11 February 1746: Admiral John Byng, whose squadron was anchored off of Montrose, dispatched Captain John Gore and a company of the 9th Marines from HMS Gloucester to take possession of the town of Montrose which had just been vacated by the Jacobites. Byng also sent the 14-gun sloop Saltash into Montrose Harbour to prevent French ships from landing supplies and allow Captain Gore to retreat if the Jacobites returned in force.
11 February 1746: John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun began to fortify the town of Inverness ahead of the expected arrival of the Jacobites. Ditches and trenches were dug and naval guns were positioned to cover the approaches. Loudoun commanded over 2,000 pro-Hanoverian highlanders and was expecting additional men from Sutherland and the Isle of Skye. Duncan Forbes of Culloden, Lord President of the Court of Session had established his quarters at Fort George/Inverness Castle.
