Hey, Johnnie Cope sung by Alastair McDonald

Song mocking General Sir John Cope after his force was routed by the Jacobite Army at Prestonpans. I couldn't find any inefficient-looking redcoats!

"The sword is the weapon which suits them best. They advance with rapidity, discharge their pieces when within musket length [i.e. range] of the enemy, and then, throwing them down, draw their swords, and holding a dirk in their left hand with their target [shield], they dart with fury on the enemy through the smoke of their fire. When within reach of the enemy's bayonets, bending their left knee they by their attitude cover their bodies with their targets, that receive the thrust of the bayonets, which they contrive to parry, while at the same time they raise their sword-arm and strike their adversary. Having got within the bayonets they [their opponents] have no longer any means of defending themselves: the fate of the battle is decided in an instant, and the carnage follows, the Highlanders bringing down two men at a time, one with the dirk in the left hand, and another with the sword. Their attack is so terrible that the best troops in Europe will with difficulty sustain the shock of it: and if the swords of the Highlanders once come in contact with them, their defeat is inevitable." -- Chevalier James de Johnstone describing the Highland charge at Prestonpans in 1745.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Alastair
• McDonald
• Hey
• Johnnie
• Cope
• Battle
• of
• Prestonpans
• Jacobites
• Rebellion
• Uprising
• 1745
• Scottish
• folk
• song
• Bonnie
• Prince
• Charlie
• Scotland
• Highlands
• clansmen

[tovarischazaritsa]

Wow... it is so super obvious that the 2nd soldier from the left in the front rank is a woman. Sorry, nerd here on the history of women in the military. Just saying...

[brawladdie1]

You don't say? Maybe that's why they lost!

[LinnTractorNut]

Not an incitement? You mean we should stop chasing Johnnie now?

[brawladdie1]

Note to all future viewers: this is meant to be an entertainment, not an incitement to jihad.

[MTBJester]

what instrument is being played by Alastair? a tenor banjo? it sounds awesome!

[DuskRex]

@brawladdie1 Good song. Respect to mountaineers of Scotland

[brawladdie1]

@DuskRex Pardon?

[GRB01]

@tovarischazaritsa the battle of prestonpans idiot !!

[tovarischazaritsa]

@starblazer14 haha TRUE! Spoken like a true Highland sympathizer

[starblazer14]

@tovarischazaritsa What'd you expect? The English men aren't men enough to fight with the Highland Lads!