During the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, the term “redcoats” referred to the professional soldiers of the British government army who opposed Charles Edward Stuart’s bid to restore the exiled Stuarts to the throne. Loyal to King George II, these troops wore the distinctive scarlet uniform coats that made them instantly recognisable on the battlefield, from early defeats like Prestonpans to the final, decisive clash at Culloden. Well drilled in linear musket tactics and supported by artillery, the redcoats initially struggled against fast Highland charges but adapted under commanders such as the Duke of Cumberland, eventually using disciplined volleys and bayonet drills to blunt Jacobite attacks. After their victory in 1746, redcoat units helped enforce harsh government measures in the Highlands, including searches for rebels and the seizure of property, symbolising not only military resistance to the Jacobites but also the extension of Hanoverian control over Scotland.
During the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, the term “redcoats” referred to the professional soldiers of the British government army who opposed Charles Edward Stuart’s bid to restore the exiled Stuarts to the throne. Loyal to King George II, these troops wore the distinctive scarlet uniform coats that made them instantly recognisable on the battlefield, from early defeats like Prestonpans to the final, decisive clash at Culloden. Well drilled in linear musket tactics and supported by artillery, the redcoats initially struggled against fast Highland charges but adapted under commanders such as the Duke of Cumberland, eventually using disciplined volleys and bayonet drills to blunt Jacobite attacks. After their victory in 1746, redcoat units helped enforce harsh government measures in the Highlands, including searches for rebels and the seizure of property, symbolising not only military resistance to the Jacobites but also the extension of Hanoverian control over Scotland.