When Charles
Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) arrived in Scotland
in 1745, most of the highland clans gave him their support. At the
Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745 and the Battle of Falkirk
in January 1746, the Highland Charge once again proved successful
against the English army.
By the time the two sides
met again in Culloden in April 1746, the English army had developed
a new strategy against the Highland Charge. The infantry were put
into three ranks. The front rank were ordered not to fire until the
Highlanders were only twelve yards away. While the front rank reloaded,
the second rank fired their guns. By the time the third rank had fired
their guns, the first rank were ready to fire again.
The infantry now used
firelocks which were faster to reload than the previous matchlock
guns. These guns were also fitted with bayonets so that even if some
of the enemy were able to reach the English front-lines they were
able to defend themselves against the broadswords of the Highlanders.
This time the English army
did not run away when the Highlanders charged. Faced with the well-organised
infantry that fired their guns in stages, very few Highlanders managed
to reach the English lines. Unable to get dose enough to use their
broadswords, some Highlanders even resorted to throwing stones at
the English army.
George
II gave the
Duke of Cumberland instructions that
the Scots had to be punished for supporting Charles. Many of those
who had joined his army were executed and their land was given to
those who had remained loyal to the king.
After their victory the
English were determined to make sure the highland clans did not rebel
again. The English army killed any Highlander they could find that
had been a member of Charles Stuart's Jacobite
army. Even Highlanders who had not joined the rebellion were slaughtered.
There were even cases of highland women and children being murdered.
The English army also destroyed
the Highlander's homes and took away their cattle. Unable to survive
without their cattle, 40,000 Highlanders emigrated to America. Laws
were also passed that made it illegal for Highlanders to carry weapons,
wear tartan clothes or play their bagpipes.
(1)
Edward Lunn was an English soldier who fought at the Battle of Culloden.
They came
up very boldly and fast all in a cloud together, sword in hand. They
fired their guns and flung them away.... They thought that it was
such a bad day (heavy rain)... that our firelocks would not fire....
but we kept them dry with our coat laps... not one in our regiment
missed firing... we also had two or three cannon that fired grape-shot...
this upset them very much.
(2)
Chevalier Johnstone was an officer in the Jacobite army. After the
battle he described how the Highlanders reacted when they realised
they had been beaten.
The Highlanders gave vent
to their grief with wild howlings... tears flowed down their cheeks...
They knew that their country was now under the control of the Duke
of Cumberland and would be plundered whilst they and their children
would be reduced to slavery.
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