Culloden Moor, 1746: The Death of the Jacobite Cause

The final demise of the Jacobite cause amid the slaughter of the Highland clans on a cold and damp Culloden Moor in April 1746 is undoubtedly one of the most famous battles in British military history. It has also been, until recently, one of the least well understood from both the military and political perspective. In this modern and highly detailed account the author combines a thorough knowledge of 18th century tactics, an intimate knowledge of the battlefield itself and a scandalously underused archive of contemporary material from both sides to provide a balanced and accurate account of this controversial encounter. Amongst other misconceptions the popular perception is that the British Army adopted an entirely passive role during the battle simply shooting down the Jacobites in droves with volleys of musketry. This account demonstrates that the British, and the Duke of Cumberland in particular, had a much more pro-active role in the battle - not merely staving off defeat, but actively seizing the initiative and winning the battle with a series of well-timed and well-coordinated counterattacks.