's Dragoons: 1 killed, 0 wounded

Kerr's Dragoons: 3 killed, 3 wounded

Kingston's Dragoons: 0 killed, 1 wounded


  • Duffy, Christopher, The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Untold Story of the Jacobite Rising, Cassel, 2003, ISBN 0-304-35525-9
  • Harrington, Peter (1991), Culloden 1746, The Highland Clans' Last Charge, Osprey Campaign Series #12: Osprey Publishing, ISBN 9781855321588
  • Maclean, Fitzroy, Scotland, A Concise History, Thames and Hudson 1991, ISBN 0-500-27706-0
  • Prebble, John, Culloden, Atheneum 1962
  • Prebble, John, The Lion in the North, Penguin Books 1973, ISBN 0-14-003652-0
  • Reid, Stuart, Culloden Moor 1746, The death of the Jacobite cause; Osprey Campaign Series #106; Osprey Publishing 2002
  • Sadler, John,Culloden: The Last Charge of the Highland Clans, UK: NPI Media Group, 2006 ISBN 0752439553
  • Smith, Hannah, Georgian Monarchy: Politics and Culture, 1714–1760, Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History, Cambridge University Press 2006

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