How Many Scots Died At Culloden?

How Many Scots Died At Culloden?

Military History

The Battle of Culloden took place on April 16, 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. It was the final battle of the Jacobite rising of 1745, which was led by Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, in an attempt to restore the exiled Stuart dynasty to the British throne.

The exact number of Scottish casualties at the Battle of Culloden remains uncertain. However, historians believe around 1,500 to 2,000 Jacobites became killed or wounded. While the British government forces suffered relatively few casualties.

The number of Scottish Lowlanders who fought on the side of the British at the Battle of Culloden is uncertain. However, historians generally believe that most of the government forces who fought at Culloden were Lowland Scots or English soldiers, rather than Highland Scots.

The Jacobite army mostly consisted of Gaelic-speaking Catholic Scottish Highlanders, but also included some English, Irish, and French troops.

The exact number of Lowlanders who died at the Battle of Culloden is also uncertain, but it is estimated that the government forces suffered relatively few casualties, with some sources indicating that only around 50 soldiers were killed or wounded. Partly due to the fact that the government forces became well-trained and well-equipped. While the Jacobite forces were poorly armed and lacked military experience.

After the battle, many Jacobite soldiers were captured, and the British government carried out a brutal campaign of repression against the Scottish Highlands. It is estimated that around 3,000 Jacobites were arrested in the weeks and months after the battle, and many of them were subsequently executed, imprisoned, or transported to penal colonies in the Americas.

The exact number of Scots who were executed after the battle is difficult to determine, as records from the time are incomplete. However, it is believed that several hundred Jacobites were executed in the months following the battle, with many more dying in prison or during transportation to the colonies. The brutal campaign of repression that followed the Battle of Culloden becomes often referred to as the “Highland Clearances,” and it had a lasting impact on Scottish history and culture.

How Many Scots Died At Culloden?

Why did the Scots lose the Battle of Culloden?

The Battle of Culloden was a conflict between the Jacobite forces, led by Charles Edward Stuart, and the government forces of Great Britain, led by the Duke of Cumberland.

The Jacobite forces became mainly made up of Scottish Highlanders, joined by some English and Irish supporters as well. On the other hand, the government forces composed of British soldiers, including English, Scottish, and Irish troops.

So, technically speaking, the Battle of Culloden was not a conflict between “British vs Scottish” as both sides had Scottish and non-Scottish troops.

Instead, it was a conflict between the Jacobites, who sought to restore the Stuart dynasty to the throne and had significant support among the Scottish Highlanders, and the government forces, who were loyal to the Hanoverian monarch and the British establishment. The battle was a culmination of a wider political and cultural conflict between these two factions, which had been ongoing for decades.

It’s also important to note that the conflict was not a simple matter of national identity, but rather a complex web of political, cultural, and religious factors that influenced the allegiances of individuals and groups on both sides.

There were several factors that contributed to the Scottish defeat at Culloden. One of the primary factors was the differences in military tactics and equipment between the Scottish and English forces.

The Scottish relied heavily on their traditional Highland charge, where they would charge en masse towards the enemy, wielding swords and axes.

The Jacobite army mostly consisted of Gaelic-speaking Catholic Scottish Highlanders, but also included some English, Irish, and French troops.

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Most of these men had poor training, and were ‘uncontrollable’ and ‘inexperienced’. To add to the plight of the Jacobites. Supplies were scarce. Which left men only with a broadsword, shield, and pistol for arms. Later in the uprising, however, supplies from France equipped Jacobite troops with improved firelocks.

The opposing government army was in much better shape. Many of the British soldiers facing the rebellion were pulled back from the ongoing War of Austrian Succession. And had become battle-hardened and experienced. The British army’s intense drilling and training made their soldiers extremely effective and deadly with the musket.

At the battle of Culloden, the government army consisted of 16 battalions, 11 British, 4 Scottish(mostly from the Scottish Lowlands, but actually outnumbered the total Scottish Highlander’s on the Jacobite side), and 1 Irish. The government army’s weapons included 3-pound artillery pieces, cable of firing round iron and canister shot.

The night before the battle, the British handed out 2 gallons of brandy per regiment to celebrate the Duke of Cumberland’s birthday.

This occasion seemed like an ideal time for a night raid against the partying British soldiers. Nearly 1,500 Jacobites assembled. But this attack was called off at the last minute. Because the war council felt that there would not be enough time to attack before dawn. By the time the troops made it back to the estate at Culloden. Many were tired and looking for food or rest and subsequently missed the battle.

The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746. And commenced with a small artillery fire by the Jacobite army, which was reciprocated by artillery fire from the government army.

The Jacobite army suffered minor casualties as a result of the shelling.

At roughly 1 pm, the Jacobites began to advance towards the government line, directly into the round iron fire of artillery. When the Jacobites were 300 meters away from the government line, government artillery switched ordinance to canister shot, a type of artillery ammunition composed of a canister full of musket shot, effectively turning each artillery piece into a massive shotgun.

As the need for precise aim is unnecessary for a canister shot. The rate of artillery fire into the charging Jacobite forces rapidly increased.

This resulted in devastating casualties for the advancing force. Furthermore, the Scottish Highlander’s relied upon charging as their main offensive maneuver, a tactic made difficult by the soft terrain of Culloden Moor.

Within 50 meters British infantry men, which were organized in three lines, began to fire their muskets. Due to their formation, a volley of musket fire was let off every six seconds. But despite this impressive firepower the Jacobite army continued to advance.

Once in range, the Jacobite army pulled out their firearms, fired a single volley.

And drew their swords to close the rest of the distance between them and the government army.

The government troops were all armed with a bayonet on their firearms, and the subsequent hand-to-hand was bloody and brutal. The highlander charge happend to hit the government left wing especially hard. This resulted in a slight cave in of the government line.

This ended up being a tactical disaster for the Jacobites attacking the left wing. As a result, government regiments on either side of the cave-in were able to open fire at the attackers from three different directions.

As the attack on the left wing became crushed by the experienced British soldiers. The Jacobites started to retreat. But it quickly devolved into a rout as government forces gunned down the fleeing Jacobites.

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At the end of the day the British cavalry was a key imbalance in the battle. Maybe even more so than firepower, which is also why the ensuing pursuit was so deadly.

The result of the Battle of Culloden was a convincing government victory. And brought a swift end to the Jacobite uprising of 1745. The Jacobites suffered tremendous casualties. Totaling roughly 2,000 men killed or wounded as opposed to the 300 killed or wounded on the government side. Of the more than 1,000 Jacobite soldiers killed, only 1/5th were carrying a sword. The British lost only 46 men and had fewer than 300 wounded.

The Highland charge involved the Scottish warriors charging en masse towards the enemy lines, with swords, axes, and other close-combat weapons. The charge was a sudden and overwhelming attack, intended to break through the enemy’s defenses and create chaos in their ranks. The charge often became accompanied by a loud war cry, known as a “slogan”. Which intended to intimidate the enemy and boost the morale of the Scottish troops.

The Highland charge was effective in certain situations, particularly when the terrain was favorable for close combat and when the Scottish warriors were able to maintain their momentum and take the enemy by surprise. However, the tactic had several weaknesses. One of the main weaknesses was that the charge left the Scottish warriors vulnerable to enemy fire, particularly from muskets and artillery. The charge was also difficult to control, and once the warriors had broken through the enemy’s defenses, it was often difficult to regroup and maintain cohesion.

The Highland charge was a reflection of the Scottish warrior culture, which placed a high value on individual courage, strength, and bravery. The tactic was also a reflection of the limited resources and training available to the Scottish clans, who often lacked the sophisticated weapons and tactics of their English counterparts. Despite its limitations, the Highland charge remains an iconic symbol of Scottish military history and still finds itself celebrated in Scottish culture and folklore.

However, this tactic was no match for the disciplined and well-trained English forces, who utilized a more modern approach to warfare.

The English utilized muskets and bayonets, which allowed them to fire at the Scottish from a distance, and then engage in hand-to-hand combat once the Scottish had closed in.

Another factor that contributed to the Scottish defeat was their lack of resources and support.

The Scottish forces became severely outnumbered, with only around 5,000 men compared to the English force of 8,000. Additionally, the Scottish were poorly supplied, with many of their men lacking adequate clothing and weapons. In contrast, the English were well-supplied, with access to the latest military technology and resources.

Another key factor in the Scottish defeat was the lack of coordination and communication among the Scottish forces. The Scottish became made up of various clans and factions, each with their own leaders and loyalties. This made it difficult to coordinate their movements and tactics effectively, and ultimately contributed to their defeat.

Furthermore, the Scottish forces were facing a highly experienced English military, who had fought in numerous battles and had years of training and experience. The English were led by the Duke of Cumberland, who was known for his tactical expertise and strategic thinking. In contrast, the Scottish were led by Charles Edward Stuart, who was a charismatic leader but lacked military experience and training.

In conclusion, the Battle of Culloden, a significant event in Scottish history, attributed to several factors, including differences in military tactics and equipment, lack of resources and support, lack of coordination and communication, and facing a highly experienced English military.

The battle marked the end of the Jacobite rising and had significant implications for Scottish culture and history.

Why did the Scots lose the Battle of Culloden?

How Many Scots Died At Culloden?