PREFACE

The Battle of Culloden, which took place on 16th April, 1746, is to this day surrounded by myths and inaccurate accounts. It was not a war between Scotland and England. It was not a war between Catholics and Protestants. It was, however, a dynastic struggle between two different royal houses: the house of Stuart and the house of Hanover.

The battle was the final act in the long-running series of events that became the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. There is no doubt that the rebellion led to the largest uprooting of Highlanders in history, and the complete alteration of the highland way of life. The resulting battle sounded the death toll for the clan system, and events like the Highland Clearances became ripple effects of the battles outcome. Not only was the Highlands of Scotland changed forever, but so was the new world, as many thousands of highlanders went overseas in the 150 years after the battle.

To this day, in countries like the United States, where over half of the signatories on the Declaration of Independence were Scottish, many place names exist because of the displaced highlanders. They opened up huge areas of North America, Australia and New Zealand. In fact, the city of Wellington in New Zealand still has over 50% of it's population of Scottish descent.

It is very easy to romanticise the Jacobite Rebellion and it's leader, Bonnie Prince Charlie The Victorians loved these tales, and over the years the reality of the cause and it's outcome became rather clouded and misrepresented. Bonnie Prince Charlie, born in Italy and brought up in France, had never been to Scotland, had no military experience and quite obviously was not interested in Scotland or the Scottish throne. His arrival on the west highland coast forced many clans to pledge their support even though many of them, including the much respected Cameron of Lochiel had gave concerns.

However the Victorians presented the story of the Battle of Culloden in later years, some truths are inescapable. The majority of the highland clans were Presbyterian, not Catholic like the Prince, and did not support his cause. Had he gained the support of all the highland clans, it is widely recognised that he would have access to nearly 50,000 fighting men, not 5000. These men who did fight for him were indeed brave and loyal highlanders, sadly being used by the prince for his own ends.

After landing on the west coast, he gathered his forces near Glenfinnan, and slowly made his way down through Scotland, through Edinburgh, down to Manchester where he only received some 300 supporters, and as far as derby, only 100 miles from London. Promised French assistance to overthrow England had fallen through, and wild rumours of huge Hanoverian armies in hot pursuit finally persuaded the Prince to turn back.

His 5000 strong army of brave highlanders made their way back up through the country, and finally wound up near Inverness, with a 9000 strong Hanoverian army led by William Augustus the Duke of Cumberland, massing near Nairn, just a few miles away.

This account is of the events immediately before the battle itself, describing the last tragic moves that spelled the end for the highland army. However, all highlanders paid the terrible price for his actions, not just the supporters of his cause.