Much of the clan support came from the chieftans whose lands were in the Western and Central Highlands. They had two things in common: a remote "home turf" that was far away from the long arm of the law, and an intense hatred for the Duke of Argyll (Clan Campbell), who supported the Goverment. The MacLeans of Mull and the Isles, MacGregors from Balquidder, the vast MacDonald clans of Keppoch, Glengarry, Clanranald and Glencoe; the Appin Stewarts, and the Camerons of Lochiel were all strident Jacobites.

These clan chiefs held feudal power over their kinsmen and followers, for they owned the land and received rent payment in kind (livestock, produce, or military service) or in coin. The common Highlanders, or "humblies", had little choice when their chief called them to arms. Those who refused faced the prospect of being burned out of their homes, or even worse, banished from the clan society. Once on the field, however, the clansman would fight with a degree of devotion and loyalty unmatched throughout Europe; yet at the same time, he was likely to desert when bored by inactivity or from a lack of food or pay.

Each clan formed a natural regiment, with its chief as colonel and his sons as officers and NCO's. In battle, those of higher social status formed the front ranks (usually six deep) and were usually betterarmed with firearms, targe and broadsword, while the humblies, armed often with clubs and pitchforks, bringing up the rear. Clan regiments varied in size from 120 to 700 men, but normally averaged 300 men. Smaller clans were often grouped togeather in one ad hoc regiment.

Non-Clan Regiments

While the clans provided the core of the Jacobite army, there were a number of Lowland regiments in the Prince's army. These were units recruited from Banffshire, Aberdeen and Perthshire in the lowland plains of northeast Scotland. These men owed no particular allegiance to any one chief, though the core of these regiments consisted of the kinsmen and tenants of the regimental colonel. Examples include the 1,000 strong Atholl Brigade (3 Battalions) raised by Lord George Murray, son of the powerful Duke of Atholl; Gordon of Glenbucket's regiment, and the regiments of Lord Lewis Gordon, the Duke of Perth, and John Roy Stewart's Edinburgh Regiment. The true Lowlands, i.e. the Border Country south and southwest of Edinburgh, contributed little to the Jacobite Cause since most of these people favored the existing Hanoverian regime.

Foreign Units

There was a small contingent of Scottish and Irish troops, in the service of France, who were allowed to join Prince Charles' army. This included a contingent from the Royal Ecossais Regiment (300 men) and 50 picquets from each of three Irish regiments (Dillon, Ruth, and Lally). They joined the Prince's army prior to Falkirk. A small contingent of French artillerists reportedly accompanied the army's march into England, but these trained specialists do not appear to have fought at Culloden.

Finally, one squadron (70 men) of French cavalry, Fitz James Horse, participated at Culloden. They had arrived from France without their mounts and were promptly given the horses of the various mounted Highland regiments. All foreign units were well-trained and were the equal of any unit in Cumberland's Government army, but given their small numbers, they were usually held back in reserve in the second or third battle line of the Jacobite army.

More Jacobite Army At Culloden

Introduction
The Clan System and Other Units
Jacobite Artillery and Cavalry
Weapons and Highland Battle Tactics
Jacobite Order of Battle
Jumbo Map of Battle of Culloden (very slow: 247K)