Prestonpans part 8

While not quite historically accurate, I included members of the "Wild Geese" known in this campaign as the Irish Picquetes. Companies from the Irish regiments in the French army were sent over to Scotland in order to pin down British regiments from fighting on the continent. The use of "French" troops was quite successful as a contingent of Dutch troops which were aiding the British were forced to retire as part of their parole after their capture was to ensure they would not fight French troops. Since the Irish were part of the French army, they were obliged to withdrawal from the fighting.

Prestonpans part 7

The Jacobite line begins to Charge! The Jacobite main battle tactic was to advance close enough to their enemy to fire a volley with their muskets and pistols, then if any had them, draw their broadswords and charge at whoever was still standing. Recent historical evidence suggests that many of the Jacobite's did not carry broadswords, dirks or targes, but rather muskets which were supplied by the French and Spanish, or picked up at the end of this battle.

Prestonpans part 6

The British line attempts to hold while other units begin to fall back

Prestonpans part 5

Many of the British regiments which took part in the '45 would later go on to fight in the Seven Years War/French and Indian War in North America. The 44th and 46th Regiments were the unlucky ones as they had been defeated twice by the Jacobites then again by the Amerindians and Canadiens as part of Braddock's campaign in 1755.

Prestonpans part 4

Despite what most of the general public believe, the 1745 rising was not just English against Scottish. There were by far more Scots fighting with King George II than for Prince Charles Edward Stuart. There were two Highland Regiments in the British army which fought in the '45. The 43rd Regiment later the 42nd Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment, and the 64th Regiment Loudoun's Highlanders. These "Highlanders" are Airfix Waterloo Highlanders which were altered with a modelling knife, a lighter (don't try that at home kiddies unless Daddy is holding it) and painting.

Prestonpans part 3

In this battle, the British line attempt to fire volleys on the charging Jacobites. As can be seen in this picture, one group has been hit.

Prestonpans part 2

Both Osprey publications on this battle note that it was one of the first recorded success of infantry charging cavalry! When the Jacobites charged the British line, they accidently parted their line as they charged. Rather than hitting the infantry to their front, they actually hit the cavalry on the flanks. The British horse was rather suprised and bolted. Once this happened, the Jacobites then turned in on the British infantry who being rather poorly trained and having the psychological effect of a Highland charge in turn ran.

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.

How our reenacting all began

In 1984, the first 18th century reenactment unit (outside of Parks Canada) was formed for the bicentenial of the United Empire Loyalists migration to British North America from 1783-85. Our choice of regiment to portray was the 2nd Battalion 84th Regiment, Royal Highland Emigrants. We chose this unit as it had settled in the are where we lived, notibly Colchester, Hants and Halifax counties of Nova Scotia. Our uniforms were a mix bag of garmets which we had altered to look the part of the 18th century. Over time, our group of 5 members has grown to a sizable group which I believe is now about 30-40 members from all areas of Nova Scotia. Eventually in the mid 1990's other units were formed, The King's Orange Rangers out of Liverpool, The Royal Fencible Americans in Halifax, The Prince of Wales Volunteers and the 3rd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers. There is also a detachment of the 4th Battalion Royal Artillery as well as some members who also portray Goreham's Rangers, 78th Fraser's Highlanders Grenadier Company.

During my univeristy studies, I also applied and was accepted to work with the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association as a member of 78th Rosshire Buffs and the 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery 1869-71. I was a basic private in the infantry and a gunner in the artillery. This was definetly a cool job to work in for someone who was a reenactor from their youth as well as a history major in university.

Painting guides, sources of inspiration

The Seven Years War website: http://kronoskaf.com/syw/index

Canadian Military Heritage Group website: www.cmhg.gc.ca

Flintlock and Tomahawk blog

Tarleton’s Quarter blog

Osprey Publishing books: Many of these book my father and I have collected since Osprey publishing began in the mid 1970's.

MAA 460 Frederick the Great’s Allies 1756-63 (Reid 2010)

MAA 366 Colonial American Troops (1) 1610-1774 (Chartrand, 2002)

MAA     Colonial American Troops (2) 1610-1774 (Chartrand, 2002)

MAA     Colonial American Troops (3) 1610-1774 (Chartrand, 2002)

MAA 48  Wolfe’s Army (May 1974)

MAA     Montcalm’s Army (Winndrow 1973)

MAA 273 George Washington’s Army (1)

MAA 290 George Washington’s Army (2)

MAA 39  The British Army in North America 1775-1783 (2 copies)

MAA 244 French Army in American War of Independence (Chartrand)

MAA     The Black Watch

MAA     The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders

MAA 228 American Woodland Indians

MAA 285 King George’s Army (1) (Reid)

MAA 289 King George’s Army (2) (Reid)

MAA 292 King George’s Army (3) (Reid)

MAA 261 18^th Century Highlanders (Reid)

MAA     The Jacobite Rebellions 1689-1746 ()

MAA 302 LouisXV’s Army (2) French Infantry (Chartrand 1997)

MAA 313 Louis XV’s Army (5) Colonial and Naval Troops (Chartrand 1997)

MAA 450 American Loyalist Troops 1775-1784 (Chartrand 2008)

MAA     The Wild Geese (1980)

MAA 279 The Border Reivers

MAA 118 The Jacobite Rebellions 1689-1745

MAA 260 Peter The Great’s Army 1 Infantry

MAA 264 Peter the Great’s Army 2 Cavalry

WAR    Samurai 1550-1600 (Turnbull 1995)

WAR    Highland Clansman 1689-1746 (Reid)

WAR    British Redcoat (Reid)

WAR 85 American Colonial Ranger 1724-64 (Zaboly)

WAR   British Light Infantryman in the Seven Years War (Macallum/Todish)

WAR 126 Highlander in the French-Indian War 1756-67 (Macallum)

CAM     Culloden 1746 The Highland Clans Last Charge ()

CAM     Culloden 1746 (Reid)

CAM     Monongahela 1754-55 Washington’s Defeat, Braddock’s diaster

CAM     Louisbourg 1758 Wolfe’s First Siege (Chartrand)

CAM     Ticonderoga 1758 (Chartrand)

CAM 121 Quebec 1759 (Reid 2003)

CAM 135 Monmouth Courthouse 1778 (Morrissey 2004)

CAM 2   Austerlitz 1805 Battle of the Three Emperors (Chandler 1990)

CAM    Jena 1806 Napoleon crushes Prussia (Chandler )

CAM 48  Salamanca 1812 Wellington Crushes Marmont (Fletcher 1997)

CAM     Leipzig 1813

CAM   New Orleans 1815 (Knight)

ELE    American Revolutionary War Commanders (Chartrand)

ELE    British Colours & Standards 1747-1881 (1) Cavalry (Summer 2001)

ELE 149 The Scottish Jacobite Army 1745-46 (Reid 2006)

ODR 3   Quebec 1759 (Chartrand 1999)

FOG 6 Cities of Gold Africa and the Americas 1494-1698 (2011)