Charlie, Meg and Me by Gregor Ewing sampler
Charlie: Prince Charles Edward Stuart, second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland, instigator of the Jacobite uprising of 1745, fugitive with a price of £30,000 on his head following the disaster of Culloden, romantic figure of heroic failure. Meg: My faithful, four-legged companion, carrier of supplies, listener of my woes, possessor of my only towel. Me: An ordinary guy from Falkirk only just on the right side of 40, the only man in a houseful of women, with a thirst for a big adventure, craving an escape from everyday life. For the first time, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s arduous escape of 1746 has been recreated in a single journey. The author, along with his faithful border collie Meg, retraces Charlie’s epic 530 mile walk through remote wilderness, hidden glens, modern day roads and uninhabited islands.
Charlie: Prince Charles Edward Stuart, second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland, instigator of the Jacobite uprising of 1745, fugitive with a price of £30,000 on his head following the disaster of Culloden, romantic figure of heroic failure.
Meg: My faithful, four-legged companion, carrier of supplies, listener of my woes, possessor of my only towel.
Me: An ordinary guy from Falkirk only just on the right side of 40, the only man in a houseful of women, with a thirst for a big adventure, craving an escape from everyday life.
For the first time, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s arduous escape of 1746 has been recreated in a single journey. The author, along with his faithful border collie Meg, retraces Charlie’s epic 530 mile walk through remote wilderness, hidden glens, modern day roads and uninhabited islands.
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charlie, meg <strong>and</strong> me<br />
On 26 December, the Jacobites entered Glasgow <strong>and</strong> Charles<br />
revi e wed his army on Glasgow Green. The Prince found few active<br />
supporters in this town, which had gained prosperity since the Act<br />
of Union.<br />
On 17 January, the Battle of Falkirk took place on the moors<br />
above the town. General Henry Hawley’s forces were sent packing<br />
back towards Edinburgh. Charles wanted to follow up the victory <strong>by</strong><br />
marching on the capital right away but Lord George Murray opposed<br />
this. With the support of the Clan Chiefs, Lord George wanted to<br />
retreat to the Highl<strong>and</strong>s to re-launch the campaign in the spring, which<br />
Charles reluctantly accepted.<br />
With Charles ill, leaving the comm<strong>and</strong> of his forces to Lord<br />
George Murray <strong>and</strong> others, the Jacobites achieved various small victories<br />
against the remaining government troops in Scotl<strong>and</strong>. However,<br />
as Cumberl<strong>and</strong>’s army approached, the Jacobites failed to defend the<br />
River Spey, a key geographical barrier.<br />
An audacious night attack on Cumberl<strong>and</strong>’s army was ab<strong>and</strong>oned<br />
on 15 April. At 2am, Lord George calculated that the Jacobites would<br />
fail to reach the government encampment before first light <strong>and</strong> called<br />
off the attack. (Duffy, C; The ’45; Cassell, London; 2003)<br />
Etchings of Charles Edward Stuart <strong>and</strong> William The Duke of Cumberl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Courtesy of Inverness Museum <strong>and</strong> Art Gallery<br />
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