Sir John Cope and the Rebellion of 1745

 Prior to reading this book I was only familiar with Sir John Cope through the song "Hey, Johnnie Cope" which led me to believe that he lost the battle of Prestonpans as a result of cowardice.  This book provides a detailed account of his preparations for the battle as well as his support or lack of support from King George II and the available troops. The narrative includes an informative narrative of the troop movements and the decisions of Sir John Cope up to and including his disaster at Prestonpans.

  The book is available online in digital format as well as print and is a valuable resource for anyone researching the Jacobite uprising of 1745.  There are many references to Sir Walter Scott's accounts of this period taken from his Tales of a Grandfather.  I especially enjoyed the narratives including Colonel Gardiner who was a central character in Scott's Waverley.

  I highly recommend this book along with Scott's Waverley both of which provide a well rounded depiction of the matters facing the Scots at that time.