"Battle of Culloden: myths debunked" Topic

"SCOTTISH historian and author Trevor Royle examines troubled Culloden in his new book and the myth-making surrounding the historic battle…"
See here
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Amicalement
Armand

Interesting. But authors like Stuart Reid, Jeremy Black, F.J. McLynn, and Christopher Duffy have been exposing these "myths" and crafting well-researched books on the Jacobite rising for some time now. Any serious scholar has a good selection of titles to read and learn from.

I don't see Culloden as a particularly impressive example of British generalship -- more like the Jacobites did almost everything possible to handicap themselves and then to no one's surprise lost the battle. (But still had plenty of fight in them and might have regrouped for another day had not Charlie given up hope.) And the "new bayonet drill" tactic often mentioned in Culloden accounts is likely another of the myths that is particularly stubborn.

Not sure I'm very keen on the art shown here, it looks weirdly static, frozen in place, for a battle scene, and I can't tell what is supposed to be happening.

Nothing new here.

I read the bayonet thing as late as last week in formidable and destructive: firepower of British infantry

The 1745 rising has been encrusted with myth and legend almost from its ending, but there's still a surprisingly vivid history beneath the sentimental post facto Jacobitism and the silly romantic nonsense that's attached itself to the last stand of the clans.

"The Year of the Prince" continues to intrigue and fascinate.

If you take the Jacobite army away from Drumossie Moor and fight it over ground and using tactics it is more suited for it is possible to defeat Cumberlands army – blame for the defeat lies in the 'advice' and political infighting of the the Jacobite High command.

Chris

Agreed. The Jacobites did best when they fought in unconventional ways. They threw away almost all their advantages at Culloden. Infighting and Charles' strange apathy combined with hard-headedness are most to blame. I wonder if he was still feeling the effects of his illness from the previous months? Might have aggravated his tendency toward rashness and his sense of entitlement.

Cumberland was never luckier in his life than he was in April 1746.

Trevor Royle tends to recycle secondary sources. His work is neither original or accurate. His histories of the pre-2006 regiments are poor stuff.

Or you guys could have attended the SYW Conventions over the last few years and listened to Chris Duffy's latest research! Jacobite Army (by this time) was more professional, and disciplined in both morale and regular tactics than the poorly recruited Hanoverians under the Duke.