Hanoverian Government Papers - 1st September 1745

Current Situation

Over the past days a large number of survivors of the defeat at Rannoch have straggled into various lowland towns and cities. To a man all are badly traumatized and not capable of fighting.

Gardiner’s Dragoons managed to retire to Perth, arriving on the 26th August and joining there with detachments of Foot. Together the small force determines to hold out until relived or until their position becomes untenable.

Of Cope and his army little is known, it is believed that they will be offered parole but no offers for exchange have yet been received.

Large numbers of reinforcements  have landed – not before time, in Newcastle General Huske has landed with 6 battalions, 3 English  and 3 Dutch-Swiss. In London the King has landed with the rest of the Dutch Brigade – another 3150 foot.

Additionally a second ‘lift’ of reinforcements is assembling in the Netherlands, these will be available for shipping to Great Britain by the 8th September, but 6 transports are needed.

It is now clear that the Jacobites are laying siege to Carlisle, word has not been heard from thus city since late August, a transport ship from Campbeltown carrying artillery to stiffen the city’s defenses has taken the precaution not to land it’s cargo lest it falls into rebel hands, the vessel lies off Whitehaven where rebel troops are clearly visible.

Wade has initiated a policy of striking at the rebel homelands, he has led a small force of Lee’s 55th Foot to Mull to raise the lands of Sir Hector MacLean the first to join the rebel standard when the Prince landed.

The weather in Scotland takes a turn for the cooler, it is raining most days.


Intelligence

The French continue assembling a fleet at Boulogne, a number of warships and additional transports are assembling there, however it appears that there are no troops massing here. Militia is being raised in Calais.

Tobias Woodstock a gentleman from Dublin has presented himself to you at Newcastle. He states that he has traveled by way of Carlisle to offer his services to the King. He maintains that he is well versed in the ways of Spies and Agents and would do your bidding as you please – by way of proving his noble intent he informs you that the Price and his army is currently at Carlisle where they number some 1500 Horse and 3000 Foot but no artillery that he could see.

Agents of the King continue to report from across the country, there are a number of concerns to the government.

In Sussex and Kent groups calling themselves the ‘Southern Rebels’ have been spoken of. In all likelihood these rebels are one and the same as the robber and smuggling bands that frequent the Weald area. These gangs have smuggling connections with businessmen in the French ports.

Other new concerns are heard from Ireland where there is some interest in the present troubles. Agents speak of disaffection amongst the Irish regiments and calls from radicals to volunteer for service with the prince.