We went to the Culloden Battlefield today, sight of the last pitched battle on British Soil and end of the Jacobite Rebellion. Some of the interesting, if not overly surprising info was that the Jacobites, while containing a lot of Scots, was by no means all Scottish. And plenty of Scots fought for the Government forces.
What was surprising was just how incompetent, and cowardly, Bonnie Prince Charles was, especially given the current kind view of the Jacobites.
Had his men on starvation rations for weeks, executed a 20 mile overnight march the day before the battle to spring an ambush, only to call it off last minute, chose a pitful piece of ground for the battle, advanced his men across flat ground (most of their successes had been running full steam downhill), charged about a third of his men into a bog, and once his men finally reached the government line, they were outnumbered and severally outgunned. Canister shot is unforgiving.
The Jacobites lost 1500 on the field (and most of the rest in the subsequent weeks of being hunted down); the Governmental Forces lost around 50. But Bonnie Prince Charlie slipped away, dressed as a maid of one his many female admirers.
Interestingly, both Charles and his opponent, the Duke of Cumberland, were 25 when the battle occurred. Might well explain the incompetence and cruelty.
What was surprising was just how incompetent, and cowardly, Bonnie Prince Charles was, especially given the current kind view of the Jacobites.
Had his men on starvation rations for weeks, executed a 20 mile overnight march the day before the battle to spring an ambush, only to call it off last minute, chose a pitful piece of ground for the battle, advanced his men across flat ground (most of their successes had been running full steam downhill), charged about a third of his men into a bog, and once his men finally reached the government line, they were outnumbered and severally outgunned. Canister shot is unforgiving.
The Jacobites lost 1500 on the field (and most of the rest in the subsequent weeks of being hunted down); the Governmental Forces lost around 50. But Bonnie Prince Charlie slipped away, dressed as a maid of one his many female admirers.
Interestingly, both Charles and his opponent, the Duke of Cumberland, were 25 when the battle occurred. Might well explain the incompetence and cruelty.
