The Jacobite Rising IV: The Highland Storm

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Recommended Reading:

The '45 by Christopher Duffy 

Rebellious Scots to Crush by Andrew Bamford

Can a victory be as damaging as a defeat? In January 1746, the Jacobite army had just completed a harrowing retreat from Derby, yet they were about to field the largest and most dangerous force of the entire war. Join hosts Dr. Alex Burns and Dr. Andrew Bamford as they welcome back Dr. Arran Johnston to break down the Battle of Falkirk, the last major Highland victory of the 1745 Rising.

In this episode, we explore the Jacobite refitting at Glasgow, the grueling siege of Stirling Castle, and the tactical brilliance of a surprise march that caught the British Army off-guard. Discover how a literal thunderstorm turned the battlefield into a chaotic scene of hand-to-hand combat and why, despite winning the day, the Jacobites found themselves forced into a strategic retreat that would lead them to Culloden. This is a deep dive into the moment momentum shifted and the internal rifts that defined the Jacobite high command

Meet the Expert

Dr. Arran Johnston: A multi-published author and director of the Battle of Preston Pans Museum, Dr. Johnston is a leading authority on the military career of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the social history of the Jacobite armies

Whats Missing?

The Full Uncut Version (available to our War Room members) contains over 35 minutes of additional analysis, including:

• "Hangman" Hawley: A deeper dive into the brutal reputation of General Henry Hawley and why he was so dismissive of the "barbarian" Highlanders
• The Glengarry Disaster: The tragic, exclusive story of the accidental shooting of the Clan Glengarry commander by his own men the day after the victory—an event that triggered mass desertions
• The "Gillie" Chaos: Detailed accounts of why the Jacobites couldn't reform after the battle because they lost their "gillies" (servant boys) and their bagpipes in the storm
• John Sullivan’s Staff Work: Tactical analysis of how the Irish Adjutant General planned the complex deceptive marches that baffled the British

Episode Timestamps

• [00:00] – The Glasgow Refit: Replacing shoes and reviewing 9,000 men
• [12:15] – The Siege of Stirling: Attempting to crack a volcanic crag without heavy guns
• [25:45] – The Deceptive March: Using "Hollywood tactics" and campfires to trick the British
• [40:15] – The Battle in the Rain: Why the Dragoons’ charge failed against disciplined Highland fire
• [55:30] – Command Collapse: Lord George Murray vs. Prince Charles in the moment of victory
• [1:10:00] – Strategic Aftermath: Why the Jacobites fled after winning the field

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