The Prince Wins His First Battle

Prince Charles greats his victorious troops after the battle. From left to right, the Lifeguard, Stewart of Appin standard, Frasers, Camerons, MacDonnells, the Royal Standard, the Earl of Talisker, and Lord George Murray. All figures painted by Der Alte Fritz, mostly Front Rank figures.

Prince Charles Stuart, the rightful heir to the throne of Caledonia, won a glorious victory over the Hanoverian army today at the Battle of Prestonpans, just outside of Edinburgh. The forces of the Prince, numbering just over 2,300 men, utterly routed the Government forces 2,170 men, under the command of General Sir John Cope. General Cope was last seen running for his life and headed toward his base at Berwick.

Special mention for valorous service on the field of battle goes to a mysterious mercenary officer from Tradgardland, a Colonel von Bergmann, who lead the MacDonnell of Keppoch clan into battle. Von Bergmann was outnumbered 2 to 1 in a melee with the 46th Foot, but routed the redcoats off of the field, personally capturing both of their standards in the process.

The Earl of Talisker also deserves the laurels of battle for his decisive attack on the Government's right wing, routing all of them off of the field of battle.

The Jacobite right wing fared nearly as well under the command of Lord George Murray, although it took them awhile to get going. It seems that the Camerons could not be coerced to attack the 60th Foot (until the third turn) for awhile, but once they decided to pitch into the redcoats, they too swept their foe from the field. Murray's other regiment, the Appin Stewarts successfully repulse a spirited attack by the Government cavalry brigade under Brigadier General Mosteyn. The clan Fraser regiment was routed by Mosteyn's dragoons, but they eventually rallied under the watchful eye of Lord George Murray and returned to the fight to mop up.

Pictures and a more complete desciption of the battle will be posted tonight or tomorrow on the Alte Fritz Journal, but I wanted to spread the news here first.

The Jacobite army will now return to Edinburgh and link up with the French regiment Albany, the Fitzjames horse and numerous other Highlanders, who no doubt will flock to the Prince's banner now that a victory has been achieved.