The Aftermath: The Battle of Edinburgh

Well all of Europe was stunned to hear of the victory by  the Duke of Argyll over the Jacobite forces. Stunned because the Jacobite Juggernaut had been gaining a fearsome momentum that threatened to not only toss the Hanoverians out of Scotland but looked like an advance into England could also be on the cards. The French were involved, the Hanoverians were on the back foot and there was some serious factionalism in the High Command of his Britannic Majesty's forces! Now, that said, the combined Dutch/British force pulled off a remarkable victory and King George I's  government managed to produce a diplomatic coup by having the French Government sign an alliance...while French troops were on British soil!!



Historically speaking France and Britain did conclude an alliance in 1716 that lasted for a couple of years and it is the poor fortune of our Scottish commanders to find themselves diplomatically isolated....and the defeat at Edinburgh put the nail in the coffin. The level of casualties was exceptionally high amongst the French foot in comparison to the losses suffered by the Highlanders. When the French government heard this they naturally signed the Treaty and then ordered the Maquis du Conde home- some volunteers stayed behind- particularly the Irish........

The Highlanders head for the hills.

The depleted Jacobite forces then began a long demoralising retreat that saw them fall back through the central highlands until they eventualy stopped at Glenshiel- a very long way from Edinburgh. The Earl of Marr decided that without French regulars he would fall back to terrain more conducive to Highland tactics- skulking in woods and hiding behind rocks.

As for the Duke of Argyll, his status was riding high and more clans rushed to join his forces as he methodically took back all the towns that had rallied to the Jacobite cause. Leaving his big guns behind he advanced into the Highlands, in pursuit of the Old Pretender. By late March 1716 (our campaign time) Marr stopped retreating and Argyll had caught up with him at Glenshiel. Now the area is very hilly, loads of shrub, a few trees but the ground is very rocky and not really suitable for cavalry. So Marr has chosen his terrain and awaits the forces of George I. Sadly those forces are led by men who are once again besett by problems of commander, seniority, suitability and factionalism. Will Argyll stay in command of his victorious forces and claim the final victory?....or be blamed for another defeat?....or will Marlborough finally get his way and replace Argyll with General Carpenter?...stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more!

THE JACOBITES

CinC:  ‘The Old Pretender” James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales LR 0.

Senior Commander:  John Eskine 6^th Earl of Mar  (LR 1)
Senior Commander:  Brig. William Mackintosh- Laird of Borlum  (LR 3)
Marr’s 1^st  Column- Commanded by Viscount Strathallan            (LR 1)
A- Highland unit- Clans Drummond/Struan with muskets                                         SOLDIER
E - Highland Unit – Clan Seaforth with  muskets                                                       WARRIOR
H –Strathhallan’s Foot .                                                                                         DRILLED
Marr’s 2^nd  Column--- John Cameron XVIII Capt and Chief of Clan Cameron (LR 1)
F- Highland Unit- Clans Macdonald with muskets                                                     WARRIOR
M-Highland Unit- Clans Macdonald with muskets                                                     SOLDIER
D Highland Unit – Clan Stewart with Muskets                                                           WARRIOR
Marr’s  3^rd Column -                                              John St Clair, Master of Sinclair (LR 1)
A- Highland Horse- Earl of Angus Horse                                                                    WARRIOR
B- - Highland Horse- Earl of Marr’s Horse                                                                 WARRIOR
Marr’s 4^th Column                                                                            Rob Roy MacGregor (LR2)
I - Highland Unit- Clan MacGregor       with muskets                                                   SOLDIER
J - Highland Unit- Clan Mcleod           with muskets                                                   LEVY
B - Highland Unit- Clan Macdonald of Clanranald   with muskets                          WARRIOR
L - Highland Unit—Clan Huntly            with muskets                                                 WARRIOR
Brigade of Foot                                           James Radcliffe , Earl of Derwentwater (LR 1)
Regt Bulkeley                                                                                                              (Irish/Veteran)
K  Derwentwater’s Foot                                                                                         Drilled
Composite Regt- French Volunteers                                                                      Drilled
Artillery                    ____________________________________________
1 Battery of Light Guns                                                                                      DRILLED
1 Battery of Medium Guns (Captured)                                                           DRILLED

TOTAL:  4 Regular Foot, 2 Irregular Horse, 9 Clan Regiments, 1 light guns, 1 Medium battery,  8 Officers

HANOVERIAN FORCES

CinC John Campbell 2^nd Duke of Argyle (LR 1)

Wing Commander: General George Carpenter (LR 2) 

 Brigade of Dragoons-                                   John Dalrymple Earl of Stair (LR 1)
Portmore’s  Dragoons  (RSG-2^nd )– 2 mounted squadrons              Veteran
Stairs Dragoons(6^th) – (1 dismounted squadron)                              Drilled

1^st Brigade of Foot-                                    Major General William Wightman (LR2)
Forfar’s Regiment of Foote (3^rd)                                                             Drilled
Wightman’s Regiment of Foote (17^th)                                                  Drilled
Harrison’s Regiment of Foote ( 15^th )                                                   Drilled

2^nd  Brigade of Foote –                                              Brig. General John Wills (LR 1)
Clayton’s Regiment of Foote (14^th)                                                       Drilled
Preston’s Regiment of Foote (26^th)                                                       Drilled
Egerton’s Regiment of Foote (36^th)                                                       Raw
1 Regiment- Clan Campbell                                                                     Warrior
1 Regiment – Clan Monroe                                                                     Warrior

Dutch Brigade of  Foot                                           Brig. Gen Van Welderen     LR 1
Regt. Van Welderen                      1 Battalion                            (Dutch/Veteran)
Regt. Nassau-Friesland                 1 Battalion                            (Dutch/Veteran)
Regt. Pallandt                                  1 Battalion                            (Dutch/Drilled)
Regt Brandenburg                         1 Battalion                            (Dutch/Drilled)
Regt. Van Nassau                           1 Battalion                            (Dutch/Drilled)      

Artillery
1 batteries Medium guns                                                                         Drilled
2 Batteries Light Guns (Dutch)                                                               Drilled
1 Battery Coehorn Mortars                                                                     Drilled

11 Regular Foot, 3 Squadrons Dragoons (1 dismounted),  2 clan Regiments.