In the context of An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745, explain the The government soldiers of the Painting.
The government troops depicted are grenadiers of The King's Own regiment. The regiment fought on the left flank of the government army, at the southern end of the battlefield, and took the brunt of the Jacobite charge – it suffered the heaviest casualties on the government side, with 18 dead and 108 wounded out of 373. The regiment's commander, Sir Robert Rich, 5th Baronet, was among the wounded, losing his left hand.The soldiers can be identified as grenadiers by the mitre caps they wear, and would be the regiment's tallest, strongest and most experienced men. The most prominent soldier, nearest the viewer, wears a red sash that indicates he's an officer. He is armed with a fusil – a smaller, lighter version of the muskets carried by his men. This was usual for grenadier officers; other officers carried a short pike or spontoon. Lord Robert Kerr was Captain of the 4th Regiment's grenadier company and was killed during the battle. This officer, in a prominent and heroic pose, may be intended as a depiction of him.
Behind the unit, drummers, another officer and more soldiers can be seen, as well as part of the King's Colour, one of the regiment's flags.
government army government soldiers spontoon King's Colour The King's Own Sir Robert Rich, 5th Baronet grenadier mitre caps Lord Robert Kerr