On the 3rd of December, 1745, James, the true King of Britain, was killed in a fall from his horse whilst hunting in Northern Italy. This catastrophe shocked many Jacobite supporters, including Charles, who led the funeral procession into the Cathedral of St Pauls-without-the-Walls. Charles was forced to put off his planned invasion of Scotland. He was pledged a small Expeditionary force by the king of France. Charles and seven friends joined him as he rode to the French coast, where he joined the 4500 French soldiers and received the assistance of several French tactical advisors.
the French force was observed and drilled for four months on the Breton Coast, where it was taught Guerilla tactics which would eventually be used in the Stuart reconquest.
Back in Scotland, Lord George Murray was whipping up support amongfor the cause the Highlanders, and promised money to the Borderers, who were already raiding villages south of the border.
The French fleet was finally deployed into the channel where it engaged the Royal Navy on the 27th April. Charles’ force was shipped up the North sea, where he lost near 500 men to a storm. Charles landed at Tayport (near Dundee) and swiftly captured Dundee on the 12th May. He raised his standard at Forfar, and near 10000 men flocked to him, including Thomas Lyon, the 8th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Lord George Murray.
The Scottish troops were paraded in the grounds of Glamis castle, where George Murray was appointed the Supreme Commander of the rising. Charles stayed overnight at the castle, then called a counsel of war, where they voted unanimously to attempt to take the stronghold of Sterling.
The Opening hand was dealt.