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 :

God grant the Marshal Wade

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 a grey day of driving sleet within sight of the Moray Firth, the two opposing forces
manoeuvred to face each other and, their individual fates. It was the 16th of April 1746. On one
side were the brutally disciplined, military precise, red-coated soldiers of king George II
commanded by his brother, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.
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

These formed the front line, a total of about 3,800 fighting men, they were backed up by the
second line, and small reserve of just over 1,000 men made up from :

• 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.

No more we’ll see such deeds again,

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