Prince Charles Edward Stuart (called Bonnie Prince Charlie) and his approximately 5,000-man army, consisting mainly of men from the Scottish Highlands, was on the 8th, after winning the Prestonpans battle to secure his domination of Scotland He crossed the border into England on November 17, 1745. The army reached Carlisle and Manchester until Derby. Here, however, at the insistence of Lord George Murray's counselors and against the Prince's resistance, they decided to retreat to Scotland, as the position of the Jacobites was threatened by two armies under General George Wade and Prince William August, Duke of Cumberland. In addition, the Jacobites could pay no more pay and were fed by volunteers, since the promised support from France was missing.
Under the command of Murray, the Jacobites secured the retreat to Scotland through a victorious battle at Clifton and reached Glasgow on December 25, where provisions and reinforcements awaited them. Although Charles won the last time at the Battle of Falkirk against General Henry Hawley on January 17, 1746, he had to retreat north under the pressure of superior government forces, with his troops beginning to desert in the face of precarious military conditions and poor supply.
Site of the 1746 Battle of Culloden, with memorial stones and visitor centre. Be sure to pay a visit to the centre to make the most of your time here, and contribute towards the upkeep of the heritage site by purchasing a ticket before exploring.
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