Lord George Murray's brilliant approach march to Falkirk Muir on 17 January 1746 caught General Hawley completely by surprise. Murray led the Jacobite army on a circuitous approach from the north that reached the high ground of Sheriffmuir before Hawley realised his peril. Hawley was eating dinner at Callander House when informed of the Jacobite approach — he rode back to his army in such haste he left his hat behind. Government cavalry were hastily sent to delay the Jacobite deployment on the moor. The cavalry skirmished with Jacobite advance parties on the approaches to the battlefield. The Jacobite army reached the high ground first and the battle was half won before it began.
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