On 30 January, following Hawley's defeat at Falkirk, the Duke of Cumberland arrived in Scotland to take command of the government forces.
Cumberland decided to wait out the winter, and moved his troops northwards to Aberdeen.
5,000 Hessian troops, led by Prince Frederick of Hesse, took up position to the south to cut off any path of retreat for the Jacobites.
The weather had improved to such an extent by 8 April that Cumberland resumed the campaign: his army reached Cullen on 11 April, where it was joined by six further battalions and two cavalry regiments.
Days later, the government army approached the River Spey, guarded by a Jacobite detachment of 2,000 under Lord John Drummond.
Rather than offer resistance Drummond retreated towards Elgin and then to Nairn, an act for which he was sharply criticised after the rising by several participants.
By 14 April, the Jacobites had evacuated Nairn, and Cumberland's army camped at Balblair just west of the town.

Several significant Jacobite units were still en route or engaged far to the north, but on learning of the government advance their main army of about 5,400 left its base at Inverness on 15 April and assembled in battle order 5 miles (8 km) to the east.
The Jacobite leadership was divided on whether to give battle or abandon Inverness but with supplies running out and most of their remaining stores and oatmeal held in the town, few options were left.
The Jacobite adjutant-general, John O'Sullivan, identified a suitable site for a defensive action at Drummossie Moor, a stretch of open moorland between the walled Culloden Park enclosures to the north and those of Culwhiniac to the south.

Jacobite lieutenant-general Lord George Murray "did not like the ground", as it was relatively flat and open, suggesting an alternative, steeply sloping site near Daviot Castle.
This was inspected by Brigadier Stapleton of the Irish Brigade and Colonel Ker on the morning of 15 April, but rejected by them as the site was overlooked and the ground "mossy and soft": Murray's choice also failed to protect the road into Inverness.
The issue had not been fully resolved by the time of the battle and in the event circumstances largely dictated the point at which the Jacobites formed line, some distance to the west of the site chosen by Sullivan.
On 30 January, following Hawley's defeat at Falkirk, the Duke of Cumberland arrived in Scotland to take command of the government forces. Cumberland decided to wait out the winter, and moved his troops northwards to Aberdeen. 5,000 Hessian troops, led by Prince Frederick of Hesse, took up position to the south to cut off any path of retreat for the Jacobites. The weather had improved to such an extent by 8 April that Cumberland resumed the campaign: his army reached Cullen on 11 April, where it was joined by six further battalions and two cavalry regiments. Days later, the government army approached the River Spey, guarded by a Jacobite detachment of 2,000 under Lord John Drummond. Rather than offer resistance Drummond retreated towards Elgin and then to Nairn, an act for which he was sharply criticised after the rising by several participants. By 14 April, the Jacobites had evacuated Nairn, and Cumberland's army camped at Balblair just west of the town.
Several significant Jacobite units were still en route or engaged far to the north, but on learning of the government advance their main army of about 5,400 left its base at Inverness on 15 April and assembled in battle order 5 miles (8 km) to the east. The Jacobite leadership was divided on whether to give battle or abandon Inverness but with supplies running out and most of their remaining stores and oatmeal held in the town, few options were left. The Jacobite adjutant-general, John O'Sullivan, identified a suitable site for a defensive action at Drummossie Moor, a stretch of open moorland between the walled Culloden Park enclosures to the north and those of Culwhiniac to the south.
Jacobite lieutenant-general Lord George Murray "did not like the ground", as it was relatively flat and open, suggesting an alternative, steeply sloping site near Daviot Castle. This was inspected by Brigadier Stapleton of the Irish Brigade and Colonel Ker on the morning of 15 April, but rejected by them as the site was overlooked and the ground "mossy and soft": Murray's choice also failed to protect the road into Inverness. The issue had not been fully resolved by the time of the battle and in the event circumstances largely dictated the point at which the Jacobites formed line, some distance to the west of the site chosen by Sullivan.
Battle of Culloden