The clan system of Scotland had developed from generations of clansmen co-operation and trust. The people of the highland clans were gentle, hardworking, polite, and hospitable people - but they were described by the English as 'rebels'. However, on the afternoon of April 16th, 1746 at Culloden Moor just 4˝ miles out of Inverness - all this was smashed forever. The 'rebel' army (known as the Jacobites) consisted of the most powerful Highland clans and was led by Prince Charles Edward Stewart (Bonnie prince Charlie). The opposition was led by the Duke of Cumberland and was made up of forces from England, the lowlands of Scotland and some smaller Highland clans also joined with the government forces.
Prince Charles' aim of his battles and campaigns was to win back the throne for his father. Culloden was the final battle of Prince Charles' efforts. But for the majority of Highlanders, this was a clan war. Angus Iain Campbell, who's wife was killed by the MacDonalds, stands in front of Alaster Macdonald, brother killed by Campbells - this is a clan war. John Angus MacDonald, once an ordinary plough boy now a rebel in the Jacobite army, is only 13 years old. Private in the Government army, James Chisholm, fights for the Duke of Cumberland but is in fact a Highland Scot. 5th son of clan chief - Roderick Chisholm stands in the ranks of the Jacobite army. The Chisholm across the moor is this man's brother. Prince Charles' war, is a civil war. It is the war between the Lowlanders and the Highlanders of Scotland. Prince Charles' war, is a civil war.
The Jacobite army consisted of tired, half-unwilling, hungry men with only half their supplies. Their leader Prince Charles, half Polish, was determined that God was behind him. His only previous battle experience was a castle siege which lasted 10 days when he was 13 years old. The Jacobite's guns were not supplied with the correct ammunition therefore rendering them useless. It was not that the Highland troops were not skilled, they were perhaps the most faithful, tough, and skilled warriors in the world. The reason for the Jacobite's loss was that they had been marching all night before in a failed attempt at a surprise attack, they had not eaten in days, they were out numbered by about 5,000 men, and their leader was not fit to give suitable orders.
The way that the highland army was positioned was very simple. There were three lines of soldiers – the strongest clans consisting of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, Glengarry, and Clanranald, the Macleans, the Maclauchlans, the Macintoshes, Frasers, Camerons, over fourteen major Highland clans, were all lined at the front. The cannons were in the centre of this front line. It is an important fact that the MacDonald regiments all commanded from the left. This outraged the MacDonalds – as it was an ancient tradition that the MacDonalds have the right to fight at the right side. Denied this right, they were very angry. Lord George Murray, the man who was said to have been a brilliant commander and to have halved the strong English forces in previous battles, led the right side. Lord John Drummond led the centre. The middle line consisted of the French Royal Scots, the Gordons, and other armies from Ireland and Scotland. The back consisted of the reserves. Prince Charles took his position on his horse at the back where he could see a full view of the battle field. Occasionally the prince would ride around encouraging them. The Duke’s army consisted of the cavalry at the front as well as cannons, and three rows of 9,000 men.
The English army had a new battle plan which they believed would beat the Highland troops for good. Their plan was not to strike, with their bayonets, to the man coming towards them – but to strike at the man to their side, this way they would strike him below the arm.
The Battle Starts
By about 1pm the troops of both armies were in position. The land which separated them was only about 400 - 500 yards. Sleet was driving its way from the East into the faces of the Jacobite army. The battle started by opening fire with cannons from the centre. Both armies did this until the Jacobites had run out of all ammunition for their cannons. Then the bloody massacre began. The cannons of the Duke's army killed, disembowelled, and severed the Highland troops.
At about 1:12 Charles moved behind the right of the army. He is now unable to see what is happening. Indecisive and inconclusive Charles still has no idea whether he should retreat or advance. The men who stand on the right of the battle field made a clear target for the Duke's gunners. Because they were packed in, they were easily wiped out by the gunners. It was counted, by eye-witnesses to the battle, that every fifteen or twenty shots fired by the Duke's army, there were five shots fired by the Prince's army. Lord George Murray has still no orders to attack. A messenger was sent by Prince Charles to order George to attack but was shot dead by gunners before reaching his lordship.
1:22 - 200 of the Clan Cameron men dead or maimed. 180 of Clan Stewart's men dead or maimed. At 1:30 the clan army casualties were 700 men dead or maimed. 1:32 - The Duke of Cumberland orders his troops to attack on the left. The duke places a troop of men armed with guns behind a small wall which had not been pulled down. These men would fire into the side of the clan armies when they went to attack. This was the cross-fire which Prince Charles discarded the possibility of it happening.
Charles orders an advance, finally, at 1:32. The orders did not reach the right side. Finally the orders were given and received for the right side to advance. These 800 men ran towards the Barrell regiment at a collision speed of over 12 miles an hour. After many of the troops being shot down the remainder finally reached the front line where they proceeded to hack their way through. Many of them were slaughtered but they managed to fight their way to the second line of men.
1:57 - Charles, who has made no battle plan, sees his men being slaughtered by the enemy army on the right and on the left he sees the tired MacDonald men, who are annoyed that they had not been given their rightful position, stand and taunt the enemy army.
1:58 - the MacDonalds, who were surprised by the advancing cavalry, themselves drew back. One of their leaders, Keppoch, ran forward to encourage the retreating MacDonalds - he was shot dead. This almost ensured the end of the MacDonalds of Keppoch.
When the troops of the army start to run, the Prince tries to encourage his men by shouting "Pray stand with me your prince. Pray stand with me by the moment, otherwise you ruin me, your country, and yourselves - and God forgive you".
2:01 - Seeing the hopelessness of the situation he retreats. A senior clan officer yells at him as he leaves, "Run you cowardly Italian." 50 of the 9,000 men of the Duke's army are dead. But for every 1 dead body of the Duke's army - there are twenty dead bodies of the Prince's army. 1,200 Jacobite men are either dead or dying on Culloden Moor. Included in these men, is the brother of Private James Chisholm.
After the Battle
Any clansman who is seen to be alive was trampled on, slit in the throat, or killed in some means. The Duke's troops then rode through the towns killing and wounding the men and children and raping the women. One clans woman tells, "They took my baby, he was only two weeks old. And one of them, whirled him around by his leg and threw him on to the ground." It was given out that 12gns were to be paid to all English soldiers who were wounded. This, however, was not the case for the Highland troops. All Scots who were found wounded were killed on the Moor. The men who were taken to prison were denied food and water and medical dressings. They would be taken to the trials were they would not be able to understand what was to be said. They would then be all killed.
Lord George Murray was forced to leave Scotland forever and travelled to Europe. It is said that this man, if left to command the Jacobites, could have brought Culloden to a victory. The Duke's men were then ordered to investigate the glens of the Highlands and seek out and kill all families who were taking refuge.
Prince Charles Edward Stewart then caught a boat and left to France, and safety. He left the Highlanders to recover by themselves - eventually they did.
The English then made it illegal for the Highlanders to wear the Highland dress, play their music, practise their customs, and speak their language. As the movie "Culloden" said at the end, "Thus, within a century from Culloden, the English and the Scottish Lowlanders had made secure forever their religion, their commerce, their culture, their ruling dynasty - and in so doing, had destroyed a race of people. They have created a desert - and have called it ... peace."
The Jacobite army consisted of tired, half-unwilling, hungry men with only half their supplies. Their leader Prince Charles, half Polish, was determined that God was behind him. His only previous battle experience was a castle siege which lasted 10 days when he was 13 years old. The Jacobite's guns were not supplied with the correct ammunition therefore rendering them useless. It was not that the Highland troops were not skilled, they were perhaps the most faithful, tough, and skilled warriors in the world. The reason for the Jacobite's loss was that they had been marching all night before in a failed attempt at a surprise attack, they had not eaten in days, they were out numbered by about 5,000 men, and their leader was not fit to give suitable orders.
The English army had a new battle plan which they believed would beat the Highland troops for good. Their plan was not to strike, with their bayonets, to the man coming towards them – but to strike at the man to their side, this way they would strike him below the arm.
1:22 - 200 of the Clan Cameron men dead or maimed. 180 of Clan Stewart's men dead or maimed. At 1:30 the clan army casualties were 700 men dead or maimed.