A number of Rattrays supported bonnie Prince Charlie, in his endeavours to regain the crown of Britain for his father. James Rattray of Craighall Rattray, the chief of the Rattrays, received letters of calling from the Prince, dated 2nd September 1745, requiring him to join his standard with all possible expedience. He did not respond to the call, but sent 50 pounds in aid.

As was common practise in Scottish uprisings, the chiefs would often try to safeguard their interests, by having one of their family, supporting both sides. In this case john Rattray, the brother of James Rattray of Craighall Rattray, joined the Prince's army and was to become the Prince's personal surgeon.

James Rattray, the laird of Rannagulzion, and the grandson of the James Rattray who had fought at Killiecrankie in 1689, was deeply attached to the Jacobite cause, joining the Prince's army with William the duke of Atholl's force at Perth on the 17th October 1745 as major in the Tullibardine regiment. He received a commission from Prince Charles Edward, dated the 31st October 1745 at the palace of Holyrood house in Edinburgh, as major to the regiment of foot commanded by William Duke of Atholl, known as the `Atholl Brigade.

James Rattray of Rannagulzion marched with the Prince's army taking part in the battle of Prestonpans, and the various skirmishes through England until the Highland army reached derby on the 4th December 1745, retreating from derby and taking part in the Jacobite victory at the battle of Falkirk on the 17th January 1746, where a force of about 4,000 Jacobites defeated a government army of about 8,000 under general Hawley.

Finally the Jacobite army was to loose its only battle at Drumossie moor, at the battle of Culloden, where a tired and hungry Jacobite army were asked to take on the duke of Cumberland's force on an a badly chosen battle sight, totally unsuited to their Highland charge and for the first time with the Prince personally in charge. The Prince was no soldier.

The Jacobite army was outnumbered by some 6 to 9,000 by the duke of Cumberland's force. The duke of Cumberland was the son of the English king George, and became known as `Butcher Cumberland', as a result of his calculated brutality and the atrocities against the Highland clans that he carried out after Culloden. 

James Rattray of Rannagulzion took part in the battle of Culloden, with the Atholl brigade on the right wing (image below shows where Atholl brigade stood) of the Prince's army, surviving the actual battle, to dodge Cumberland's troops who were slaughtering all before them, men women and children, whether or not they actually took part in the battle or not, on the road to Inverness after the battle.

After Culloden James Rattray, the laird of Rannagulzion, along with his brothers-in-law, sir James Kinloch of Kinloch and sir James's brothers, Charles and Alexander Kinloch, returned to west Drimmie, James Rattray's house, to rest for the night with the intentions of concealing themselves the following morning. But in the middle of the night they were surprised by a troop of Hessian cavalry. The four gentlemen tried various hiding places eventually deciding to hide in a room full of flax at the top of the house. The soldiers, who forced their bayonets into the flax, eventually discovered them.

James Rattray along with the Kinlochs were marched by the soldiers to Perth, then onto London. Lady Kinloch, Sir James Kinloch's wife, and James
Rattray's wife, jean, who was sir James's sister accompanied their husbands. Both James Rattray and sir James Kinloch were very badly treated during the march, being thrown into Newgate prison when they reached London. 

In order to destroy the Highland clans and the Jacobites once and for all, the government in Westminster decided to introduce a series of measures designed specifically to break the Highland clans; -- the chief's heritable jurisdiction was abolished. It was said this freed the people, but the removal of the baron courts removed their traditional share in local government, turning the former units of administration into ordinary estates. (Ref 9).

-- the Highland chiefs who supported Prince Charles Edward Stuart lost their
lands.

-- the clansmen were forbidden from carrying arms.

-- the much hated dress act banned the wearing of tartan and the kilt. (Ref 9).

-- the playing of the bagpipes was forbidden, both the kilt and the music
being considered too barbarous and martial for good citizenship.

-- the military road system started by general wade was extended.

-- a new fort was built at fort George.

-- loyal soldiers were planted in villages such as Callander and Kinloch
Rannoch, to hold down and civilise the glens.

-- new and more strenuous efforts were made to convert the highland
population to lowland values.

These measures were by and large successful, succeeding in breaking up the old clan systems and eradicating the constant thorn in Westminster's flesh caused by the defiant Highland clans. 

The Rattrays in common with many Scottish Highland clans have scattered across the world, with Rattrays living in all the continents of the world. Rattrays still retain a strong sense of belonging with many families each year coming back to Rattray to see where their ancestors once lived.

In too many countries the great historic families are separated from the mass of the people, but in Scotland we have been fortunate in that pride of name has never depended on wealth and rank, it takes no note of age or sex, success or failure.