492 



CULLODEN. 



j'ulioden. of Irish piquets. The reserve consisted of Lord Kil- 

 ^"■"V"""'' marnoch's regiment of foot guards, and the remains of 

 Lord Pitsligo's and Lord Strathallan's horse. On the 

 right of the first line was a troop of horse guards ; and 

 on the left of the second line a troop of Fitz-James' 

 horse. The cannon was placed in the centre and on 

 the flanks of the first line. Lord George Murray com- 

 manded the right, and Lord John Drummond the left, 

 of the first line. The command of the second line was 

 entrusted to General Stapleton. Charles stationed him- 

 self on a small eminence behind the right of the second 

 Tine. 



The spot selected for the engagement was remarka- 

 bly well chosen, being as favourable to the rebels as 

 the nature of the ground would admit. Immediately 

 south from them was a square enclosure of stone, which 

 extended to the banks of the Nairn, the northern wall 

 of which covered their right flank. In their front the 

 moor was uncommonly marshy and soft ; and on their 

 left, though at considerable distance, were the woods 

 •f Culloden-house. 



In this condition were the rebels when the royal ar- 

 my came in sight, about mid-day. The Duke of Cum- 

 berland, upon seeing them drawn up in battle array, 

 commanded his troops to halt, and formed them upon 

 a plan similar to that of the enemy. His first line con- 

 sisted of six regiments, in the following order, viz. the 

 Royals on the right ; on their left Chomondley's regi- 

 ment, Price's, the Scots Fusileers, Munro's, and Bur- 

 rel's. The second line consisted also of six regiments, 

 riz. Howard's, Fleming's, Ligonier's, Blyth's, Sempil's, 

 and Wolfe's. Blakeney's, Battereau's, and Pulteney's 

 composed the reserve. On the right of the first line 

 were stationed the Duke of Kingston's regiment of 

 light horse, and a squadron of Lord Cobham's dra- 

 goons ; and on the left, Lord Kerr's regiment of dra- 

 goons, and two squadrons of Lord Cobham's horse. 

 Two pieces of cannon were placed between each batta- 

 lion in the first line ; and three pieces between the first 

 and second battalions on the right and left of the se- 

 cond line. This line was drawn up in such a manner, 

 that the centre of each regiment was opposed to the 

 Interval between the regiments in the front line. The 

 Earl of Albemarle commanded the first line, Major- 

 General Huskison the second, and Brigadier Mordaunt 

 the reserve. The Duke of Cumberland placed himself 

 between the first and second line, in the front of How- 

 ard's regiment. 



When the two armies came in sight of each other, 

 they were about three miles distant. The king's troops, 

 however, after making the necessary arrangements, im- 

 mediately advanced towards the enemy, and when the 

 front lines approached within 500 or 600 paces of each 

 other, a smart cannonade commenced on both sides. 

 The wet ground in front of the rebels, formerly alluded 

 to, now proved extremely harassing to the royal army. 

 Their heavy cannon sunk into the soft mossy soil, and 

 veveral regiments, especially Wolfe's, which occupied 

 the left of the second line, were standing above the 

 ancles in water. To remedy this inconvenience, the 

 whole line made a movement in advance, till it reached 

 firmer ground ; and as the moor on the left of the se- 

 cond line still continued marshy, Wolfe's regiment was 

 ordered to form on the left of the first line, and to front 

 to the north, by which means it was prepared to fire 

 upon the flank of the rebels if they advanced from 

 their present position. While this movement was mak- 

 ing on the left of the line, the Duke of Cumberland 

 •bserving that the left wing of the rebels stretched con- 



siderably beyond his right, ordered two regiments from Culioden. 

 the reserve to advance and form upon the right of each s - i "~ir""' 

 line, viz. Pulteney's on the right of the Royals, and 

 Battereau's on the right of Howard's. 



These arrangements being completed, the cannonade, 

 which had never ceased on the part of the rebels, was 

 renewed by the royal army with increased activity and 

 dreadful effect. Every where in the opposite ranks 

 were seen the destructive ravages of the royal artillery ; 

 while the cannon of the rebels, being ill-directed and 

 ill-served, made no impression on the king's troops. 

 The Duke observing this, ordered the cannonade to be 

 continued, in the expectation of compelling the rebels 

 to advance to the attack, by which means they would 

 lose their present advantageous position, and expose 

 their right flank to a destructive fire from Wolfe's regi- 

 ment. His expectation was soon realized. The Mac- 

 intoshes, unable any longer to support the galling fire 

 of the artillery, broke from the centre of the first line, 

 and advanced against the regiment opposite them. 

 They were followed by the four regiments to their right, 

 and the Maclauchlans and Macleans on their left. 

 The Macintoshes, who were a little in advance, having 

 met with a heavy fire of musketry from the Scots fusi- 

 leers, which were opposed to them, immediately inclin- 

 ed to the right, which caused the whole right' wing of 

 the rebels to come down upon Burrel's and Munro's 

 regiments. These regiments, however, continued firm, 

 and received them with a very heavy fire of musketry, 

 and cannon loaded with grape-shot. 



In spite of this warm reception in front, and a still more 

 destructive fire from Wolfe's regiment on their flank, the 

 rebels continued to advance, and rushing forward sword 

 in hand, cut their way through the opposing ranks, 

 and pushed on to the second line. Sempil's regiment, 

 which occupied the left of this line, was now destined 

 to support the impetuous shock of the whole right wing^ 

 of the rebels. Nor were they unequal to the difficult 

 task imposed upon them. During the attack they had 

 advanced a few paces from the second line, and upon 

 seeing the rebels break through the first line, they pre- 

 pared to receive them with their front rank kneeling 

 and presenting. The remains of Burrel's and Monro's 

 regiments retired behind the battalions on their right, 

 and the rebels, after closing their ranks, rushed for- 

 ward with more than their usual impetuosity. Sempil's 

 regiment, however, remaining calm and unmoved, al- 

 lowed the rebels to approach within a few paces of 

 their front rank ; and when they had almost reached 

 the points of their bayonets, they opened upon them a 

 dreadful fire, which brought the greater number to the 

 ground, and caused the remainder to fall back. A 

 few, desperate and furious, still pressed on and made a 

 fruitless attempt to break through the lines opposed to 

 them, but were received on the bayonets of the front 

 rank. 



The regiments on the left wing of the rebels did not 

 advance at the same time, or charge with the same im- 

 petuosity as those on the right. Having gradually ap- 

 proached the king's troops, and sustained a regular fire 

 without shrinking, they gave a general discharge, and 

 having drawn their swords, were prepared to rush for- 

 ward after their usual manner. But upon observing^ 

 the fatal result of the attack on the right, they im- 

 mediately wheeled about, and retired upon their second 

 line. The cavalry on the right of the king's army, 

 seeing the rebels face about, instantly began the pur- 

 suit : but the Irish piquets opportunely advancing, soon 

 caused them to halt, and allowed the fugitives to fall 



