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 a 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 (follow Tengore Lane for a good simulation of the movement) 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. There is a footpath that leads right through the likely pass and up Ham Down.

The Battlefield Biker and CabAz at "the pass."

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 and beyond.

Ride Recommendation

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33.4 miles. The route leads down to Langport and its environs. On the Wagg Drove you are bisecting the battlefield. Around Langport you can get several viewing angles of the battlefield from Ham Down, Wagg Drove and Pitney Hill. The ride finishes at the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton.
Use Ordnance Survey Explorer 129. The battlefield is centred on ST 441276. If using a road map, the battlefield is located 15 miles east of Taunton.

Book and Map Recommendations

Technorati Tags: 1600s 1640s 1645 A-372 A-39 B-3153 B-3165 Bethel Cromwell English Civil War Fairfax Goring Ham Down Huish Episcopi Langport Langport M-5 Pitney Hill Porter ST 441276 Taunton Taunton Wagg Rhyne Yeovilton motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

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.

Goring's approximate view into the battle area (his horse had a little less horsepower)

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.

Ride Recommendation

This ride runs right through the battle area, which is centred on grid SE 491522 in between Long Marston and Tockwith. (Ordnance Survey Landranger map 105)

Book Recommendations

Technorati Tags: 1600s 1640s 1644 A59 Atterwith Lane B-1224 Cromwell English Civil War Fairfax Goring Hessay Kendal Lane late evening Long Marston Rupert SE 491522 siege Tockwith Wetherby York York motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

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. Cromwell was so confident that he wanted to goad the Royalists, especially Prince Rupert, into a fight by giving them a better chance. This level of confidence was not misplaced. Cromwell's actions, as well as the actions of Prince Rupert, were to confirm their reputations. Rupert was the European shock trooper with elan and Cromwell was 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 with Prince Maurice, and then cross behind the Roundhead centre to turn Cromwell's flank. All of this was to happen as the Royalist infantry tied down the middle with a quick and unannounced push (i.e. no artillery preparation). Cromwell was supposed to be kept in check by Langdale's cavalry and a rough ground of rabbit warrens and heavy gorse. The first part went well as Roundhead Ireton's cavalry (Parliamentarian left) 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 (the New Model Army infantry reserve?) 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. The Royalist infantry held more than their own and actually worked through the New Model Army's infantry, only to find the reserve behind the ridge.

The view from the center of the New Model Army Infantry looking North to Dust Hill

Unfortunately for the Royalists, Cromwell also performed to stereotype. After working through the rough ground on the Royalist left, Cromwell attacked and dispersed Langdale's cavalry. Then Cromwell worked over the Lifeguard who had come to the aid of the cavalry only to join the flight. However, rather than pursue the Royalist cavalry off the field, Cromwell held a blocking position as his cavalry reserve completed the encirclement of virtually the entire Royalist infantry. The King watched the whole thing unfold he and Rupert tried to rally his cavalry for a counter attack, but thought better of it as he watched his infantry surrender. To add insult to injury, Cromwell's cavalry harried them all the way to Leicester.

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.

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

Try this ride to and from Northampton that criss-crosses the battlefield north of the village Naseby. There are two major monuments on these roads with the main one, due north of Naseby on the Sibbertoft Road, giving a sweeping view of the battlefield and an interpretative board.

Book Recommendations: Cromwell's War Machine & Naseby from Amazon.co.uk

Map Recommendation: Ordnance Survey Landranger 141 (Kettering & Corby) from AbeBooks.com or Amazon.com

Accor Hotels in the Northampton area

Technorati Tags: 1600s 1640s 1645 A14 A4304 A5199 Cromwell English Civil War Fairfax King Charles I Leicestershire Market Harborough Northamptonshire Prince Rupert Thornby motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields