About eleven in the forenoon, the troops of Cumberland were observed upon the eastern extremity of the wide muir of Culloden, and preparations were instantly made for the coming battle.  The army had been strengthened that morning by the arrival of the Keppoch Macdonalds and a party of the Frasers; but even with these reinforcements the whole available force which the Prince could muster was about five thousand men, to oppose at fearful odds an enemy twice as numerous, and heavily supported by artillery.  Fortune on this day seemed to have deserted the Prince altogether.  In drawing out the line of battle, a most unlucky arrangement was made by O’Sullivan, who acted as adjutant, whereby the Macdonald regiments were removed from the right wing—­the place which the great clan Colla has been privileged to hold in Scottish array ever since the auspicious battle of Bannockburn.  To those who are not acquainted with the peculiar temper and spirit of the Highlanders, and their punctilio upon points of honour and precedence, the question of arrangement will naturally appear a matter of little importance.  But it was not so felt by the Macdonalds, who considered their change of position as a positive degradation, and who further looked upon it as an evil omen to the success of the battle.  The results of this mistake will be explained immediately.

Just before the commencement of the action, the weather, which had hitherto been fair and sunny, became overcast, and a heavy blast of rain and sleet beat directly in the faces of the Highlanders.  The English artillery then began to play upon them, and, being admirably served, every discharge told with fearful effect upon the ranks.  The chief object of either party at the battle of Culloden seems to have been to force its opponent to leave his position, and to commence the attack.  Cumberland, finding that his artillery was doing such execution, had no occasion to move; and Charles appears to have committed a great error in abandoning a mode of warfare which was peculiarly suited for his troops, and which, on two previous occasions, had proved eminently successful.  Had he at once ordered a general charge, and attempted to silence the guns, the issue of the day might have been otherwise:  but his unfortunate star prevailed.

“It was not,” says Mr. Chambers, “till the cannonade had continued nearly half an hour, and the Highlanders had seen many of their kindred stretched upon the heath, that Charles at last gave way to the necessity of ordering a charge.  The aide-de-camp intrusted to carry his message to the Lieutenant-general—­a youth of the name of Maclachlan—­was killed by a cannon-ball before he reached the first line, but the general sentiment of the army, as reported to Lord George Murray, supplied the want, and that general took it upon him to order an attack without Charles’s permission having been communicated.