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Battle of Stow on the Wold - 21 March 1646

Battle of Stow on the Wold - 21 March 1646

If the battles of Naseby and Marston Moor were the decisive thrusts and Langport the mortal stroke, then Stow on the Wold would be the coup de grace. In the Spring of 1646, King Charles I was getting ever more desperate to hold the Royalist cause together whilst waiting for the long promised relief forces from Ireland, Scotland and France. Lord Jacob Astley took command of the Royalist forces in the west and began to gather up the remnants from the handful of Royalist garrisons still left in the west. As one could imagine at this point in the war, Royalist morale was pretty low. However, Astley, a stalwart of the Royalist commanders and an experienced soldier, was able to cobble together a force of 3,000.
Astley was trying to reach Oxford with his force when Parliament got wind of it. What ensued was a period of thrusting and parrying along the river Avon as Astley tried to evade certain defeat. Finally, Astley had no choice, but to stop and fight the harrying Roundhead forces of Colonel Thomas Morgan and Sir William Brereton. Astley chose a hill to the northwest of Stow on the Wold straddling the present day A424.
The Roundhead forces, who were slightly smaller, lined up to the northwest of Astley's position also along the current route of the A424. The Roundheads, flush with the confidence of an army on the brink of total victory, charged up the hill at the Royalist positions, near the present day Greenfield Farm. Initially, the Royalists held and even pushed the Parliamentary foot back. However, the Roundhead cavalry under Brereton rolled up the Royalist cavalry on the right flank. The Royalist cavalry fled the field and the infantry fought a running retreat southeasterly back to Stow square.
Finally, Astley sat down on an ancient cross monument in the square and declared, "You have done your work, boys, and may go play, unless you will fall out among yourselves." This was a fitting end to the last major battle of the First Civil War from the man who was most quoted at the first major battle. At Edgehill, Astley prayed, "Oh Lord, thou knowest how busy I must be this day, if I forget thee, do not thou forget me."

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

40-45 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A424 north out of Burford (Burford is on the A40 between Oxford and Cheltenham) towards Stow. Go through Stow and stay on the A424. The A424 splits the battlefield in half northwest of Stow. Turn right onto the lane to Donnington for a look at the battlefield from Roundhead lines back to the south towards Stow. Continue on Donnington Lane to the A429 and turn right to go back into Stow. Visit the town square where the surrender took place. Follow the A429 southwest out of Stow to Bourton on the Water to complete the Cotswold experience. There are hundreds of small lanes with beautiful scenery, pick one and lose yourself!
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 163. The battlefield is centred on SP 191272. If using a road map, the battlefield is 20 miles east of Cheltenham.

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Battle of Langport - 10 July 1645

Battle of Langport - 10 July 1645

By July 1645, Royalist fortunes were on the wane and Lord Goring was using all of his strategic wiles to evade the confident New Model Army under Lord-General Fairfax. Knowing that Fairfax outnumbered him nearly two to one, Goring sent 3 cavalry Brigades under Lieutenant General Porter to threaten the nearby Parliamentary town of Taunton, probably as diversion, in the hopes of dividing Fairfax's force. However, Fairfax caught up to Goring after capturing most of Goring's cavalry diversion betwixt Langport and Taunton. Fairfax came to the battle weaker than ideal, but still with the determination to break up Goring*s force for good.
Goring took up an easterly facing position on Ham Down northeast of Langport overlooking the Wagg Rhyne, a small stream running generally north to south. Fairfax approached from the east and occupied a westerly facing position on Pitney Hill, also overlooking the Wagg Rhyne. The two positions straddle the present day B3153. There was an obvious "pass" and/or ford over the Wagg, which both forces identified as the key terrain to own. There are 3 credible geographic points (on the A372, on the B3153 and an ancient footpath near the railway underpass) for the pass and academic debate is far from settled on the issue. Up to this point in research and on the ground viewing, Battlefield Biker reckons it is the middle one near the present day railway underpass.
Goring placed artillery, cavalry and musket over-watching the pass, the narrowness of which gave him confidence of holding. Wasting no time in taking the obvious action, Fairfax took out the Royalist artillery with his own and then ordered Cromwell to take the pass and press the attack up Ham Down. The pass only allowed a 4 horse abreast attack. Under fire from Goring's over-watch, the lead troops of Cromwell's cavalry, led by Major Bethel were able to secure the pass and deploy on the slopes of the Down. The Roundhead infantry followed and established the fighting in earnest.
After some fairly fierce fighting on the Down, the Royalists were broken and they retreated whilst setting Langport alight. This did not stop Cromwell, who chased the fleeing Royalist through Langport.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

40-45 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A39 east from Junction 23 on the M5. Just past Ashcott, turn right on the A361 to Othery, then take a left onto the A372 towards Langport. Through Langport and in Huish Episcopi, turn left on the Wagg Drove which follows the Wagg Rhyne and goes directly through the middle of the battlefield. When you reach the B3153, turn right and go to Somerton. From Somerton, take the B3165 south to the A372. For an added feature, take a left onto the A372 and go to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. (5 miles)
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 193. The battlefield is centred on ST 441276. If using a road map, the battlefield is located 15 miles east of Taunton.

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Battle of Naseby - 14 June 1645

Battle of Naseby - 14 June 1645

If there is one discernable point where Oliver Cromwell's star emerged from mere cavalry commander to driving force in the New Model Army, the battle of Naseby may be it. Cromwell convinced his commander, Fairfax to move to an adjacent, more neutral hill, so as to encourage the Royalists to attack. This level of confidence was not misplaced. Cromwell's actions, as well as the actions of Prince Rupert on the Royalist side, were to confirm their reputations. Rupert was the European shock trooper with elan and Cromwell, as the disciplined English soldier and stern Puritan.
At Naseby, both armies put forward their "A" teams with Prince Rupert, Prince Maurice and the King himself present on the Royal side. Fairfax, Cromwell and Skippon led the Parliamentarian's New Model Army. There would be no denying the superior force after Naseby.
Although the King was present, Rupert commanded the Royal lines. Rupert's plan was to crush the Roundhead left with his signature cavalry charge, which he would lead, and then cross behind the Roundhead centre to turn Cromwell's flank. The first part went well as Roundhead Ireton's cavalry was beaten from the field. However, Rupert's cavalry did not cross behind the New Model Army's infantry centre, either due to battlefield congestion or through their excessive exuberance. Eventually, Rupert's cavalry ended up in the Parliamentarian rear attacking the baggage trains. One might say it was unplanned, but one must ignore Rupert's previous actions to call it unlikely.
Unfortunately for the Royalists, Cromwell also performed to stereotype. After working through rough ground on the Royalist left, Cromwell attacked and dispersed the Royalist cavalry, then worked over the Lifeguard, then completed the encirclement of virtually the entire Royalist infantry. The King tried to rally his cavalry for a counter attack, but thought better of it as he watched his infantry surrender.
Naseby was an unmitigated disaster for the King. Virtually all of his northern infantry was captured or killed. He could never recover from the loss of such a force this late in the war. The war would drag on, but the cause was militarily lost on these Northamptonshire fields.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

35-40 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A5199 out of Northampton to Thornby and turn right on the Naseby Road. In Naseby, follow the signs to the memorial along the Sibbertoft Road. The memorial is in a field on the left after crossing over the A14. Continue to Sibbertoft and turn left onto the Sibbertoft / Welford Road. At the junction with the A5199, turn right and go to the A4304 and turn right towards Market Harborough. At Lubenham take a right and follow the sign to Clipston (local roads names are too confusing to use here). From Clipston, follow the Naseby Road past another obelisk to the battle on the left hand side.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 141. The battlefield is centred on SP 684799. If using a road map, the battlefield is 10 miles north of Northampton.

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By BB at 29 Nov 2006 - 08:46 | | | | | | | | | | | | | add new comment

Battle of Marston Moor - 2 July 1644

Battle of Marston Moor - 2 July 1644

Having relieved the siege at York by out manoeuvering the Parliamentary Army, Prince Rupert wanted to engage Parliament's Allied Army. Rupert believed (controversially) that he had orders from the King to do so. The Parliamentary backed Allied Army of the Eastern Association, local Yorkshire forces along with the Scots under the Earl of Levin accommodated him between York and Knaresborough. Rupert was outnumbered, especially, because he could not get the siege-relieved forces at York to get the lead out until the last minute. The Marquess of Newcastle, who had held York through the siege, was against offering battle at Marston Moor, going so far as to remind Rupert of one of his past failures due to hasty decisions. Rupert prevailed, but even with the mainly infantry forces from York, Rupert mustered only 18,000 to the Allied Army's 28,000.
The two forces squared off late in the midsummer*s day after having had spent the better part of the afternoon so close to each other that insults were being traded across the lines. Persistent rain showers and the lateness of the day had convinced Rupert that battle would not begin that day. However, for debatable reasons, the allied front surged forward around 7 PM and the fight was on.
Rupert could have felt vindicated to choose battle at first as Goring's cavalry on the Royalist left broke through and routed Sir Thomas Fairfax's right of cavalry and infantry. Goring's forces pushed on and took the Allied Army's baggage train behind the southern ridge. The Allied Scots' infantry, however, doggedly held the line in the centre. Meanwhile, a wounded Cromwell pushed Rupert's cavalry back in the vicinity of present day Kendal Lane on Tockwith*s eastern edge. After winning the cavalry engagement, Cromwell's disciplined forces turned right and flanked the Royalist infantry. This envelopment turned the tide and the Royalist forces were reduced to the last stand by Newcastle's best infantry, the Whitecoats, who defied Cromwell, until Scottish Dragoons came to finish off the battle near White Sike Close.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

40-45 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the B1224 out of Wetherby, near the racecourse, towards York. In Long Marston, turn left onto the Tockwith Road. Just past Atterwith Lane, you will find the obelisk dedicated to the battle on the right. The road you are on takes you through the middle of the battlefield. At Tockwith turn right up Kendal Lane to follow Cromwell's line of attack. Go back and through Tockwith to Cattal Moor Lane and go to Cattal and on to the A59. At the A59, turn right onto the A59 and go to the New Road turning into Hessay. From Hessay, take the Main Street/ Atterwith Lane out of town and follow Atterwith Lane back to near the obelisk following Goring's line of attack.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 105. The battlefield is centred on SE 491522. If using a road map, the battlefield is west of York, near Long Marston.

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By BB at 29 Nov 2006 - 08:38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | add new comment

Battle of Cropredy Bridge - 29 June 1644

Battle of Cropredy Bridge - 29 June 1644

Just three days before the disaster of Marston Moor for the Royalists, King Charles himself directed a rebuff to a prowling Parliamentary army under William Waller at Cropredy Bridge, near Banbury.
Waller had been observing the King's movements for some time when he spotted an opportunity to strike over the River Cherwell near the present day Oxford Canal as it passes through the village of Cropredy. The King had allowed a gaping hole to develop between his lead / centre elements which were near Hays Bridge and his rear which was more than a mile behind. Seeing his chance to bite off a whole chunk of the King's rear end, Waller pounced.
Waller sent Lieutenant General Middleton's cavalry (including Battlefield Biker favourite, Haselrige's "lobsters") to make contact with the King's rear. This was a raging success, but as so often happened with successful cavalry charges of the time, the pursuit went too far. The Royalist rear guard commander, the Earl of Cleveland, took the opportunity to wade into the Parliamentary foot and guns which had been left behind by Middleton at Cropredy Bridge. Middleton*s cavalry realised what had happened and returned to scatter Cleveland's cavalry, but not until after they captured the Roundhead guns and their commander Colonel Wemyss. Cleveland did not get all of his own way in Middleton's absence as the Roundhead infantry stood their ground, crucially keeping Cropredy Bridge.
In the meantime, Waller with cavalry crossed the Slat Mill ford and attacked uphill near Williamscott and was promptly sent packing by the Earl of Northampton's cavalry. Waller decided that discretion was the better part of valour and retired to Bourton Hill to over-watch continuing skirmishes around the bridge. Finally, the result was Parliamentary forces staring down the King's forces from Cropredy Bridge for the better part of two days. The King stole away when he learned of reenforcements coming to Waller.
Although a tactical stalemate, the King kept most of his Oxford army to fight another day and Waller's opportunity to hurt Charles significantly was lost as Waller's army disintegrated with mutiny and desertion soon thereafter.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

40-50 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A423 north out of Banbury to Southam. From Southam, take the A425 to Daventry. From Daventry, take the A361 southwest to Banbury. North of Banbury, at Williamscott, turn right onto the lane that leads to Cropredy village. As you enter Cropredy, you will see the bridge and the interpretive sign. Explore the farm lanes north and south of Cropredy to get the feel for the surrounding ground. The hill near Great Bourton is where Waller viewed the Royalists* movement. You will find Hays Bridge north of Wardington on the A361.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 151. The battlefield is centred on SP 477460. If using a road map, the battlefield is located east and northeast of Cropredy Bridge.

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By BB at 29 Nov 2006 - 08:31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | add new comment
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