Saturday 4 December 2010

On this day in Scottish military history - 1745, The Jacobites reach Derby

One of the well known facts about the Jacobite Rebellion is that they reached Derby, only 150 miles from London and that everyone from the King downwards got in a right flap. Well it was on this day 265 years ago it happened.

Like me you might have heard the tale but not put two and two together that it was so late in the year. In the Eighteenth Century campaigning usually stopped between autumn and spring; war was for warmer times of year.

It just highlights the amateurish leadership in charge of the Jacobite Army that they were prepared to march on London in winter. Is it any wonder they were soon chased back up through England?

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