Scottish Battles. Prestonpans .1745

The Battle of Prestonpans, fought on September 21, 1745, resulted in a swift and devastating victory for the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward Stuart over the Hanoverian army led by General Sir John Cope. Cope, commanding approximately 2,500 well-armed troops and a defensive position near the sea protected by ditches and walls, was confident his professional soldiers and artillery could withstand the Highlanders. However, the Jacobite high command, particularly Lord George Murray, acting on local intelligence from Robert Anderson, learned of a hidden path through the unguarded bog that circumvented Cope’s defenses. Despite an internal dispute among the clans over the honor of the right flank—where the MacDonalds nearly mutinied before Chief Lochiel tactfully ceded the position—the Jacobite army silently mobilized at 3 A.M. A detachment of Camerons first successfully seized Cope’s baggage train, securing valuable supplies and money. The main Jacobite force then weaved through the bog in single file, reforming their ranks just 200 paces from the Hanoverians, who were forced into a hasty redeployment.

The attack began just after dawn, with the clans—led by the Camerons, who were enraged by an earlier artillery strike that killed a few men—charging with their ancient weapons and war cries. The Highlanders excelled in the hand-to-hand combat, quickly overwhelming the Hanoverian lines. Cope’s supposedly “ideal” defensive position became a deadly trap, caging in his retreating forces. The entire action lasted only about fifteen minutes, resulting in the near-total destruction of Cope’s army. While Prince Charles rode across the field pleading for the bloodshed to stop, many Highlanders, who mostly spoke only Gaelic, continued the relentless pursuit. Very few Redcoats escaped, with General Cope himself being one of the first to flee, earning him notoriety. The Hanoverians suffered between 300 and 500 killed and approximately 1,400 taken prisoner, compared to Jacobite losses of only about 40 killed. This overwhelming victory convinced Prince Charles that his cause was invincible, prompting him to set his sights on marching south into England.