The second major battle of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion to restore the Stuart monarchy, Falkirk was another swift success for the rebel army against Hanoverian government forces under Lt General Henry Hawley.
Depicted above is a scene from the opening phase of the battle. The government army, having marched uphill in wet and windy weather, took up position with three dragoon regiments (the 10th, 13th, and 14th) on their left flank. In the dim light of the late afternoon, the dragoons were ordered to charge at the Jacobite right flank, but were repulsed by musket fire and fled in disarray.
Hawley’s infantry then bore the brunt of a Jacobite front line charge, with only two regiments holding their ground before withdrawing. Hawley’s surviving troops regrouped and retreated to Edinburgh. The Jacobites’ quick victory, however, could not be exploited further due to the adverse conditions at Falkirk and the indiscipline of the Highlanders.
By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 