This week in 1745: The Prince raises Standard at Glenfinnan
Although by this week in August 275 years ago the Prince had been in Scotland for almost a month, news of his landing did not reach Edinburgh until August 8, and Fort William a day later.
When news reached London that the Prince had landed, the British government announced a reward of £30,000 (equivalent to £15 million today) to anyone who seized him.
August 10: In Edinburgh, General Sir John Cope’s response to reports of the Prince’s presence on the west coast was to order two companies of troops from Perth to march north to strengthen the garrison in Fort William.
August 15: the government troops, some 90-100 men under the command of Captain Scott, reached Fort Augustus.
August 16: The reinforcements set out early to march down the Great Glen to Fort William. After the best part of 20 miles they were approaching the High Bridge on General Wade’s military road just a mile or two from Spean Bridge, when they were ambushed by a small group of Highlanders under Donald MacDonnell of Tiendrish comprising 11 clansmen and one piper.
Two government troops were killed and Captain Scott’s mount, a fine grey horse, was taken, and would be later presented to the Prince. As the troops fled back towards Fort Augustus, they were intercepted further along the military road at Laggan by another 20 or 30 Highlanders under the command of Keppoch.
Four redcoats were killed and a dozen wounded, at which point the rest surrendered. What would become
the first skirmish of the Rising of 1745 had ended in victory for the Jacobites. Meanwhile, the journey to raise the Royal Standard at Glenfinnan began.
August 18: The Prince, the Seven Men of Moidart and other supporters numbering around 50 men, took boats at Dalilea to go up Loch Shiel to stop at Glenaladale, close to Glenfinnan, for the night.
August 19, Midday-1 o’clock: After breakfasting at Glenaladale, the company left in a flotilla of small boats. According to a local story, the Prince’s boat paused at a bay in order for his oarsmen to rest, now known as ‘Prince’s Bay’, and arrived at Glenfinnan in the afternoon.
The Prince was concerned to find there was no clan army waiting for him.
3 o’clock: Lochiel arrived with about 900 men. With Lochiel’s men and about 150 of the Prince’s Clanranald supporters under MacDonald of Morar, the Royal Standard was raised.
6 o’ clock: Keppoch came over the hill with about 350 clansmen and the captured government troops, the redcoats, who had been taken during the skirmish at High Bridge. Whilst Captain Scott was hosted by the Prince, his remaining men were released and told to walk towards the Lowlands.
For two days the Jacobite army stayed at Glenfinnan, with the Prince making his quarters ‘in a little barn att [sic] the head of the loch’. Councils of war were held, provisions collected, arms and ammunition distributed, despatches written and an attempt made to organise the clansmen into more regular army units.
21 August: At last, with high hopes, the Jacobite army marched eastwards towards Fassfern – the ’45 had begun.