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‘Pre-clearances’ – The Culloden Aftermath | |
army marched on to Inverness to carry on the fight. Raiding homes looking for ‘Jacobite’s’, all were swiftly put either to the end of a musket - bayonet - hangman's rope or burnt alive in their homes. Women, children, old and young, the orders were ‘No Quarter Given’ (kill then all) - and none was. ‘Bonnie’ Prince Charles escaped from the battlefield at Culloden, losing almost all his personal possessions. government forces throughout the Western Highlands and Isles. | |
He was helped by many loyal followers and this period gave rise to some of the most enduring myths of the rising. He was sheltered, smuggled from hiding place to hiding place, and given clothes and other items by Gaels (Scott’s) who risked their own safety to help him. not have escaped without the help of Flora MacDonald. He was disguised as her maid and they travelled by boat to Skye from where he was able to return to France. Many of his followers were captured and some executed. Others were forced into exile and had their lands forfeited. ’ challenge once and for all. The Highlands were disarmed and even Highland dress was prohibited for a time! The breakdown of the clan system accelerated. Improved roads and forts brought more effective government control of remoter areas. Prince Charles did not return and by his death in 1788 the threat of an armed Jacobite insurrection was unthinkable. The cause soon became the subject of ‘romantic nostalgia’, expressed through poetry and song as well as objects and relics. Their culture was demolished, their native language - Gaelic – was banned and marked as a hanging offence if spoken, the wearing of tartan was also made a hanging offence and even the Bible was not allowed to be learnt in their own - language, never mind written!!! This, was the final nail in the coffin of the clan system and way of life. This approach, coupled with the broken spirit of the people, was so successful in Scotland that by the end of the 18th century three-fifths of Hebridean landlords were already ‘absentees’, preferring the ‘soft life’ in London society, to looking after their own people in the wild and barren Highland glens and rain swept islands. | |
The slaughter did not end there on that day,
for months his army moved around the
Highlands clearing out any threat once and
for all that Highlander should ever pick up
a Broadsword against England.
It can be quoted from English parliament
in reply to the Duke of Cumberland’s reports
that they sent a message saying :
"It will be no great mischief if all should fall".
Culloden marked the end of the military phase
of the Jacobite Rebellion. The battle was
followed by a lengthy period of suppression,
in the Highlands marked by massacre
and despoiling.
Of the officers and chiefs who escaped the battle,
those who could fled to Europe and served
in foreign armies.
Some were in due course permitted to return.
Many of the Jacobite rank and file fled
to the American colonies.
The prisoners were tried at Berwick,
York and London and around 80,
were executed, the last in 1754.
I still see an occasional piece of it in antique shops. Interesting post.