7 things you didn’t know about the Battle of Culloden

The night attack before Culloden was real

In Outlander, there’s a moment that Jamie suggests that the Jacobites attempt to pull the same trick as they did at Prestonpans; attacking at night to throw everyone off. After all, the Crown’s men were celebrating the Duke of Cumberland’s birthday.

Rather than James Fraser being the man to make the suggestion, it was Murray (who was against it in the series). The night attack was doomed from the start. They took off too late and there was too much confusion in the ranks. It’s not surprising that they all turned back and decided on the battle at Culloden instead.

This failed night attack would also affect the Jacobite’s abilities on the day. The Crown’s men were ready and fresh. The Jacobites were tired after their failed attempt.

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Culloden was failed from the start

Not only weren’t the Jacobite men, women, and children not well-rested, but the whole plan was doomed from the beginning. Culloden Moor was an open stretch of boggy land. The idea for the Jacobites was to charge across the moor, where they would find themselves stuck and easy targets for the British.

On top of that, there was poor leadership and agreement between the clans. As the clans waited for the order to charge, Cumberland’s men were able to wipe out a large number of the Jacobite soldiers. By the time the order to charge did come, many fell over themselves or the bodies of their fallen comrades. The poor leadership had also lead to many clansmen leaving the Jacobite cause during the rising, feeling like it would be a bad idea.