Battle of Prestonpans

[Subdeacon Joe]

https://www.britishbattles.com/jacobite-rebellion/battle-of-prestonpans/

 

Battle: Prestonpans

War: The Jacobite Rebellion of 1745

Date of the Battle of Prestonpans: 21st September 1745 (Old Style) (2nd October 1745 New Style). The dates in this page are given in the Old Style.

Contemporary print showing Sir John Cope arriving at Berwick to announce his defeat at Prestonpans: Battle of Prestonpans on 21st September 1745 in the Jacobite Rebellion

Place of the Battle of Prestonpans: South East of Edinburgh in Scotland

Combatants at the Battle of Prestonpans: The Highland Army of Prince Charles and the Royal Troops of King George II

13th Dragoons: Battle of Prestonpans on 21st September 1745 in the Jacobite Rebellion

Generals at the Battle of Prestonpans: Prince Charles, Lord George Murray against Sir John Cope

Size of the armies at the Battle of Prestonpans:  Highlanders: 2,500 men. Royal Army: 2,300 men and 6 guns.

Winner of the Battle of Prestonpans: Prince Charles’ Army

British Regiments at the Battle of Prestonpans: This battle is not a battle honour for British Regiments. The regiments present at the battle were: Gardiner’s (13th) and Hamilton’s (14th) Dragoons, Guise’s (6th), Lee’s (44th), Murray’s (46th) and Lascelles (47th) Foot

Background to the Battle of Prestonpans:
On 25th July 1745 Prince Charles landed near Moidart in the Highlands of Scotland with seven companions. He raised his standard at Glenfinnan and assembled an army from the clans that supported his bid for the throne. This army marched into Edinburgh on 17th September 1745. The two royal dragoons regiments fled at the highland approach in the infamous “Colterbrigg canter”.

Account of the Battle of Prestonpans:  General Sir John Cope, the commander of the small royal force in Scotland, had marched to Inverness with his four regiments of foot. Cope brought his troops south to Dunbar by sea and met up with the dragoons. None of his troops, dragoons or foot, were experienced or even adequately trained. Cope’s artillery can only be described as a “scratch” force comprising invalids and seamen under by one aged gunner. Cope marched North along the coast road towards Edinburgh.

 

 

https://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/battle/