Siege of Carlisle

The Siege of Carlisle was a conflict in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 where the Carlisle Castle was captured.

The Siege of Carlisle was the third significant conflict of the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. In actual fact there were two sieges of Carlisle castle, but this article only deals with the first of these.

The Siege of Carlisle took place on the 13th of November 1745, and lasted until the 15th of the same month. The Jacobite force was led by their leader, Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie, while the Royal forces were led by Colonel Durand.

Siege of Carlisle saw the forces of the Jacobites split in two, one half to siege Carlisle and the other to stay at Brampton. The siege began at noon on the 13th of November. The Jacobite forces surrounded the castle took charge of surrounding villages, so as to stop all communication with Carlisle Castle. The troops were greeted with musket fire later in the day, although this had little effect as by then it was dark and aiming became impossible.

The Siege of Carlisle soon ended, in a rather bloodless manner, when the inhabitants decided to surrender to the Jacobite troops. Very little defence force was raised due to illness and general refusal to fight, this was spurned by the disarray and un-preparedness of the troops for siege.