Ashbourne in Derbyshire was passed by the Jacobite army on its retreat from Derby in December 1745. Government cavalry attempting to maintain contact with the retreating Jacobite rearguard encountered the Highland rear-guard near Ashbourne. A brisk cavalry skirmish occurred as Jacobite horsemen turned to face the pursuing government dragoons. Lord George Murray managed the retreat with skill — at no point did the pursuing government forces succeed in cutting off or surrounding any portion of the Highland army during the long retreat to Scotland. The skirmish at Ashbourne was one of several such delaying actions fought by the Jacobite cavalry rearguard.
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