Today in 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stewart and the Jacobite Army began their retreat from Derby.
After a decisive victory in the '45 campaign at the Battle of Prestonpans, "Bonnie Prince Charlie" reached Derby on the 4th December. With the Jacobites' arrival only 150 miles north of London, there was widespread panic. However, with the promised French and Spanish invasion of England conspicously absent and with limited support from the English Jacobites, a reluctant Charles was forced to heed his advisers and withdraw from Derby only two days later.
