| Copyright | ||
|
Home Domestic Politics and the First Two Georges, 1714-1760 The Risings of 1715 and 1745; Part 2 |
The Risings of 1715 and 1745; Part 2The causes of the failure of the rising were many. To begin with, its leaders were incompetent, and no one had much faith in Mars "bobbing John" as he was called. The Old Pretender did indeed land in Scotland, but not till after Sheriffmuir had been fought, and he proved a very dispiriting and frigid leader; "it is no new thing for me to be unfortunate", were reported to be almost his opening words on his arrival (The Old Pretender, or the Chevalier de St. George as he is called, left Scotland in less than six weeks. Subsequently he married a granddaughter of the King of Poland, his two sons being Charles Edward (d. 1788) and the Cardinal of York (d. 1807). He himself died in 1766, and some years later-in 1819-George III erected a monument to his memory in St. Peter's at Rome. In his earlier days the Chevalier fought with great bravery for the French at Oudenarde and Malplaquet). Moreover, Louis XIV had just died, and the Regent Orleans, who governed during the childhood of Louis XV, wished to keep on good terms with Great Britain. Consequently no help from France was forthcoming. Finally, the Whig Government in power showed much energy in dealing with the situation.The second rising, 1745, was a more formidable affair. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, soon after the battle of Fontenoy where Great Britain had lost great numbers of her bravest troops. Its hero was Charles Edward, the son of the Old Pretender, whose daring and attractive personality well fitted him to lead the Highlanders to victory. Landing in July with only seven men at Moidart, in the north-west of Scotland, he won the support of the Camerons and Macdonalds, and marched south. Cope, the opposing general, marched north from Edinburgh to meet him, but, thinking that Cony Arrack-a pass four miles long with seventeen sudden turnings-was held by the enemy, branched off to Inverness. Prince Charles therefore continued his march south, and he was joined by a very capable officer, Lord George Murray (He had a son at Eton who was very anxious to fight for King George). He then entered Edinburgh, and advanced to meet Cope, who had returned by sea, at Prestonpans. Crossing by night a marsh which was supposed to be impassable, Prince Charles at daylight found himself within two hundred yards of the enemy; and his Highlanders, charging successively the artillery, the cavalry, and the infantry, won a decisive victory in under ten minutes (September). "They ran like rabets", wrote the Prince of the enemy (the spelling is his own); "not a single bayonet was blood-stained". The Highlanders were delighted; they had, they said, a prince " who could eat a dry crust, sleep on pease-straw, eat his dinner in four minutes, and win a battle in five"). Nearly all Scotland now acknowledged Charles Edward. |
Chronology |
| copyright by www.uuo-ununoctium.info |