Clifton Moor Skirmish

The Clifton Moor Skirmish was the last battle fought on England that involved Prince Charles.

The Clifton Moor Skirmish took place as the Jacobite army was retreating from England. This was due to their progressively worsening situation, such as the army size being reduced to 5,000 due to desertions, no Jacobite support in England, a readying French army, the strong defensive situation of London, two approaching armies and false reports of a third.

The Clifton Moor Skirmish took place on the 18th of December, 1745, near Clifton in Cumbria, England. The Royal forces were commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, while the Jacobites were led by Lord George Murray. Technically Prince Charles was also in command of the Jacobite forces but for all intensive battle purposes he had no real impact on the battlefield.

The Clifton Moor Skirmish was fought shortly after sunset, on a cloudy night, with only short intervals of light from the moon. Through the brilliant strategising of Lord George Murray, this was not an issue for the Jacobite forces. It came to be that the Jacobite forces were able to see the Royal army, but the reverse did not apply as the Hanoverians were positioned next to bushes which inhibited their vision.

The Clifton Moor Skirmish was a relatively short one, at the given command, the Royal forces were rushed by the Jacobites. The Scottish force sustained twelve deaths and an unrecorded number of injuries, while the Royal forces sustained a total of 100 deaths and injuries.