The Battle of Culloden, 16 April 1746
Colonel Christopher Teesdale, 3rd Buffs, to John Home

London, 15 January 1792

I quitted the army in the year 1762 and have (from the length of time) almost forgot that I was ever a military man. Now you unconscionable fellow, you desire me to remember occurrences 46 years ago. However, I will do my best with regard to the battle of Culloden, which I believe is what you want to know. The day before the action the Royal army encamped within about ten miles of the rebels - it was, I remember, the Duke of Cumberland's birthday. The rebels imagining the troops might be induced to make merry on the occasion came to a resolution to attack the Royal army in the dark, and certainly a very wise scheme (and no doubt some of them might have read the description of the attack made by Leonidas on the Persian camp in the night,) for certainly an army composed of even the best militia do not judge well to oppose themselves to a well provided army, as the consequence plainly demonstrated. In the dark things are but on an equal footing; artillery cannot be used, nor small arms without the risk of killing as many of your friends as foes; but you know as well as I do why they did not attack in the dark. I should think it must have been owing to either the treachery of Lord John Murray or perhaps his fear of not being well supported. When daylight began to appear we had information of the enemy's intention, and they had just begun their retreat. The Duke of Cumberland then formed the army, and marched towards the rebels, who only had time to form on a rising ground on Drummosse or Culloden Moor. The Royal army marched in three columns and formed battle (in view of the enemy) in two lines and a corps d'reserve, with the dragoons on the flanks, and these moved forward with ten field pieces (short Saxon six-pounders) in the front, and when we came within reach of cannon shot our field pieces were got into a bog, so that the horses were obliged to be taken off, and the soldiers to sling their arms in order to drag the guns across the bog, which required some time. If the enemy thought our artillery could not be drawn across the bogs their ground was certainly well chosen, and had they immediately come down with rapidity the battle would have been fought without cannon, but they amused themselves with pointing a few guns so ill served as actually to make our soldiers laugh, for I well remember their first shot went some distance beyond our corps d'reserve. As soon as our cannon was clear of the bog, Colonel Bedford (a most excellent artillery officer) began to cannonade with such success that they were unable to stand it, and came down in a rapid and determined manner. When Bedford perceived them at proper distance he then poured in grape shot that mowed them down in such a manner that their columns only extended to oppose the 4th and 20th Regiments, in which regiments they made some havoc. Lieut.-Colonel Martin (a Sussex man) on the left of the front line, seeing no part of the rebels opposite the 8th Regiment he commanded, wheeled the regiment, and took them in flank, which made terrible havoc, and when they retreated Kingston's Light Horse did great execution. Their loss was computed at near three thousand. I saw the field of battle next day, and think that there could not be many less, including those killed in the pursuit.

Now with regard to the question, you ask me, I well remember that, when our army formed in line of battle, the left of the enemy's front line seemed to extend much beyond right of our front line, and the Duke of Cumberland ordered two regiments from the corps d'reserve (their numbers or names I have forgot) to move up, one on the right of the Royal Scotch and one on the right of the Buffs, or 3rd Regiment. I do not suppose 80 men were lost by the Royal Army. Poor Lord Robert Kerr, uncle of the present Marquis of Lothian, the handsomest and one of the worthiest men in the world, was slain. He was a captain in the 4th Regiment, and the Duke of Cumberland had his major's commission in his pocket, and said "we will let Kerr know nothing of the matter till the battle's over." And now I have acquainted you with all the particulars which occur to me at present. Had the rebels marched into the Highlands and not fought the battle, one-half of the Royal army must have been destroyed before they could have been subdued.

P.S. - A letter to me comes free directed Office of Ordnance. Pray tell me how this corresponds with any other information you are possessed of. The British Cavalry consisted of two heavy regiments and the Duke of Kingston's Light Horse. The enemy had some French cavalry and pickets of the Irish Brigade. The pretender did not come down with his troops, which was shabby.

Glasgow Herald, 1894.