The Jacobite Army at Culloden, 1746 (2) STUART REID Paintings by ANGUS McBRIDE

 1991. M I Past Present 1991 38. : SKORPIO : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

(1) Officer, Ecossais Koval

This somewhat unusual uniform, worn by officers of this French regular unit, was described by a witness at the trial of Lieutenant Charles Oliphant in 1747: 'Prisoner wore the uniform of Lord John Drummond’s officers, viz; short blue coats, red vests laced, with banners and white cockades’. A drover named John Cray also described Lord John Drummond himself wearing this uniform, although he added the detail that the blue coat was also trimmed with silver lace. lt is  very different from the uniform usually described as worn by this regiment at Culloden which is actually that prescribed in the 1757 regulations. In 1746 the uniform would appear to have been much simpler, with a fairly small cuff and a white lining, not red.

An interesting watercolour of 1752 shows a full-skirted coat worn by a fusilier; but there seems no reason to disbelieve that in 1746 the fusiliers wore short coats toil and perhaps bonnets as well. I lie short coats and bonnets were not the only highland features: according to C.C.P. Lawson the grenadier company wore highland dress—presumably similar to the costume illustrated but with kilts replacing the breeches. The regimental piper, tiki must have been an important man, for his servant was among the Culloden prisoners.

While seen earlier in/// the suvrd and half-pike appropriate to his rank, Oliphant was descrilx'd by another witness as carrying a musket at Culloden. Having made the mistake of waiting for the regiment to come our to Scotland, although he had Ix en promised a commission some time earlier, Oliphant—an Aberdeen cus¬ toms officer — was found guilty, but reprieved on condition he emigrated to America.