After the catastrophic government defeat at Prestonpans, Cope's surviving troops fled to Berwick and were in no condition to fight. Cope himself was court-martialled but exonerated — legend has it he was the first general in history to bring the news of his own defeat. The government in London was shocked into a more serious response: Wade was directed to move his army south, Cumberland was brought from Flanders, and Hessian mercenaries were requested. The defeat at Prestonpans gave the Jacobites six weeks to consolidate in Edinburgh while the government reorganised — time Charles partially wasted.
Government: c.400 killed, c.1,500 captured; Jacobite: c.100 casualties
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