Nigel Tranter - The Story Of Scotland

One of the very great myths of Culloden and the Scottish plight was the fact they were outgunned. This is not the case, as they had more cannon than the government forces. There is a myth, a great romanticised notion that the Highlanders were equipped with a targe shield and a Scottish broadsword, otherwise known as a basket-hilt broadsword. The Clan chiefs were equipped like this, whereas the clansmen were equipped with a musket, because they were found on the battlefield of Culloden after the carnage ensued. There were also French troops fighting, well, Irish and Scottish in the French Service including Irish Piquets and the Fitzjames Horse, who wore breastplate armour. The Irish Piquets wore red coats but apart from this were exactly like French Soldiers.