Clifton Moor Skirmish

This map shows the positions of the Jacobite and Government forces before and during the skirmish at Clifton in December 1745 from the memoirs of the Chevalier de Johnstone. Note that the map is oriented so that north is to the bottom rather than the top.

Date	18 December 1745
Location	Clifton, Cumbria, England 54°37′37″N 2°43′05″W / 54.627°N 2.718°W / 54.627; -2.718Coordinates: 54°37′37″N 2°43′05″W / 54.627°N 2.718°W / 54.627; -2.718
Result	Jacobite victory

Belligerents

Hanoverians

Jacobites

Commanders and leaders

Duke of Cumberland

Charles Edward Stuart

Lord George Murray

Casualties and losses

10 killed, 5 or more wounded.

12 killed and unknown wounded.

The Clifton Moor Skirmish took place between forces of the United Kingdom Hanoverian government and Jacobite rebels on Wednesday 18 December 1745 (29 December Gregorian). Since the commander of the government forces, the Duke of Cumberland, was aware of the Jacobite presence in Derby, the Jacobite leader Prince Charles Edward Stuart decided to retreat north back towards Scotland. Charles began his retreat from Derby on 6 December 1745. This is sometimes claimed as the last battle on English soil, but there are numerous other claimants such as the Battle of Graveney Marsh, fought in 1940.

In this article, dates are given in the Julian calendar in use in England at the time, unless otherwise stated.

The Jacobite army stayed on the first night of retreat at the town of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. They reached the town of Leek the following day. However, Leek being too small to accommodate the entire army, Elcho's and Pitsligo's horse and Ogilvy's and Roy Stuart's regiments of foot, went to the town of Macclesfield where they stayed the night. The remainder of the army which had stayed at Leek came to Macclesfield the next day and those who had stayed the night at Macclesfield went on to . On the 9th both of the Jacobite divisions met on the road to Manchester and entered the city as one body. The Jacobite army left Manchester on the 10th and reached Wigan that night. The next day they reached Preston where they stayed until the 12th. James Drummond, the Duke of Perth, was dispatched with 100 horse to travel north and bring back reinforcements from Perth. The Prince and his Jacobite army arrived in Lancaster on the evening of the 13th. Charles had decided to stay and fight at Lancaster. A survey of the surrounding ground at Lancaster was carried out by the Jacobite commanders Lord George Murray and Cameron of Lochiel. They found the ground suitable for their army to fight on; however, Murray had also received reports that a large body of General George Wade's dragoons had entered Preston not long after they had left. Charles changed his mind and decided to continue with their march back north.

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