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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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By BB at 29 Nov 2006 - 08:52 | | | | | | | | | | | | | add new comment

Battle of Cheriton - 29 March 1644

Battle of Cheriton - 29 March 1644

Around 27 March 1644, the Royalist forces of Lord Hopton, joined by the Earl of Forth had succeeded in halting William Waller's Parliamentary forces from securing Winchester by blocking the main road between London and Winchester near Alresford. Two days of skirmishing in the area left Waller's army near the village of Hinton Ampner and Hopton's army northeast of Cheriton with pickets on a ridge overlooking Hinton Ampner to the south.
Hopton's pickets and Waller*s patrols skirmished in the night of 28/29 March and Waller had flanked Hopton's pickets on the south ridge to the point of making it untenable. Thus the day of the battle began with Waller on the south ridge and Hopton on the north ridge. Upon seeing the ground between the two forces, Waller saw that Cheriton Wood would be the key to Hopton's left flank and dispatched 1,000 musketeers there. Understanding this threat, Hopton countered with 1,000 musketeers of his own under Colonel Matthew Appleyard. The two forces met in the dense Cheriton Wood and by all accounts fought a fierce hand-to-hand melee with Appleyard*s forces securing the ground. Hopton had been frustrated by previous attempts to bring his old friend, Waller, to battle, due to Waller's pessimistic nature and previous defeats, most notably Roundway Down. Alas, Hopton would be frustrated, but not by Waller this time.
Royalist Sir Henry Bard, on his own initiative, led his regiment of foot on a ill-starred attack from the right on Sir Arthur Haselrige*s regiment of horse, known as the "lobsters" for their 3/4 armour suits. Haselrige made Bard pay for his folly and destroyed the entire regiment in plain sight of the Royalists. The Royalists were so horrified by what they saw in front of them that they felt compelled to send reenforcements to Bard. The Roundheads met the challenge and soon the entire front became engaged between the two ridges. Parrying between the two forces ended up in close quartered fighting along the hedges. Meanwhile, several cavalry actions played out over a period of hours with the Parliamentary cavalry gaining the upper hand. Finally, Waller's infantry enveloped the flanks and forced Hopton to salvage his troops and guns with an orderly retreat up today*s Scrubbs Lane towards Basing House, passing the point where the commemorative stone sits today.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

40-50 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A31 east out of Winchester towards Alton. Just before Alton, take a right on the A32 and go to West Meon. At the intersection with the A272, turn right and go to Cheriton. Near Cheriton, take a right on the B3046 and enter Cheriton. On the north side of Cheriton, take a right onto the North End Farm lane, which will turn into Badshear Lane and then Cheriton Lane. At the intersection of Cherition and Scrubbs Lane is a battle marker. For more riding, follow Scrubbs lane up to Bishops Sutton, turn left on the B3047 to Alresford, then turn right on the B3046 and go to Basingstoke following the Royalist line of retreat.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 185. The battlefield is centred on SU 598294. If using a road map, the battlefield is located northeast of Cheriton village.

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By BB at 29 Nov 2006 - 08:25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | add new comment

First Battle of Newbury - 20 Sep 1643

First Battle of Newbury - 20 September 1643

In some ways, the first battle of Newbury was similar to Edgehill. Both had a force that was trying to get to London. At Edgehill, the King was trying to get to London to threaten the city and end the war early. At Newbury, the Parliamentarians under the Earl of Essex were trying to get back to the safety London to protect his force for further operations. In both cases, the way to London was forced open, but neither battle was decisive. Both battles were to be lost opportunities for the King to successfully threaten the Parliamentary cause whilst he had the army, funds and ground to his advantage.
Essex was trying to get out of the west of England without undue damage after successfully relieving the siege of Gloucester, the last major Parliamentary bastion in the West. He had not had a major fight at Gloucester. The Royalists lifted the siege just when hearing of their approach, but set off to try to trap Essex's army away from London and kill it off. For Essex, it was one thing to help a besieged town break a siege by a cavalry heavy force. It is quite another to fight that force on open ground.
Prince Rupert harried Essex's march so much that the King's forces were able to secure Newbury and its river crossings before Essex, which blocked the road to London. Essex tried to skirt south of the King's positions, but ended up meeting them on Wash Common to the southwest of Newbury. Eventually a battle line running from the River Kennet in the north to Wash Common in the south was established. However, most of the fighting happened on and around Wash Common and atop Round Hill as both sides realised the importance of the route through there and the advantages it gave over the lower ground in the north.
The fighting involved a protracted artillery duel, infantry surges and cavalry charges, all to little effect for either side. Both sides settled that night largely where they started the day. Unfortunately for the Royalists, they were short on gunpowder and had to retire from the field overnight, which left the route open for Essex to file through the southwestern gap.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

50-60 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the A343 southwest out of Newbury to Andover, one of the great roads in south-central England. Near Andover, take the north-side ring road to the A342. Turn right on the A342 northwest to Ludgershall. Turn right on the A346 to Cadley. At Cadley, join the A338 going north to Burbage. Near Burbage, take a right on the roundabout, staying on the A338 towards Hungerford. From Hungerford, take the A4 back to Newbury. At the beginning or end of the ride, explore the residential and farm lanes around the battlefield, which is near Wash Common.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 174. The battlefield is centred on SU 454662. If using a road map, the battlefield is located in West Newbury around Wash Common.

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By BB at 29 Nov 2006 - 08:03 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | add new comment
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