Bonnie Prince Charlie

Into England and Back Again

On the 1st November 1745, over five weeks after their victory against Cope's army at Prestonpans, the Jacobite army of 600 cavalry and 5000 infantry began their march into England. Charles had wanted to attack Field Marshal Wade in Newcastle and then march to London; however he was persuaded to avoid Wade and enter England in the west. Following a siege, Carlisle surrendered on 15th November; however, it wasn't until the prince entered Manchester on the 28th that he gained more troops with the addition of the 300 strong Manchester Regiment.

The Duke of Cumberland had gathered his army at Lichfield, a day away from the Jacobites, but Lord Murray led him to believe they were heading for Wales; this allowed the Jacobites to reach Derby, 130 miles from London, on the 4th of December. Despite the fact that London was within reach and George II was considering a return to Hanover, the next move for the Jacobites was to return to Scotland. The main reasons for this decision were the lack of support from the English and the Jacobite army of less than 6000 men was potentially facing 30000; Cumberland was in Lichfield once more; Wade was in Wetherby near York; and a militia of 5000 was in Finchley to the north of London.

So, following a council of war on 5th December, the decision was made the following day, referred to as Black Friday by supporters of the Jacobite cause, to begin the retreat; a decision that the prince was unhappy with. Lord Murray commanded the rearguard, beating off an attack at Clifton near Penrith on 18th December. Two days later the Jacobites crossed the River Esk and entered Scotland once more. Having left as a victorious, advancing army, the prince and his men received a hostile reception in Dumfries and worse in Glasgow. By this time his army was also reduced to 500 cavalry and 3600 infantry; when the news that the garrison left in Carlisle had fallen to Cumberland it was clear a return to England was almost impossible at that moment.

However, the Jacobites were far from defeated; on 17th January 1746 Lord Murray's men defeated the army of General Hawley in a battle near Falkirk. During January there was also an unsuccessful siege of Stirling Castle, which was followed by a decision on the 30th to retreat further. The prince took this further setback to his plans worse than the retreat from Derby; on 1st February the Jacobites headed north to the Highlands, capturing Inverness on the 17th and destroying the castle two days later. Meanwhile, Cumberland had also been making his way north; he reached Nairn, about 12 miles east of Inverness by 14th April.

Expecting an immediate attack, the Jacobite army gathered on Culloden Moor on the 15th of April; however, Cumberland spent the day, his birthday, in Nairn and advanced towards Culloden the following day. The Jacobite army of fewer than 6000 tired, hungry men were faced with an army of 9000 well-rested and fed, as well as better trained, troops; in addition to that, the ground on which the armies stood was unsuitable for the Highlanders' famous charge. What followed was the destruction of the Jacobite army and the end of the prince's dream of claiming what he saw as his father's right, the throne of Britain. Charles then started his five months as a fugitive in the north of Scotland; his faithful army were left to their fate at the hands on Cumberland's men.

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