1745: The Last Campaign on English Soil
T.H. McGuffe describes the invasion, and subsequent hurried retreat, of England during the Jacobite Rebellion.
Two manuscript volumes recently presented to the Royal United Service Institution throw important light on the invasion of England carried out by Prince Charles Edward Stuart in the last months of 1745. Public attention has been concentrated chiefly upon the romantic nature of the young Prince’s first landing, his victories at Prestonpans and Falkirk, his complete overthrow at Culloden Moor and the daring adventures attending his final escape to France. Yet the details of the campaign in England are well worth study. By the end of October, 1745, Charles was in an excellent position to put his fortune to the touch. All Scotland, save for an isolated English garrison or so, was in his power. He had a first-rate, if small, army of Highlanders. French and Irish officers were arriving with money, arms and artillery.
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