Jacobite Wars
@jacobitewars.com
Covering the military history of the Jacobite Risings and the wider Jacobite period from the Revolution of 1688 to the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and beyond. Posts by @neilritchie.bsky.social
10 October 1715: At Warkworth, the English Jacobites were joined by forty horse from the Scottish borders. Thomas Forster, Tory MP for Northumberland, who was now in command, proclaimed James Francis Edward Stuart as King James III of Great Britain. On the 14th, they would march to Alnwick.
October 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
10 October 1715: At Warkworth, the English Jacobites were joined by forty horse from the Scottish borders. Thomas Forster, Tory MP for Northumberland, who was now in command, proclaimed James Francis Edward Stuart as King James III of Great Britain. On the 14th, they would march to Alnwick.
A plan of the battle of Prestonpans by Paul Fourdrinier, based on a plan drawn by an officer of engineers who was present at the engagement. The identity of the engineer on whose map this published map is based is unknown.
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.164-164b
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.164-164b
September 22, 2025 at 8:57 AM
A plan of the battle of Prestonpans by Paul Fourdrinier, based on a plan drawn by an officer of engineers who was present at the engagement. The identity of the engineer on whose map this published map is based is unknown.
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.164-164b
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.164-164b
19 September 1745: In the first lift of reinforcements from the continent, 3 battalions of Hirzel's Swiss regiment landed on the Lower Thames and the following day 4 battalions of Dutch troops arrived before later being shipped up to Newcastle to serve under Field Marshal Wade.
September 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
19 September 1745: In the first lift of reinforcements from the continent, 3 battalions of Hirzel's Swiss regiment landed on the Lower Thames and the following day 4 battalions of Dutch troops arrived before later being shipped up to Newcastle to serve under Field Marshal Wade.
19 September 1745: Cope marched his army from Dunbar to Haddington. He had intended to march further but a lack of water further along the route forced him to stop. A false alarm was raised that the Jacobites were coming to attack and the army lined up for battle.
September 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
19 September 1745: Cope marched his army from Dunbar to Haddington. He had intended to march further but a lack of water further along the route forced him to stop. A false alarm was raised that the Jacobites were coming to attack and the army lined up for battle.
17-19 September 1715: With the Jacobites occupying Perth, loyalist volunteers from Glasgow, Paisley and Ayrshire were summoned to defend Stirling. They would be commanded by Colonel John Blackadder, a veteran of Dunkeld, Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet.
September 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
17-19 September 1715: With the Jacobites occupying Perth, loyalist volunteers from Glasgow, Paisley and Ayrshire were summoned to defend Stirling. They would be commanded by Colonel John Blackadder, a veteran of Dunkeld, Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet.
11 September 1709: The army of the Grand Alliance under the Duke of Marlborough won a costly victory over the Duke of Villars' French army at the Battle of Malplaquet during the War of the Spanish Succession. James Francis Edward Stuart was wounded while serving with the French household cavalry.
September 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
11 September 1709: The army of the Grand Alliance under the Duke of Marlborough won a costly victory over the Duke of Villars' French army at the Battle of Malplaquet during the War of the Spanish Succession. James Francis Edward Stuart was wounded while serving with the French household cavalry.
10 September 1697: The Peace of Ryswick was signed, bringing the Nine Years' War between France and the Grand Alliance to an end. As part of the treaty, Louis XIV of France recognised William of Orange as King William III and II and pledged to end support to the Jacobite cause.
September 10, 2025 at 9:17 AM
10 September 1697: The Peace of Ryswick was signed, bringing the Nine Years' War between France and the Grand Alliance to an end. As part of the treaty, Louis XIV of France recognised William of Orange as King William III and II and pledged to end support to the Jacobite cause.
7 September 1746: Acting on instructions from the Earl of Albemarle, the Earl of Loudoun reduced the seven Independent Highland Companies under his direct command at Fort Augustus and sent orders to reduce the six companies on the Isle of Skye and the one company on the Isle of Lewis.
September 7, 2025 at 9:19 AM
7 September 1746: Acting on instructions from the Earl of Albemarle, the Earl of Loudoun reduced the seven Independent Highland Companies under his direct command at Fort Augustus and sent orders to reduce the six companies on the Isle of Skye and the one company on the Isle of Lewis.
A commission from Charles Edward Stuart, dated 5 September 1745 at Perth, appointing William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan, as Brigadier-General in the Jacobite army. Drummond had participated in the 1715 Jacobite rising and was pardoned for his involvement in 1717.
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.249-249c
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.249-249c
September 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
A commission from Charles Edward Stuart, dated 5 September 1745 at Perth, appointing William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan, as Brigadier-General in the Jacobite army. Drummond had participated in the 1715 Jacobite rising and was pardoned for his involvement in 1717.
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.249-249c
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.249-249c
3 September 1745: The Jacobite army marched from Blair Castle, through the Pass of Killiecrankie and on to Dunkeld. Charles Edward Stuart lodged in Dunkeld House, where he was entertained by local fiddler Niel Gow. The advance guard led by Lochiel and Keppoch arrived at Perth and secured the town.
September 3, 2025 at 4:18 PM
3 September 1745: The Jacobite army marched from Blair Castle, through the Pass of Killiecrankie and on to Dunkeld. Charles Edward Stuart lodged in Dunkeld House, where he was entertained by local fiddler Niel Gow. The advance guard led by Lochiel and Keppoch arrived at Perth and secured the town.
2 September 1745: From Blair Castle, Charles Edward Stuart instructed Donald Cameron of Lochiel to march from Blair to Perth with an advanced guard of two hundred men and take control of the town. Once there, Lochiel was to proclaim James Francis Edward Stuart as king.
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.245
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.245
September 2, 2025 at 12:16 PM
2 September 1745: From Blair Castle, Charles Edward Stuart instructed Donald Cameron of Lochiel to march from Blair to Perth with an advanced guard of two hundred men and take control of the town. Once there, Lochiel was to proclaim James Francis Edward Stuart as king.
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.245
📜 RA CP/MAIN/5 f.245
21 August 1689: The Jacobites under Brigadier-General Alexander Cannon attacked the Earl of Angus's Regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Cleland, holding the town of Dunkeld. The brutal urban fighting would see most of the town destroyed before the Jacobites were forced to withdraw.
August 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
21 August 1689: The Jacobites under Brigadier-General Alexander Cannon attacked the Earl of Angus's Regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Cleland, holding the town of Dunkeld. The brutal urban fighting would see most of the town destroyed before the Jacobites were forced to withdraw.
4 August 1746: From Horse Shoe Bay, Kerrera, Major-General John Campbell sent an intelligence report to his son, Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell at Strontian, and the Earl of Albemarle at Fort Augustus about a reported sighting of Charles Edward Stuart in Glen Dessarry.
August 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
4 August 1746: From Horse Shoe Bay, Kerrera, Major-General John Campbell sent an intelligence report to his son, Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell at Strontian, and the Earl of Albemarle at Fort Augustus about a reported sighting of Charles Edward Stuart in Glen Dessarry.
23 July 1745: Charles Edward Stuart set foot on Scottish soil for the first time, landing on the Isle of Eriskay between Barra and South Uist in the Hebrides. The following day, he would meet with Alexander Macdonald of Boisdale, who would advise him to return to France. Map: NLS.
July 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
23 July 1745: Charles Edward Stuart set foot on Scottish soil for the first time, landing on the Isle of Eriskay between Barra and South Uist in the Hebrides. The following day, he would meet with Alexander Macdonald of Boisdale, who would advise him to return to France. Map: NLS.
18 July 1745: The Marquis of Tweeddale, Secretary of State for Scotland, wrote to Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope recommending that he 'keep a strict Look-out' and hoped that he would not do anything that would spread unnecessary alarm, as he believed there was no immediate danger.
July 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
18 July 1745: The Marquis of Tweeddale, Secretary of State for Scotland, wrote to Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope recommending that he 'keep a strict Look-out' and hoped that he would not do anything that would spread unnecessary alarm, as he believed there was no immediate danger.
14 July 1689: The Privy Council of Scotland instructed Margaret Wemyss, 3rd Countess of Wemyss, to "lend some of your leather gunnes to General Mackay for this present expedition to the Highlands, wher no other artileiarie can be carried."
July 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
14 July 1689: The Privy Council of Scotland instructed Margaret Wemyss, 3rd Countess of Wemyss, to "lend some of your leather gunnes to General Mackay for this present expedition to the Highlands, wher no other artileiarie can be carried."
13 July 1745: Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope informed the Marquis of Tweeddale, Secretary of State for Scotland, about the situation in the Highlands before he left for Aberdeen to review Guise's 6th Regiment of Foot, which were to garrison the Highland forts and barracks, replacing Murray's 57th.
July 13, 2025 at 10:55 AM
13 July 1745: Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope informed the Marquis of Tweeddale, Secretary of State for Scotland, about the situation in the Highlands before he left for Aberdeen to review Guise's 6th Regiment of Foot, which were to garrison the Highland forts and barracks, replacing Murray's 57th.
8 July 1745: Three days after departing from Belle Isle, the French privateers Elisabeth (64 guns) and Du Teillay (16 guns), which were carrying Charles Edward Stuart's expedition to the Western Highlands, sighted a Royal Navy squadron of eight warships. They changed course to avoid an encounter.
July 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
8 July 1745: Three days after departing from Belle Isle, the French privateers Elisabeth (64 guns) and Du Teillay (16 guns), which were carrying Charles Edward Stuart's expedition to the Western Highlands, sighted a Royal Navy squadron of eight warships. They changed course to avoid an encounter.
5 July 1690: Major-General Hugh Mackay began construction of a new earth and timber fort on the site of the old Cromwellian fort at Inverlochy, to be named Fort William after the new king. Construction took 11 days, and the old Cromwellian Colonel John Hill was appointed governor. Image: NLS.
July 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
5 July 1690: Major-General Hugh Mackay began construction of a new earth and timber fort on the site of the old Cromwellian fort at Inverlochy, to be named Fort William after the new king. Construction took 11 days, and the old Cromwellian Colonel John Hill was appointed governor. Image: NLS.
2 July 1690: As Major-General Hugh Mackay's Scottish government army marched through Glen Spean, they came under sporadic sniper fire from the hills, while around 200 Jacobite highlanders attacked Mackay's vanguard, but the attack was repulsed. Mackay would arrive at Inverlochy the following day.
July 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
2 July 1690: As Major-General Hugh Mackay's Scottish government army marched through Glen Spean, they came under sporadic sniper fire from the hills, while around 200 Jacobite highlanders attacked Mackay's vanguard, but the attack was repulsed. Mackay would arrive at Inverlochy the following day.
2 July 1745: Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, commander-in-chief in Scotland, received a report from Duncan Forbes of Culloden, Lord President of the Court of Session, that Charles Edward Stuart was expected to land in the western highlands that summer to attempt an insurrection.
July 2, 2025 at 10:43 AM
2 July 1745: Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, commander-in-chief in Scotland, received a report from Duncan Forbes of Culloden, Lord President of the Court of Session, that Charles Edward Stuart was expected to land in the western highlands that summer to attempt an insurrection.
27 June 1746: Flora MacDonald sailed "over the sea to Skye" from Benbecula with a disguised Charles Edward Stuart. They narrowly avoided running into Major-General John Campbell of Mamore and his Argyll Militia, who had returned from their search for Jacobite leaders on St Kilda.
June 27, 2025 at 4:21 PM
27 June 1746: Flora MacDonald sailed "over the sea to Skye" from Benbecula with a disguised Charles Edward Stuart. They narrowly avoided running into Major-General John Campbell of Mamore and his Argyll Militia, who had returned from their search for Jacobite leaders on St Kilda.
21 June 1690: Major-General Hugh Mackay left Perth with a force of 3,000 Scottish government troops heading for Inverlochy, where he would establish a new fort. Mackay marched his army via Strathardle, Braemar, Nethy Bridge, Strathspey and Glen Spean before arriving at Inverlochy on 3 July.
June 21, 2025 at 12:15 PM
21 June 1690: Major-General Hugh Mackay left Perth with a force of 3,000 Scottish government troops heading for Inverlochy, where he would establish a new fort. Mackay marched his army via Strathardle, Braemar, Nethy Bridge, Strathspey and Glen Spean before arriving at Inverlochy on 3 July.
19 June 1746: Argyll Militia under Major-General John Campbell of Mamore arrived at St Kilda. Mamore had received intelligence that Charles Edward Stuart and other prominent Jacobites were hiding there. He found nothing but a population largely ignorant of world events.
June 20, 2025 at 8:06 AM
19 June 1746: Argyll Militia under Major-General John Campbell of Mamore arrived at St Kilda. Mamore had received intelligence that Charles Edward Stuart and other prominent Jacobites were hiding there. He found nothing but a population largely ignorant of world events.
16 June 1750: The death of Jacobite Major-General John Gordon of Glenbucket in Boulogne, France. Glenbucket fought for the Jacobite cause in the risings of 1689, 1715 and 1745. During the 1719 rising, he assisted the government by reporting on Jacobite movements.
June 16, 2025 at 9:33 AM
16 June 1750: The death of Jacobite Major-General John Gordon of Glenbucket in Boulogne, France. Glenbucket fought for the Jacobite cause in the risings of 1689, 1715 and 1745. During the 1719 rising, he assisted the government by reporting on Jacobite movements.