The Night March: 15th - 16th April 1746

On the evening of the 15^th April 1746 the Jacobite  led by Bonnie Prince Charlie prepared to surprise the sleeping Government forces of the Duke of Cumberland in a night attack.

The night march was a disaster as the trailing column of 3000 men began to disintegrate across rough moor and thick woodland. Hungry and exhausted the Jacobites became disorientated in the pitch black of night and with the element of surprise lost the march was eventually abandoned. As dawn approached the Jacobites made their way back having marched 20 miles in the cold and wet.

That morning the Jacobites faced a well fed and rested Government Army and ultimately their defeat on , 16^th April 1746.

The Night March, organised by the Director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology Dr Tony Pollard, aims to retrace the steps of the Jacobite army as accurately as possible. The team, some dressed in traditional plaid, will walk the 20 miles beginning on the evening of the 15^th April and arriving at in the early hours of the 16^th April as the Jacobites did 263 years ago.

“It will give us and idea of how long the march took and how exhausted the men would have been. It was pouring of rain and freezing cold, so it must have been absolutely horrific. At the end of it we can look forward to a hot cup of tea. The best that some could look forward to was a very violent death” Dr Tony Pollard.

The march is in aid of the Centre’s adopted charity Erskine, caring for ex service men and women. If you would like to support this event and Erskine please donate generously via this fundraising page.

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