CULLODEN, a tract of moorland in Inverness-shire, Scot land. It forms part of the north-east of Drummossie Muir, and is situated about 6 m. by road east of Inverness, and 2 m. from Culloden Moor station on the L.M.S.R. from Aviemore to In verness via Daviot. It is celebrated as the scene of the battle of April 16, 1746 (see below; also CUMBERLAND, WILLIAM AUGUS TUS, DUKE OF, and MURRAY, LORD GEORGE), by which the fate of the house of Stuart was decided. By Highlanders the battle is more generally described as the battle of Drummossie. Sev eral memorials have been erected.
The Culloden Papers, a number of historical documents rang ing from 1625 to 1748, were discovered in Culloden House in 1812 and published in 1815 by Duncan George Forbes. About I m. to the south of the field, on the right bank of the Nairn, is the plain of Clava, containing several stone circles, monoliths, cairns and other prehistoric remains. The circles, some apparently never completed, vary in circumference from 12 yards to 140 yards.
For the course of the 1745 rebellion which was crushed at the battle of Culloden, see SCOTLAND. After a week's retreat, Charles Edward awaited the British on Drummossie Moor. Hearing, however, that Cumberland had halted at Nairn, eight miles away, to celebrate his 25th birthday, Charles decided to surprise his camp. The long night march over the moors, however, was too much for the tired and starving Highlanders and they returned to their old position, more ex hausted and depressed than ever. Early on April 16, 1746, Cum berland obtained contact with the Pretender's army. The High landers, about 7,000 strong, were drawn up in two widely sep arated lines, with a small reserve of horse, one flank resting on the park walls of Culloden House. The British, 9,00o strong, were also in two lines, at a distance of fifty paces, with cavalry on each flank and a reserve of Highland irregulars. The battle began with a duel between the nine Scottish and ten British guns; the latter, far better served, caused great distress to the Highlanders, who sought to escape their fire by attack. The British infantry awaited them in three ranks, the first kneeling, the second stoop ing, the third standing; Cumberland had trained each soldier to engage the man to his right front, so evading the Highlander's target and thrusting under his raised sword arm. On the British right the Highlanders only made feint attacks, trying to draw fire while still out of range ; on the left they broke through at one point, but were taken in flank by supports from the second line, and thrown back in great confusion. Seeing this, the Scottish centre and left lost heart and retreated, the British following up and causing heavy losses with their musketry fire. At the same time the dragoons broke through the walls protecting the Scottish flanks and attacked the second line in rear. The Highlanders find ing themselves surrounded, broke and fled, leaving r.000 dead and many wounded and prisoners upon the field of battle, while r,000 more fell in the subsequent pursuit. The British lost only 5o killed and 200 wounded.
