War Pipes

The Jacobite Rising of 1745-46

Piper James Reed, a rebel piper, was taken prisoner of war at the battle of Culloden. His plea of not carrying arms and of merely being a musician was believed spurious and the case of armed rebellion against the crown was proven. It was in the experience of the court that a highland regiment had neither marched nor fought without a piper being present and therefore the bagpipe in the eye of the law was an instrument of War.
James Reed was then hanged, drawn and quartered
at the gates of York.
Parliament then past a law ending the old highland way of life,
including the playing of bagpipes.
Proscription made it illegal to wear tartan, speak Gaelic
or wear a kilt.