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The retreat from Derby was not the end of the Jacobite Rising, it was a tactical realignment. Following a highly disciplined and orderly withdrawal from England, the Jacobite Army arrives in Glasgow not as a broken force, but as a growing threat.

In this episode, we examine a Jacobite army at its peak strength: refitted, reinforced by fresh Highland reinforcements, and bolstered by the arrival of French regulars and gold. The tactical situation has never looked brighter for the Stuarts as they lay siege to Stirling Castle and prepare to meet General Hawley on the rainy moors of Falkirk.

We are joined once again by historian and author Dr. Arran Johnston to break down the final major victory of the '45.

Topics Discussed:

• The Discipline of Retreat: Why the march back from Derby was a military success, not a failure.
• The French Connection: The arrival of the Royal Écossais and the Irish Pickets.
• The Siege of Stirling: Blunders, terrain challenges, and the failure of the artillery.
• Prince Charles Edward: The shifting morale and darkening mood of the Young Pretender.
• The Battle of Falkirk Muir (1746): How a blind thunderstorm and a Highland charge led to a chaotic Jacobite victory.

In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation features over 40 minutes of extra history, including:

• The French Connection: A specific breakdown of the foreign troops, including the Royal Écossais and the Irish Pickets.
• "Hangman" Hawley: A profile on the brutal and controversial British commander, General Henry Hawley.
• The Mastermind: The story of the unsung mastermind behind Jacobite logistics who kept the army moving through the Scottish winter.

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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