Weapons

It is a popular misconception that all Highlanders carried a small leather shield, called a targe, and fought with the great two-handed claymore swords, Lochaber axes or various farm implements, etc. Claymores had fallen out of favor as far back as the English Civil War and Lochaber axes were rarely used on campaign.

The targe and dirk, a long knife, were used by Highland and Lowland soldiers alike, and the basket-hilt broadsword was usually found in the hands of highlanders and officers in most regiments. Most of my source material indicates that the broadsword was the most common weapon, but Stuart Reid suggests that no more than 25% of the Jacobite army was armed with such a weapon. His theory is based on the inventory of weapons that were captured at Culloden: some 2,320 firearms were recovered, but only 190 broadswords. The theory seems plausible when you stop to consider that the Jacobite army numbered slightly less than 5,000 men, and that most of the right wing retired from the field in good order.

The left wing of the army ran off the field and presumably dropped or surrendered their weapons after the battle. The right wing included a number of Lowland regiments who probably carried firearms and if they retired from the field in some semblance of order, it seems reasonable to expect them to carry their weapons with them. This might suggest that the captured weapons belonged to troops who either surrendered or were part of the left wing--therefore a majority of Jacobites would have been armed with muskets at Culloden.

Highland Battle Tactics

Quite simply, the only tactic of the Jacobite army was to find the high ground and charge downhill at the opponent and engage them in hand to hand combat. The Jacobite soldiers were nothing more than irregular militia. A lack of training and insufficient ammunition (soldiers entering England were issued 12 rounds for the entire campaign) meant that the Prince's army had no hope of defeating the Government regulars in a stand-up firefight. A swift charge and ferocious close combat would negate the advantages of the Government troops firepower, providing the charge could close with the enemy and fight. The vaunted Highland Charge was a fearsome sight to behold and was well-suited to the temperment of the rugged Highlanders. It required no training and involved a minimum expenditure of ammunition, which was always in short supply.

In his book Culloden , author John Prebble describes how a typical clan regiment might form up for the charge:

"Before each clan stood the chief, or the deputy of the chief. With him were his henchmen and his piper, and a small bodyguard formed by two of the best men from each company of the clan. With the companies in line, captained by cadets of the chieftan's family, or by chiefs of smaller septs, were two lieutenants and two ensigns, and they too were chiefs sons. The first rank of each company consisted of men who may have held land They were armed with long firelocks and steel dags (pistols with metal butt ends), with broadswords, dirk and target. Behind them stood those with lesser claims to gentility, and behind again yet another rank, so that in some clans the ranks were six deep. In the rear of all stood the wid and bearded humblies, naked of thigh and chest, and scarcely armed at all. But these common men, too, disposed themselves by families (brothers and sons about the father), for it was their tradition that the oldest and most respected should stand closest to the enemy, and that inspiration and courage should pass through father, brother, son, tenant and servant."

Typically, the charge would halt at 50 paces to allow the front ranks to discharge their firearms. These were then dropped onto the ground and the advance would begin again. It might halt within 12 paces of the enemy so that they could fire their pistols and then throw the spent weapons at the opponent. Finally, they would draw swords or dirks and close with the enemy. It is hard to imagine this elaborate routine being choreographed with any degree of precision. My sense is that once the Highlanders had discharged their muskets, the advance turned into an all-out rush towards the opponent. In close quarters, they would defect the opponent's bayonet with the targe, which was strapped to their left forearm. Then they would stab upward with the dirk, which was held in their left hand or else cleave a path through the ranks of the redcoats with a downward hack of the broadsword, held in their right hand.

The Highland Charge, when delivered with speed and on favorable ground, proved highly successful at Killiecrankie, Prestonpans and Falkirk. The tactic failed at Culloden, where open ground allowed the Royal Artillery to cut down a large number of Highlanders before the order to charge could be given. lt was an "all or nothing" tactic, for if it failed, the lack of discipline made it difficult to reform the clan regiments and try again.

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)