After Charles mobilized his army, the English retaliated by sending the Commander of English forces in Scotland, Sir John Cope, north to capture the Highland capital of Inverness. While the were occupied doing so, the Highland army slipped in and took the city of Edinburgh where the British troops had previously been garrisoned. Cope retreated south with the aid of the Royal Navy to the hamlet of Prestonpans. He took up position in an area with a bog one side and a wall on the other. Both were counters to the traditional Highland charges that worked so effectively in the past, including Robert the Bruce�s charge at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. At first the Highlanders felt it hopeless mostly because less than 15% of Charles� men had firearms. In fact only 60% of his men had swords, the rest using tools from their farms such as axes, hammer�s and the occasional spear. One man was even recorded as swinging a plowshare, which created disastrous results for his opponents.
It seemed an impasse and the Scottish morale was beginning to waver until the timely arrival of the famed Athol brigade. These men led by Lord George Murray, tipped the manpower of the Scots who to that point had been equal with Cope�s forces. The sudden addition of 800 men increased the Highlanders numbers, weapons, and morale. Murray quickly took charge of the situation and was named Lieutenant General by Charles. A local Jacobite supporter informed them of a path through the bog. At dawn after maneuvering north and east of their initial position the Scots attacked. Encountering only a few dragoons on patrol, the Highland charge hit the slumbering English at full strength and with almost no defense having been mounted. The British were routed easily and with little loss of men by the Scots. With the remainders of the Government troops returning to England, Charles was left in control of Scotland. The success here encouraged other chieftains to aid the Stuart cause, and was the impetus needed to gain backing for the drive into England.