AFTERSHOCKS OF CULLODEN

After the defeat of Prince Charles' Jacobite on the bleak Culloden Moor, the government forces devastated the glens with fire and sword. New laws were enacted to destroy those features of Highland life which had made the Jacobite rising possible and soldiers patrolled the highlands to enforce them. Jacobite chiefs were in exile, and their estates were forfeited to the Crown, to be administered by Government agents. When the heritable jurisdictions, the right of chiefs to hold court to try their clansmen, were all abolished, this law and the steps taken to disarm the Highlanders did much to destroy the authority of the highland clan chief, making him no longer a dispenser of justice, no longer a military leader.

The act of carrying weapons and wearing highland dress, which was typical of this legislation, was strictly applied for ten years, although it was not repealed until 1782. People had to swear this oath:

"I, (name), do swear as I shall answer to God at the great day of judgement, I have not, nor shall have in my possession any gun, sword, pistol or arm whatever, and never use tartan, plaid, or any part of the highland garb; and if I do so, may I be cursed, may I never see my wife and children, father, mother or relations, and lie without a Christian burial in a strange land, far from the graves of my forefathers and my kindred; may all this come across me if I break my oath."

The reports of officers in the Highlands to the commander-in-chief, Scotland, in 1752 reveal the activities of Government forces:

"The patrolling party surprised and took one Donald MacDonald. He had a large French musket, loaded with shots and slugs. I tried to find out whose gun it was, but could make nothing of him. I sent him to Inverness with two men. He has since been tried before the sheriff and sentenced to undergo the penalty of the law."
Capt. A. Trapaud

"The Corporal an Glen Strathfarrar took up one Hugh Fraser for wearing the philabeg (kilt). As soon as they crossed the Dejag, which was scarce fordable, the prisoner let drop his philabeg in the river under cover of his great coat. I sent him prisoner to the sheriff-substitute in Inverness and after examination he was set at liberty."
Capt. A. Trapaud


"Seeing some people armed, driving cattle on the north side of Loch Lyon, I examined them and found them to be dealers in Cattle from Breadalbane. Their names were McNab and McIntyre. They had passes and protection from Lord Breadalbane for carrying arms."
Lieut. Alex Tennant

"I am much of your opinion, that, without the considerable aid of foreign troops, the Highlanders will never stir. The spirit of revenge is prevalent amongst them but the risk is too great without help; however we ought to be cautious and vigilant. We ought to have a good store of meal in the forts, plenty of entrenching tools, and a few well-chosen posts in the middle of those clans most likely to rebel, with a force sufficient to entrench and defend themselves, and with positive orders never to surrender."
Letter to Captain Rickson at Inverness from James Wolfe in 1755. Wolfe had fought at Culloden and was to die victorious in the battle of Quebec against the French in 1759.

A Final Thought

Today, in the modern highlands, there is still strong feeling about the battle and the resulting effects. There are various opinions over the rights and wrongs of the whole affair, but there is no doubt that Bonnie Prince Charlie was no hero - in fact he was only interested in his own ends. For most highlanders he was the harvenger of doom for the highland way of life, and his actions changed the highlands of Scotland forever.- SM