While the Prince's army waited on the battlefield, the Duke of Cumberland's was celebrating his twenty-fifth birthday in camp at Nairn. Later on April 15, the Prince stood his men down. Unfortunately, all of the army's supplies and provisions had been left back in Inverness and there was little for the men to eat. Also, many questioned the choice of battlefield. Selected by the Prince's adjutant and quartermaster, John William O'Sullivan, the flat, open expanse of Drumossie Moor was the worst possible terrain for the Highlanders. Armed primarily with swords and axes, the Highlander's primary tactic was the charge, which worked best over hilly and broken ground. Rather than aid the Jacobites, the terrain benefited Cumberland as it provided the ideal arena for his infantry, artillery, and cavalry.
After arguing against making a stand at Drumossie, Murray advocated a night attack on Cumberland's camp while the enemy was still drunk or asleep. The Prince agreed and the army moved out around 8:00 PM. Marching in two columns, with the goal of launching a pincher attack, the Jacobites encountered multiple delays and were still two miles from Nairn when it became clear that it would be daylight before they could attack. Abandoning the plan, they retraced their steps to Drumossie, arriving around 7:00 AM. Hungry and tired, many men wandered away from their units to sleep or seek food. At Nairn, Cumberland's army broke camp at 5:00 AM and began moving towards Drumossie.