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Battle of Culloden Moor
A generation before, a previous Jacobite rebellion had been thwarted by the king’s officer, George Wade, who had "pacified" and "disarmed" the highland clans. So concerned was the English establishment, and relieved by Wade’s actions, that an additional verse to the National Anthem was penned :
May be thy Mighty aid,
Victory bring;
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the king
It sums up the feeling of insecurity felt by the English nation posed by, as they saw them, the barbaric Highlanders, supporters of a Catholic monarchy, something that had become an anathema to most English people. A generation later, under the standard of another Catholic pretender, England was once more under threat. A kind of national paranoia set in, a fear of invasion, a fear of a Catholic king and all the trappings that would have accompanied such an upheaval. England was in turmoil.
On the 5th of December, 1745, at Exeter House in Derby, central England, a mere 130 miles from their goal, London, Westminster and the crown of England, Lord George Murray persuaded the war council of Scottish lords and clan chiefs towards the fatal decision that was to remake the future of two nations, and seal the fate of the highlands and highlanders of Scotland. It was a decision taken on the heels of what had been a successful campaign. The Scots had reached Derby almost unmolested. The choice to proceed or turn back was taken after heated debate.
The predominantly Catholic troops and supporters of Prince Charles Edward Luis Phillip Casimir Stewart, otherwise known as "The young pretender" or "Bonnie Prince Charlie" were ordered to turn away from England’s capital, and retrace their journey northwards. It was to be a journey that would lead inexorably to their total subjugation only 3½ months later.
On the other, the ill disciplined, and by comparison ill equipped ‘ruffians’ that represented the death throws of the Clan System, the feileadh beag and cota fiaraidh clad Highlanders of Scotland under the overall command of their Bonnie Prince. The first, capable of fighting and vanquishing any equivalent force anywhere in the world, being as it was equipped with the latest military advances, including the bayonet, a veritable killing machine! The latter, almost from a lost age of feudal loyalties, tired, hungry, cold and demoralised, equipped with little other than broadsword and targe, and their own indomitable spirit encouraged by the evocative wail of the piob mhor, a virtual rabble of mismatched units. It is impossible to over emphasise the different capabilities of the two armies, so disparate were they.
The Hanoverian army was composed of the following regiments :
- The Royals 1st of Foot later The Royal Scots
- Howard’s 3rd of Foot later The Royal East Kents, the Buffs
- Barrell’s 4th of Foot later The King’s Own Royal Regiment
- Wolfe’s 8th of Foot later The King’s Liverpool Regiment
- Pulteney’s 13th of Foot later The Somerset Light Infantry
- Price’s 14th of Foot later The West Yorkshire Regiment
- Bligh’s 20th of Foot later The Lancashire Fusiliers
- Campbell’s 21st of Foot later The Royal Scots Fusiliers
- Semphill’s 25th of Foot later The King’s Own Scottish Borderers
- Blakeney’s 27th of Foot later The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
- Cholmondeley’s 34th of Foot later The Border Regiment
- Fleming’s 36th of Foot later The Worcestershire Regiment
- Munro’s 37th of Foot later The Hampshire Regiment
- Conway’s 48th of Foot later The Northamptonshire Regiment
- Battereau’s 62nd of Foot later Disbanded
- Loudoun’s
- Argyll Militia 64th of Foot later Disbanded
Cavalry :
- Cobham’s Dragoons later The 10th Hussars
- Lord Mark Kerr’s Dragoons later The 11th Hussars
- Kingston’s Light Horse later Disbanded
Captain Cunningham’s Company of Artillery – composed of ten short Saxon six pounders and six coehorn mortars.
In total it was an army that mustered 9,000 effective fighting men. It may be worth noting that approximately one third of the 16 battalions present were made up of Lowland Scots together with over 600 highland levies.
Facing them, across the then named Drummossie Muir was the Jacobite army of up to 5,000 men, which was comprised of the clans :
Macdonald’s brigade made up of :
- GlenGarry’s
- Keppoch’s
- Clanranold’s
- Chisholm’s
- John Roy Stewart
- Mixed unit of MacLachlan, MacLean, and MacLeod
- Farquharson’s
- Clan Chattan
- Fraser’s
- Stewarts of Appin, MacLaren’s
- Cameron’s of Lochiel
- Atholl
- Irish picquets,
- The Scots Royals,
- The Duke of Perth’s,
- Glenbucket’s,
- Lord Lewis Gordon’s,
- Lord Ogilvy’s,
- Kilmarnock’s
- and Gordon of Avochie’s regiments.
Cavalry contingents were Strathallan’s, Pitsligo’s, Balermino’s, Elcho’s, Fitz-James’s and Life Guards.
The composition of these units also included representatives and septs from many other clans. Other further in depth publications should be consulted for a complete listing. Similarly, on both sides, many of the unit commanders were known by an assortment of titles which have not been included here.
It is not possible to compare like with like, for the formations, tactics and command structures between the two armies were so radically different. On a line almost north – south, 500 paces apart it is said, the two forces faced each other as the bitter east wind blew into the faces of the stalwart highlanders. The ground was boggy heath, difficult to manoeuvre artillery, however, the efforts of Colonel Belford "a most excellent artillery officer", and the backs of the infantry who helped place the Hanoverian guns ensured the most effective field of fire. By comparison, the Jacobite artillery, what little there was, was poorly sited, and even worse served, enough so that they made "our soldiers laugh" stated one of the men facing the none too serious threat posed.
Protecting the Hanoverian right flank was a bog, their left was pinned to a series of stonewalls and dykes which led west to encroach upon the Scots right flank, beyond them was the river Nairn. Together, they formed a rectangular field called the Culwhiniac enclosure. It has remained a mystery why the stone walls were not either manned or demolished by the highland command, they had the time, but lacked the foresight, which would cost their cause dear. At about 1pm, Colonel Belford issued the order for his guns to open fire, loaded with round-shot, the constant volleys started and continued to do great damage and injury. They were answered by the Jacobean cannons, which were either very poorly aimed, or the aim was directed at the Hanoverian command, as the shot overflew both English guns and infantry. Nine minutes after they opened fire, the Jacobite guns fell silent, the two batteries of four guns each did not fire again. Meanwhile, the Hanoverian artillery were doing great damage, cutting bloody swathes through the ranks of highlanders. It is said that more casualties were made during the bombardment than at any other point of the battle. "Billy" Cumberland was content enough to allow his artillery to do the required damage, denying requests for the infantry to be permitted to charge. He did however reinforce his front and second lines, the first with Pultney’s who were positioned to the right of the Royals, the second with Battereau’s on the right of the second line. That effectively utilised the entire Hanoverian Corps de Reserve, which he considered, would not be required. Part of Wolfe’s regiment was ordered to manoeuvre so that they were in a position in front of the stone wall with their left flank on Barrel’s right. They were afforded a fine view of the continuing cannonade even though they were knee deep in water and mud. Even further to the left were the Campbells, similarly clad to their counterparts in plaid, jacket and bonnet, only distinguished from them by a badge of myrtle and a red or yellow saltire which declared their allegiance to king George. They occupied the Culwhiniac enclosure, and demolished sufficient of it to permit the transit of a large contingent of dragoons. The Campbells then manned the four foot high wall in a position perfect for enfilading the highland right flank. Seeing the danger of their flank being turned, Lord George Murray ordered Charles’ Life-guards and FitzJames’ Horse to wheel right to counter the threat. The Campbells then commenced a sporadic fire into the highland right, though any real danger posed by the cavalry was neutralised by the discovery of a sunken track which made any sort of charge virtually impossible.
This all occurred while Belford’s guns continued their attrition. After a half hour, Clan Chattan were unable to withstand any more of it, and launched into their characteristic and favoured style of battle. With kilts hitched high and bonnets pulled low over their brows, accompanied by the rant of the pipes and with faces twisted with rage and despair they ran towards the guns that had caused so many of their number to fall dead or grossly wounded. Seeing that the highlander’s line had broken ranks, Belford ordered his gunners to change from ball shot to the devastatingly lethal grape shot. The forward movement of the Clan Chattan had a domino effect, it triggered the Camerons, the Atholls and the Appin Stewarts to follow their lead. Half way to the Hanoverian front line there was confusion, likely caused by the first discharge of grape. The charge faltered, then resumed but in some disarray, as those on the left angled in towards those on the right making for the compression of the whole manoeuvre. Frustrated by their inability to come to grips with the redcoats, they abandoned their firearms in favour of their broadswords. Due to the weather and the smoke, it was at about this point that the highlanders first saw their enemy, waiting in steady ranks, taunting them to come on.
The six battalions of Cumberland’s front line had prepared, their long muskets loaded. On the order "Make ready" the first rank sank to their right knees. Then the order "Present", and as one, the ranks of muskets rose, pointing their muzzles which bristled and glinted with bayonets, at the oncoming highlanders. As they broke though the smoke, and likely at very short range came the order "Fire". The first rank of infantry discharged their weapons, followed by the second rank, as the first sank to their knees having reloaded, the third rank fired in their turn, and so it continued as company by company the six battalions poured volley after volley into the vain glorious and desperate highlanders. In the ranks of the Clan Chattan all but three of their officers were killed together with hundreds of their kinsmen before they had reached within twenty yards of the steady lines in front of them. Some though were able to break through the red files, on past the deadly cannon, only to be taken down by the second line of redcoats who used their bayonets to great and killing effect. Prodigious feats by individual highlanders proved their courage and determination, but the end was inevitable. Those unable to breach the red line faltered and stopped fifteen yards from the bristling hedge of bayonets, the flowering muzzles of muskets. Unable to advance, unwilling to retreat, they stood and fell by the hundred. A soldier who had taken up a fallen standard wrapped it round himself to prevent it from being taken, an act which earned him the name of Donuil na Braiteach – Donald of the Colours. Stories of similar valour emanated from the whole highland charge, the MacLeans and the MacLachlans charged screaming "Death or Life" – and then reportedly used the only thing they had to protect themselves from the fusillades of volley fire from the Royals and Pulteney’s, they lifted their plaids to cover their faces, they had nothing else. Meanwhile, on the right of the highland line, the Atholls had been forced by the press of their comrades to the stone wall surrounding the Culwhiniac enclosure they were made to endure enfilading fire from the Campbells behind the wall, and Wolfe’s men en patience to the main line. Thirty-two of the Athollmen’s officers perished with many of their men, the remainder were left to slash at the heather with their swords in total frustration and anger before being forced back. Lord George Murray had his own adventure when his horse bolted and carried him to the rear of the Hanoverian army. By the time he had regained control, his sword was broken, his hat and wig lost and his coat slashed and rent by grape and bayonet. Dismounted, he fought his way back to rejoin the Camerons and Stewarts who were then engaged with Barrell’s bayonets. Realising that help was needed he ran across the moor demanding for the highland second line to follow up the charge of the first. At the front, the Camerons and Stewarts came together with the detested red clad soldiers, hacking and cleaving, their mighty broadswords doing much damage and injury. Support fire from Wolfe’s and Sempill’s eventually saw them off, Barrell’s regiment suffering one hundred and twenty casualties, but the cost was dear indeed, one (exaggerated) report stated that one thousand six hundred clansmen paid with their lives for such an empty victory, though it has to be stated that Barrell’s battalion were very hard pressed, and for a brief moment were close to breaking. Eventually the highlanders, unable to consolidate their temporary advantage were forced to withdraw, first in ones and twos, then a more general movement towards the rear. As they went, their flanks were assailed by fire from the Campbells, adding to their frustration and misery. The Campbells fired four volleys before climbing over the wall and attacking the retreating Camerons shouting at the tops of their voices "Cruachan!" as they hacked their way into the exhausted and bloodied men.
The five hundred Hanoverian dragoons positioned in Culwhiniac had found a way of overcoming the barrier of the sunken track, and as the near panic stricken highlanders discarding weapons and plaids ran past to escape the unending gun-fire, they manoeuvred to cut off their line of retreat. They were countered by Charles’ own cavalry numbering about sixty troopers, but showed little enthusiasm for the fight. A brief exchange of pistol and carbine fire was sufficient to prevent them making an effective contribution at this stage.
On the left flank of Charles’ front line, the MacDonalds, having witnessed the advance of Clan Chattan also began to move forward. Because of the lie of the land however, they had an additional one hundred yards to endure the constant hail of shot and grape. When they were still a hundred yards from Cumberland’s right, the orders were given to "Make ready ……. Present ……. Fire!!" About one third of the MacDonalds fell, either dead, dying or severely wounded. Three times they made to advance in the hope of enticing the redcoats to break formation and attack, and three times they failed, the line held steady and the MacDonalds died. It was too much, and they fell back in disarray. Pulteney’s and the Royals suffered no casualties, but they inflicted many. The highlanders were granted grudging admiration from some of the soldiery opposing them. But they ran, they ran past the second line and continued to run. The second line held briefly but the panic became widespread and a tartan tide flooded away from the killing place. The ceasefire was ordered in the Hanoverian ranks. What lay in front of them were heaps of dead and dying where the fighting and gunfire had been most effective. The Bonnie Prince had gone, he left his supporters to their individual fates and made his escape, a story, which in its self, has become legend. It is reported that the commander of Charles’ Life Guards shouted after him as he departed "Run, you cowardly Italian!!" Lord George Murray still remained, his aides, thinking he might make a solo charge, took hold of his bridle (he had found a remount) and led him from the field in tears.
The royal dragoons seem to have been given free rein, without any kind of order they scoured the positions previously held by the highlanders, sabreing and slashing anybody that moved chasing them to the streets of Inverness, none were given quarter. The infantry was ordered to advance in line to officially take and occupy their enemy’s positions, reportedly using their bayonets to see off any wounded highlanders unable to make an escape. The battle was over, the last battle to be fought on mainland Britain had lasted a little less than 60 minutes from the first shot to the cease fire. But the slaughter continued, what occurred thereafter, murder, rape, looting would today be considered a war crime of the worst kind. The official "butcher’s bill" was fifty dead and two hundred and fifty-nine injured. Of the highlanders figures are less certain, the dead numbered somewhere between one thousand two hundred, and two thousand, almost half of their whole number.
More than men died that cold miserable day, a dream died, a way of life died, the clan system died, the highlands died. An hour was all it took, an hour in which the fates of nations was decided. Scotland would never be the same again. Many are the poems, songs and laments that were spawned, the writer has selected two verses from one such titled "Sound the Pibroch", a simple few words to commemorate so very much.
Deserted is each Highland glen,
And lonely cairns are o’er the men
Who fought and died for Charlie.
The white rose blossoms forth again
Deep in Highland sheltered glens
And soon we’ll hear the cry we ken,
Tae rise! And fight for Charlie!
It was not to be.
Author - Richard Hayton
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It was Prince Charlie’s ineptitude and lack of guts that caused this massacre, let no one else say any different
— Allen · Jul 18, 04:32 AM#