The Virginia Gazette Foreign News July 11, 1746

Extract of a Letter from Inverness, dated April 18.

I need not inform you that his Royal Highness has gained a compleat Victory over the Rebels; but it's possible that some Circumstances related in mine may not otherwise come to your Knowledge.

Previous to the Battle, to wit, on the 15th, before his Royal Highness had passed the Nairn, the Pretender's Son at the Head of about 2000 Men appear'd on the other Side the River; and by their Motions, seemed to intend attacking our Army, which had halted to refresh; but not liking their Countenances retired. On the 16th, early in the Morning, we passed the Nairn, and moved in good Order towards Inverness, which, when over the River, was about Eight Miles from us: After marching about 2 Miles, the Enemy appeared, as if intending to attack us. Our Troops thereupon formed, and the Enemy retired; we thereupon fell into our marching Disposition again, and moved in that Order about four Miles further, which brought us upon Culloden Heath ; when it appeared that the Enemy were determined to stand, as having the Advantage of several old Walls and Covers. The Wind was easterly, and therefore our Army drew up facing the West; by which Means we had both the Sun and Wind behind. Our Right Wing was flank'd by the Horse, our Left by Dragoons, His Royal Highness in the Front Line, in the Center.

The Rebels formed themselves into a close Body on our Left; and, after firing some of their Cannon to very little Purpose, pushed down upon our Left with great Impetuosity, and made at first some Impression on Barrel's Regiment, but they soon recovered again. The Rebels were flanked on their Left by our Cartridge Shot, which killed many of them. They fired but once, and then, as usual threw down their Firelocks. They closed upon Barrel's, Price's, and Monroe's, and the Battle was now entirely fought by Swords and Bayonets. Our Soldiers by a new Practice of using the latter, became much too hard for the Swords ; and the Rebels, as they pushed forwards, fell on certain Death. Ours at least killed ten Men to their one in this Kind of Fighting, besides what fell in the Musquetry and Cannon. The Rebels finding their only Manner of fighting obviated, and those who supported their Front cut off, they at first made a Pause, retreated a little, and then, turning short round, fled from us with the utmost Precipitation; but by this Time our Horse and Dragoons had closed in upon them from both Wings, and then followed a general Carnage. The Moor was covered with Blood ; and our Men, what with killing the Enemy, dabbling their Feet in the Blood, and splashing it about one another, looked like so many Butchers. What followed, is rather to be imagined than described ; the Fugitives, in their Flight, lost their Hearts, and were knock'd down like Birds.

The Regiment, late Monroe's, remembered the villainous Cruelty committed on their Colonel in cold Blood, and amply revenged it. We have already counted above 1000 dead on the Spot, but they are not yet all told. We have strong Detachments out, which, we doubt not, will give good Account of the Residue. Their main Body, or rather Body of Reserve, amounting to about 2000, made a swift Retreat towards the Back of Loch Ness; but the flying Parties who could not join them, separated various Ways. The Prisoners taken are said to amount to upwards of 500, near half of them French, who never fired a Shot. I shall be able in a few Days to give you a further Account, which I doubt not will be of rooting entirely out these Wretches, who are the Tools of France, the Dupes of an Italian Priest, and the Pests of Britain.

I cannot omit one remarkable Instance of Bravery and Affection, which is, that there was not a Soul, either Horsemen, Foot, or the People even employed in attending and driving the Train Horses, or any one in what Capacity soever of our whole Army, but what behaved in the Time of Action, at their respective Stations, with the utmost Bravery and Intrepidity.

P.S. The Rebels were not less than 12,000 strong at the first Onset.