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Sophia Olson
March 24, 2015
Dr. McAndrew
HS 261: History as Art and Science
The Battle of Culloden: The Impact on Scotland
You are struggling up a tall hill, cold rain falling on you and those with you. Once you
get to the top, you look out and see a very marshy piece of land stretched out in front of you. You
hear commands to get in a line and then through the mist, you see an army of men in red coats.
You are so hungry and tired, yet you know you are not able to eat or sleep. Suddenly, you hear
cannon fire and then chaos breaks out. You are unsure whether you will live or die, all you know
is that you must fight for yourself as well as those around you. This would have been what it felt
like for a clansman who participated in the Battle of Culloden on April 16th, 1746.
During the 18th century, there was a great amount of unrest in the United Kingdom. This
was especially prevalent in Scotland. One name that stands out is Charles Edward Stuart. This
paper will argue that the Young Pretender, one of the nicknames of Charles Edward Stuart, used
the feuding among the clans in the Scottish Highlands as well as other crises that plagued
Scotland to fuel his own ambitions.
Yet, when one looks at any event, be it history or otherwise, there is always another side
to the story. In this case, the second side is that of the English and their leader, William Augustus
the Duke of Cumberland. Due to very violent repercussions placed on the people of Scotland by
the Duke of Cumberland and his army, they were not well liked in Scotland.
As with any battle or military conflict, there is some kind of political feeling or group at
the heart. In the case of the Scots (as well as some in Ireland and even England), this political
group was called the Jacobites. Jacobites are defined as a partisan of James II of England or to
the Stuarts after the revolution of 1688 (Merriam-Webster online dictionary). The name of this

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group is derived from the Latin word Jacobus which means James, which was the name of
Charles Edward Stuarts grandfather, James Francis Edward Stuart. So many of the Jacobite
rebellions in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were the squabbles of an unhappy family.
This simple fact was soon lost in a swirling fog of competing priorities as one European party
after another found it had something to gain from exploiting the Jacobite dream. 1 Therefore,
not only was this a military campaign but it was also fights within the two families, the
Hanoverians and the Stuarts.
The Jacobite cause gained recognition in 1715 when the first rebellion in order to try and get the
Stuarts the throne of England back occurred. This rebellion was led by James Frances Edward
Stuart, or the Old Pretender, who was the grandfather of Charles Edward Stuart, known as the
Young Pretender and Bonnie Prince Charlie. The rebellion obviously did not go well for the
Jacobites during the first rebellion. Thirty years later, during the second rebellion, this time lead
by Charles Edward Stuart, ended up resulting the same way. However, the conclusion of the 45
rebellion was much worse than what happened in 1715.
At the end of the rebellion in 1715, John Erskine, Earl of Mar, led the troops he was able
to assemble to Sheriffmuir. Yet, the fighting ended up being unorganized. Due to that, Mar was
under the impression that he had won the fight and ended up pulling his troops off the battlefield
to the town of Perth. The English commander, Argyll was able to get his troops together and

1 Neil Oliver, A History of Scotland (London: Phoenix, 2010), 300.

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ultimately defeat Mar and his troops.2 However, the 1745 Rebellion ended slightly quicker and
with much greater deficits for the Jacobites.
On April 16th, 1746, Charles Edward Stuart led his Jacobite troops who were unkempt
and greatly fatigued troops at this time against the English troops who were led by the Earl of
Cumberlands troops. In contrast to the Jacobite army, the English army was exceedingly more
disciplined and better fed.3 The two armies met on Culloden Moor at 1 oclock in the afternoon.
It would take less than an hour, forty five minutes actually, for the English to obliterate the
Jacobite army. The English army hailed cannon fire and grape shots, which consisted of leaden
ball, nails and even old pieces of metal, on the Highlanders.4
The weapons used by the English were very few in comparison to those that were used by
the Highlanders. The British army used muskets, to which bayonets could be fixed as well as
cannons. On the other side, though, the Highlanders were armed to the teeth. The Lochaber
axewas a long-handled polearm featuring a curved axe blade, elliptical in shape and finished
with a hook set in the head of the shaft5. Swords were also used, but for the most part only by
those who were considered gentlemen since a good blade was not easily found. The common
2 The 1715 Rebellion UK Parliament Website. Accessed March 26, 2015.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/legislativescrutiny/actof-union-1707/overview/the-1715-rebellion/

3 Charles Edward Stuart Bonnie Prince Charlie, English Monarchs online. Accessed March
26, 2015, http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_11.htm.

4 Charles Edward Stuart: The Battle of Culloden, English Monarchs online. Accessed March
24, 2015, http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_12.htm

5 John Sadler, Culloden (Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus, 2006), 88.

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clansmen would carry a broadsword which was a two-edged sword that were imported from
Europe for the most part but had hilts that were made nearby. A Highlander fighter would also
carry a dirk with him. This weapon consisted of a dagger with a long blade and held in the left
hand which was held behind the shield the Highlander carried. The dirks main function was to
parry and were very effective and fear creating weapons. The blade of the dirk was customarily
the length of the Highlanders forearm and was occasionally made from the blades of prior sword
blades but was single edged instead of double edged as well as pointed with brass.6
Since the clansmen had such an extensive history with their weapons, the traditional way
of training at this time would not suffice. The clansmen had become so efficient with their
weapons that they could fight their way through a bayonet line with frightening haste and scary
performance. 7
The weapons used by a group of people can be considered part of their material culture. In the
sense of the Jacobites and clansmen that can be seen very clearly. However, there were other
things that made this particular group of people stand out in terms of material culture.
The variety and volume of material culture produced by and for Jacobites suggest a
further motivation, a sense that the sheer physicality of objects gives them their power,
their ability to validate the adherents sense or connexion [sic] with the Cause and its
leaderand thereby to create or affirm a personal identity based on that allegiance.
Even when they were not a physical token of the King himself (handed out by him,
worn by him, part of his body), they have a direct impact based on their tactile or
pictorial quality, a process encapsulated by the command to look, love and follow on
the medal of Prince Charles Edward of 1750. The way in which Jacobite objects often
operate upon the holder or beholder is through the means that are direct, emotional, and
non-intellectual.8

6 Sadler, Culloden, 88.

7 Ibid, 108

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Having these objects was against the law, actually. The whole premise surrounding the
Jacobite cause was that it desired to overthrow the government and in its place having the
Stuart line rule. Those found with any item would be tried for treason. While the crimes
were usually meant to be prosecuted as high treason, they were usually tried as only minor
crimes. The punishment for these crimes could be the person having to pay a fine, being
forced to stand in the pillory, whipping, or even time spent in prison.9
Contrary to popular belief, clans were not known by the tartan they wore. That image came
about during the Romantic period. Rather, the clan was distinguishby its badge or
emblem, a plant or herb, and by the slogan, the wild summons to slaughter, joy in the
fight.10 However, when a clansman fought, he would take off his tartan prior to the charge.
In order to maintain modesty, the man would wear an elongated saffron shirt.11
While an army would not function well without its weapons and tactics, they would be
absolutely no where without their leaders. On the Jacobite side, the leader was Charles
Edward Stuart.
Charlie first set foot on Scottish soil on the island of Eriskay in the Outer
Hebridges in 23 July 1745, accompanied by the famous Seven Men of Moidart
who had come with him from exile. But it was at Glenfinnan on the midland on 19
August that the campaign really began. It was here, in the traditional Scottish
summer rain and mist, that Charlie and his companions oversaw an armed
8 Neil Guthrie, The Material Culture of the Jacobites (New York: Cambridge University Press,
2013), 7-8.

9 Guthrie, The Material Culture of the Jacobites, 21.

10 Sadler, Culloden, 91.

11 Ibid, 87

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gathering of supportive clansmen from the surrounding glens, led by the
Clanranald MacDonald. 12
However, before Charles could lead any sort of rebellion, he had to be given life. He was born on
December 31, 1720. Since he was of noble birth, he was named Charles Edward Louis John
Casimir Silvester Severino Maria Staurt. As he got older, Charles Edward Stuart held firmly to
the idea that he was the one that should take the throne of both England and Scotland after his
father but since he was in exile and he did not have much vision of taking the throne, he whittled
away the hours and years by hunting as well as participating in the humdrum of a social round of
what was called a shadow court with flatterers and British agents that would watch everything he
did.13 Even though Charles Edward Stuart could make it seem like he was inspiring the men
around him, but he was simply creating a faade in order to hide the fact that he was not capable
of it. As he got older, he became an alcoholic, even though the beginning of this problem was
visible in 1745. He also enjoyed being around people who drank a great amount were not out of
place, the liking growing stronger the older he got.14 Sadly, Charles Edward Stuart would
eventually end up in Rome, the place of his birth, but would lead a life that was greatly selfindulgent and did not have any direction. This would not bring either he or his family much
happiness and he ended up dying on January 30, 1788.15

12 David Allen, Understand Scottish History (London: Hodder Education, 2011), 158.

13 Sadler, Culloden, 114.

14 Ibid, 117

15 Neil Oliver, A History of Scotland, 321.

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The reason that Scotland was chosen as the target of the 45 rebellion was because thats where
the Stuart line first came into existence. Not only that, but the last name Stuart hails from this
country16. Therefore, it would seem almost natural that Charles Edward would select this country
in order to raise support for his rebellion. On top of that, since he and his family were not
welcome in England, he more than likely thought that he had nowhere else to turn.
There are many historians who would attempt to prove that Charles Edward Stuart was a good
leader. They might list his accomplishments of leading an army for a year as well as win multiple
battles in the span of that year. There are others that might lead their leader to believe that he said
he would not eat the night prior to the battle due to the fact that his men were not well feed.
However, he may not have been as great of a leader as he has been portrayed. It was all too
apparent that Charles Edward had deliberately misled them [the Highlanders], and that his
refusal to fight on after Culloden had condemned them to condign punishment when a guerrilla
war (at which the clans were past masters) might have extracted a negotiated peace.17 Knowing
this, it could be argued that the Young Pretender was not attempting to help the Scots achieve
independence as a nation. In order to be a good leader, they have to know what the strengths and
weaknesses of the army their commanding. Not only that, but they have to be able to play more
to the strengths of their men rather than their weaknesses in order to win.
Besides not playing to the strengths of his army, Prince Charlie did not listen to his advisors. His
advisors did not want to fight at Culloden Moor because they knew how swampy and hilly the
area was, but Charles refused to listen to them and instead went on to fight at Culloden Moor.
16 Ibid, 301.
17 Daniel Szechi, The Jacobites Britain and Europe 1688-1788 (Manchester, England:
Manchester University Press, 1994), 131-132.

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Those that advised the Young Pretender had first warned him that Culloden Moor would not be
the most advantageous place to fight. They then suggested two other places that would give his
army more of an advantage if he maintained his willingness to fight to the east of the town of
Inverness.18 Had Prince Charles slept during the whole of the expedition, and allowed Lord
George to act for him, according to his own judgement, there is every reason for supposing he
would have found the crown of great Britain on his head when he awoke19. With this in mind,
one can assume that those who actually had military experience thought that Prince Charles
Edward Stuart was not thought fit to decide where a battle should be fought.
None of the rebellion of 1745 would have occurred had it not been for the support of the French.
The single most important contributing factor to the success or failure of any and every Jacobite
attitude of France. Only France had the clout, the cash and the will to gamble on returning a
Catholic Stuart to the throne. 20 Charles Edward Stuart would not have been fiscally able to lead
this rebellion if it were not for the French. Not only that, but he would not have been able to
escape the English army if the French did not allow him to board their ship and leave Scotland.
On the opposing side, the leader of the British army was William Augustus, the Duke of
Cumberland. After the victory at Culloden Moor, or the Battle of Culloden, he and his army
began imposing extraordinarily harsh penalties on Jacobites as well as the regular people of
Scotland. Due to these, he received the nickname The Butcher. One woman, Mrs. Gordon,
related to her sister in a letter what occurred when she had her house raided by the English army.
18 Jeremey Black, Culloden and the 45 (Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2010), 183.

19 Chevalier de Johnstone

20 Oliver, A History of Scotland, 301.

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But General Hawley packed up every bit of china I had, which I am sure would not be
bought for two hundred pounds; all my bedding and table linen, every book, my
repeating clock which stood by the bed in which he lay every night, my worked screen,
every rag of Mr. Gordons cloths, the very hat, breeches, nightgown, shoes and what
shirts there was of the childs, 12 tea spoons, strainer and tonges [sic] the japand board
on which the chocolate and coffee cups stood, and put them on board a ship in the night
time and directed to himself at Holyrood House at Edinburgh.21
It can clearly be seen by this section of a letter, that when the English raided the homes of the
Scots, they would take everything the person owned and then divided the loot between the leader
of the raid and those that participated in it. Yet, the English army tended to more than simply raid
peoples homes and leave. They would usually burn the persons home after they raided it even if
the people were inside. In one instance, there was a Lord who was going down a Scottish road
who was attacked suddenly by clansmen who stole all of his belongings. The Lord became so
upset that he allowed his men to get back at the clansmen upon reaching the first village they
arrive at. When they got to the next village, the English soldiers raped the women and then
forced them to watch their husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers be shot and bayonetted.22 Due to
these kinds of events, the Scottish people, especially those who had Jacobite sympathies feared
the English army and went into hiding.
Not only were the English harsh to the people they raided, they were harsh to those whom they
took prisoner. They forced their prisoners to live in a three-story building that contained fifty six
cells that the English thought would be large enough to hold two or three men. However, the cell
was only ten by eight and a half feet and contained only a single window. 23 One of the main
21 John Prebble, Culloden (London: Pimlico, 2002), 234.
22 Prebble, Culloden, 210.

23 Ibid, 264.

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reasons Cumberland raided the Scottish Highlands was because he wanted to find Charles
Edward Stuart at any cost. Clearly the Highland clans were the backbone of the rebellion and
had to be broken and destroyed to prevent any survival of Stuart hopes.24 Neither Cumberland
nor his army cared how many Highlanders or Highlander clans they had to go through, so long as
they could capture Charles Edward. But, despite all their efforts, he was able to evade them.
Even though the English army knew they wanted to capture the Prince, no one was completely
sure what they should do with him once he was found. Only the most extreme Whigs advocated
the axe; more likely he would have been held as a pawn in the greater game being played out in
Europe, his freedom bargained in return for diplomatic advantage.25
The prisoners not only included the common, everyday people but also there were also those in
the religious life. The presence of so many Catholic priests in the prisons, four of them Jesuits,
was probably an embarrassment to the Government, and it treated them with remarkable
leniency, hanging none and releasing all in time.26 Not all the people who were in jail were so
lucky, however. Some of the prisoners were sentenced to death by hanging. Yet, this form of
hanging is not the form we are used to today. The prisoner would be hung by the neck, but not
until they were totally dead. Instead, the prisoner would be taken down and placed on a table.
The hangman would strike the prisoner viciously on the chest. Next, the body was sliced open
and the intestines as well as the heart was removed and thrown on a fire. Finally, the prisoner

24 Oliver, A History of Scotland, 320.

25 Sadler, Culloden, 264.

26 Prebble, Culloden, 250.

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was decapitated in order that their head may be placed on a stake at a later time.27 It was an
extraordinarily brutal process, but yet people would come out to watch a hanging for
entertainment.
Even though the name is synonymous with the military campaign of the Jacobite movement and
the subsequent culmination of the Battle of Culloden is Charles Edward Stuart, he might not
have been the savior the people of the Scottish Highlands were looking for. He could also be
looked at as a very selfish man for the fact that he absolutely refused to listen to his military
advisors and put the Highland people in incredible danger because of him. Previously, Charles
Edward Stuart was seen as the leader of the Jacobite movement in Scotland who helped the
people of that country to obtain a new way of life. However, he does not seem to deserve the
entire huzzah that is given to him.
The British became very brutal towards the Scottish people, especially the Highlanders
because they believed that they all had Jacobite sympathies, even though that is not only not
logical but also not true. The soldiers as well as the commanders did not care whether or not the
people were men, women, or children; they killed nearly everyone they came across in the
Highlands. They also treated the prisoners horribly, neglecting them and not always giving them
even enough food to survive. If the prisoners were injured or sick, the English soldiers simply
ignore that. The only reason for the brutality of the English towards the Scottish was because
they wanted to find Prince Charles Edward Stuart, even though they were not able to do so.

27 Ibid, 280.

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Bibliography
Allen, David. Understanding Scottish History. London: Hodder Education, 2011.
Black, Jeremy. Culloden and the 45. Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2010.
Guthrie, Neil. The Material Culture of the Jacobites. New York: Cambridge University Press,
2013.
Oliver, Neil. A History of Scotland. London: Phoenix, 2010.
Preeble, John. Culloden. London: Pimlico, 2002.

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Sadler, John. Culloden. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus, 2006.

Szechi, Daniel. The Jacobites Britain and Europe 1688-1788. Manchester, England: Manchester
University Press. 1994.
Charles Edward Stuart Bonnie Prince Charlie. English Monarchs. Accessed March 24, 2015.
http://www.englishmonarch.co.uk/stuart_11.htm.
Charles Edward Stuart The Battle of Culloden. English Monarchs. Accessed March 24, 2015.
http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_12.

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