JR-35N
John Jenkins Designs
Not yet released - expected in June.
The Jacobite army included a large number of north-eastern and lowland Scots, along with substantial Franco-Irish and English contingents, who were drilled and organized in line with contemporary European military practices.
The Jacobite infantry was initially divided into two divisions, “Highland” and “low Country Foot”
Following British army customs, they were split into regiments usually of one battalion. Each battalion had a nominal strength of 200-300 men, although actual numbers were often much smaller.
The regiments of Lochiel, Glengarry and Ogilvy also had grenadier companies, although how these were distinguished is not known.
Highland regiments were traditionally organized by clan, and were officered by their own clansmen. This made some regiments impractically small and efforts were made to amalgamate clans to produce larger units. The units would keep their original captains and leaders which led to the Jacobite army having too many officers.
While the Lowland recruits were more successful in adapting an European style of training, the Highland military traditions were unsuitable to European army tactics. Professional soldiers required constant training in firing and reloading, in which the Jacobites lacked time, weapons and ammunition. It is recorded that a simplified but effective form of drill was introduced for them.
Most Jacobite professionals had been trained in France, and infantry drill and tactics showed a French influence. This included movement in narrow columns, deployment of reserves in column, and firing in volleys by fire “a billebaude” (at will) as opposed to the rigid firing by platoon used by the British army. The French emphasis on shock tactics, rather than massed firepower, suited the abilities and training levels of Jacobite troops.