Battle of Culloden Totally Explained

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The Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746) was the final clash between the French-supported Jacobites and the Hanoverian British Government in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. It was the last land 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—the majority of them Highland Scots, although containing significant numbers of Lowland forces—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. It too included significant numbers of Highland Scots, as well as Scottish Lowlanders and some English troops.
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.

Background

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's 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 respectively 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 house of Hanover, but his adherence wasn't solicited, nor were his preferences alluded to. The next day, the Duke of Cumberland called at the castle gate, and when Kilravock went to receive him, he bluffly observed, "So you'd my cousin Charles here yesterday." Kilravock replied, "What am I to do, I'm Scottish", to which Cumberland replied, "you did perfectly right."

Armies

Jacobite Army

Nearly three quarters of the Jacobite army was composed of Scottish Highland clansmen, the majority of them being Roman Catholic, but more than a third being Scottish Episcopalians.
Around a quarter of the force were Episcopalians from the north-east Scottish Lowlands, north of the River Tay, so that more than half the total was Episcopalian, but the lowland contribution was obscured by their tendency to wear Highland dress as a kind of Jacobite uniform.
Only 20–25% of the Highlanders were armed with swords, some having spears or axes and the remainder makeshift or captured weapons.
During the invasion of England about 250 English Episcopalians from Manchester formed a regiment, but were left behind as a rearguard at Carlisle.
Many of the Jacobites left for home after the Battle of Falkirk, and the army was poorly provisioned and short on rations.
The Jacobite army which fought at the Battle of Culloden included men from: Clan Stuart (Stewart), Clan Gordon, Clan MacNeil of Barra, Clan Donnachaidh, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, Clan Mackinnon, Clan Cameron, Clan Fraser, Clan MacGregor, Clan MacLean, Clan MacLeod, Clan MacIntyre, Clan Ogilvy, Clan Chisholm, Clan Mackay, Clan MacLaren, Clan MacLea, Clan MacBain, Clan Maclachlan, Clan Macnaghten, and Clan Chattan, composed of Clan Davidson, Clan MacGillivray, Clan Elliot, Clan Macpherson, Clan MacKintosh, Clan MacDuff, and Clan Farquharson.
At Culloden the Jacobite army was reinforced by 800 men from the Royal Écossais and Irish Brigade Regiments of the French army.

British Government Army

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, and Clan Gunn, 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's little if any evidence for this.

The Battle

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 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 minimized 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'd 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.
   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.
   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.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the battle witnessed the last in a series of efforts by post-Restoration governments to tackle dissent in Scotland. A persecution committed by the Stuart regimes of Charles II and James VII and II inflicted upon the Covenanters, known as The Killing Time, helped provoke the Glorious Revolution. In the reign of William III, the Massacre of Glencoe served as a small-scale, demonstrative act of persecution, following which Scotland was at peace internally. Following the rebellion of 1715, the Hanoverian regime had pursued a mild and indulgent, 'softly softly' approach, but further rebellions took place in 1719 and 1745–6.
   After the battle, Lord George Murray's general orders of the previous day fell into Hanoverian hands. Cumberland sent an order, "Officers and men will take notice that the Public orders of the rebels yesterday was to give us no quarter." It was later found that this was untrue, and the 'no quarter' section was nothing but a forgery. With this implicit order the Jacobite wounded and most prisoners were killed with bayonets, pistols and clubs. Indiscriminate killing went on for several days, all men bearing arms were hanged on location, and their womanfolk raped. Families fled from their scorched hovels and were left to starve. In total over 20,000 head of livestock, sheep and goats were driven off and sold at Fort Augustus, where the soldiers split the profits.
   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", and received, amongst other tokens of thanks, an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow and the gift of a house and garden from the Committee of Perth. 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. Cumberland emptied the jails of English prisoners, and replaced them with Jacobite sympathisers. A number 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's a memorial stone. Executions were conducted on the basis of drawing lots on a ratio of about 1 in 20. In total 3,471 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 121 more "banished". While 1,287 were eventually released or exchanged, the fate of the others is lost to history. 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.

Order of Battle: Culloden, April 16 1746

Jacobite Army

Charles Edward Stuart
Colonel John William Sullivan

Division	Unit		Notes
Escort Troop	Fitzjame's Horse: 16 men. Lifeguards: 16 men.		Commanded by Capt O'Shea. This unit was the prince's escort.
Lord George Murray's Division	Atholl Brigade: 500 men (3 battalions).		Raised not as a clan but as a fuedal levy. Possibly consisted of 3 regiments. Suffered badly from desertion.
	Cameron of Lochiel's Regiment: abt 650-700 men.		Led by Donald Cameron of Locheil. Regarded as one of the strongest Jacobite units, and as elite.
	Stewarts of Appin or Appin Regiment: 250 men.		Led by Charles Stuart of Ardsheal. The regiment suffered from desertion. During the campaign it suffered 90 killed, 65 wounded.
Lord John Drummond's Division.	Lord Lovat's Regiment: abt 300 men.		Led at Culloden by Charles Fraser of Inverallochie, whose battalion was numbered at about 300. The Master of Lovat's battalion missed the battle by several of hours.
	Lady Mackintosh's Regiment: abt 350 men.		Sometimes referred to in secondary sources as Clan Chattan Regiment. A composite unit, like the Athole Brigate. Led by Alexander McGillivray of Dunmaglass. Lost most of its officers at Culloden.
	Farquharson of Monaltrie's Battalion: 150 men.		Consisted of mostly Highlanders but not all. Described by James Logie as "dressed in highland clothes mostly". Included a party of MacGregors.
	Maclachlans and Macleans: abt 200 men.		Commanded by Lachlan Maclachlan of Castle Lachlan and Maclean of Drimmin (who served as Lt Col). The unit campaigned as part of the Athole Brigade, though fought at Culloden for the first time as a stand alone unit.	This very small unit was led by Roderick Og Chisholm. Suffered very heavy casualties at Culloden.
	Duke of Perth's Division.	MacDonald of Keppoch's Regiment. 200 men.		Commanded by Alexander MacDonald of Keppoch. This small regiment consisted of MacDonalds of Keppoch, MacDonalds of Glencoe, Mackinnons and several MacGregors.
John Roy Stuart's Division (reserve)		Lord Lewis Gordon's Regiment	John Gordon of Avochie's Battalion: 300 men.	Commanded by John Gordon of Avochie.
		Lord Lewis Gordon's Regiment	Moir of Stonywood's Battalion: 200 men.	Commanded by James Moir of Stonywood. The unit, unlike the others of this regiment, was made up largely of volunteers.
	Footguards. abt 200 men.		Commanded by Lord Kilmarnock. A composite unit (see note).
	Glenbuchet's Regiment. 200 men.		Commanded by John Gordon of Glenbuchat.
	Duke of Perth's Regiment: 300 men.		James Drummond, Master of Strathallan. The unit included a party of MacGregors.
	Irish Brigade.	*Royal Écossois*: 350 men.		Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Lewis Drummond.
	Irish Brigade.	Irish Picquets: 302 men.		Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Stapleton.
	Cavalry (Commanded by Sir John MacDonald [Fitzjame'sHorse])	*Right Squadron*	Fitzjames's Horse: 70 men.	Commanded by Capt William Bagot.
Lifeguards: 30 men.		*Right Squadron*	Commanded by Lord Elcho.
*Left Squadron*		Scotch Hussars: 36 men.	Commanded by Maj John Bagot.
*Left Squadron*		Strathallan's Horse: 30 men.	Commanded by Lord Strathallan.
Artillery.	11 x 3-pounders.		Commanded by Capt John Finlayson.
Artillery.	1 x 4-pounders.		Commanded by Capt du Saussay.

British Army

Captain-General: HRH Duke of Cumberland
Commander-in-Chief North Britain: Lieutenant-General Henry Hawley

Division	Unit		Notes
Escort Troop	Duke of Cumberland's Hussars: abt 20 men.		Made up of Austrians and Germans.
Advance Guard (Commanded by Maj-Gen Humphrey Bland)	10th (Cobham's) Dragoons: 276 officer's & men.		Commanded by Maj Peter Chaban.
	11th (Kerr's) Dragoons: 267 officer's & men.		Commanded by Lt Col. William, Lord Ancrum.
	Highland Battalion: abt 300 rank and file.		Commanded by Lt Col John Campbell of Mamore 64th Highlanders.
Front Line (1st Division) (Maj-Gen. William Anne, Earl of Albermarle)	*First Brigade*	2/1st (Royal) Regiment: 401 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col John Ramsay.
		34th (Cholmondley's) Foot: 339 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col Charles Jeffreys.
		14th (Price's) Foot: 304 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col John Grey.
	*Third Brigade*	21st (North British) Fusiliers: 358 rank & file.	Commanded by Maj Hon. Charles Colvill.
		37th (Dejean's) Foot: 426 rank & file.	Commanded by Col Louis Dejean.
		4th (Barrell's) Foot: 325 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col Robert Rich.
Second Line (Commanded by Gen John Huske)	*Second Brigade*	3rd Foot (Buffs): 413 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt-Col. George Howard.
		36th (Fleming's) Foot: 350 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col George Jackson.
		20th (Sackville's) Foot: 412 rank & file.	Commanded by Col George Sackville.
	*Fourth Brigade*	25th (Sempill's) Foot: 429 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col David Cunynghame.
		59/48th (Conway's) Foot: 325 rank & file.	Commanded by Col Henry Conway.
		8th (Edward Wolfe's) Foot: 324 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt-Col Edward Martin.
Reserve	Duke of Kingston's 10th Horse: 211 officers & men.		Commanded by Lt Col John Mordaunt.
	*Fifth Brigade* (Brig John Mordaunt)	13th (Pulteney's) Foot: 510 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col Thomas Cockayne.
		62nd (Batereau's) Foot: 354 rank & file.	Commanded by Col John Batereau.
		27th (Blakeney's) Foot: 300 rank & file.	Commanded by Lt Col Francis Leighton.
Artillery	106 NCOs & Gunners 10 x 3-pounder canon 6 x Coehorn mortars		Commanded by Commander Royal Artillery (CRA): Maj William Belford and Captain-Lieutenant John Godwin.

British casualties

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 woundedFurther Information

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