Osprey Publishing - 18th-Century Highlanders

Most of my Osprey collection is on the 18th century. And the vast majority of titles in this era are authored either by Stuart Reid, or Rene Chartrand!




This volume takes a look at the various government raised Highland regiments which the British government raised in response to the Seven Years War. As well, it was a way to assert their control over the governing of Scotland.




There is one instance of the Royale Ecossis.(sp)  The figure depicted is wearing the regimental coat of blue faced red, while wearing a belted plaid. Subsequent research showed that only a few pipers wore this. The grenadiers, which the plate alleges to portray was actually a uniform of a blue coat faced red, with a British style grenadier cap, while wearing the usual French breeches.

Battlefield Britain - Episode 7 Culloden

 Another BBC documentary series hosted by the Snows, father and son historians. A good balanced view of what happened.

The Battle of Prestonpans 1745

From Reid's Culloden 1746, Prestonpans was an interesting battle as it was not fought in the highlands of Scotland but in a pre-industrial setting in suburban Edinburgh. The battle is most famous for the British Commander Sir John Cope losing, then retreating and reporting his own defeat to his superior. In Highland lore and Highland Regiments traditions, the pipe tune Hey Johnny Cope depicts this battle as one where the Jacobite's had surprised the British army while they slept. This wasn't necessarily the case, but it was a coup by the Jacobite's. They were able to defeat a modern army.