Battle of Chalgrove Field

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Chalgrove Field
partof=the First English Civil War
date=June 18, 1643
place=Between Chalgrove and Chiselhampton, Oxfordshire
result=Royalist victory
combatant1=Royalists
combatant2=Parliamentarians
commander1=Prince Rupert
commander2=Sir Philip Stapleton
Colonel John Hampden +
strength1=1000 cavalry [http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/civil-war/battleview.asp?BattleFieldId=10 Battle of Chalgrove] [http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/ Battlefield Trust] , Accessed 16 June 2008]
strength2=1150 cavalry and dragoons
casualties1=
casualties2=

The Battle of Chalgrove was a skirmish during the English Civil War in the county of Oxfordshire. It took place around 09:00 hours on the morning of 18 June 1643 in Chalgrove Field, between Chalgrove and Chiselhampton in Oxfordshire. It was a minor Royalist victory and is notable for the mortal wounding of Parliamentarian Colonel John Hampden who died six days later of his wounds.

Prelude

Acting on information from Colonel Hurry, Prince Rupert took 1,800 men on 17th June on a raid to harass the Earl of Essex's army and attempt to capture his payroll of £21,000 [ [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Chalgrove.pdf English Heritage Battlefield Report: Chalgrove 1643] , English Heritage, 1995] . He surprised and destroyed Parliamentary garrisons at Postcombe and Chinnorcite web |url=http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1643-reading.htm |title=1643: The siege of Reading and Chalgrove Field] . The pay convoy avoided Rupert and Parliamentarian troops, led by Sir Philip Stapleton and Colonel John Hampden, pursued Rupert back towards Oxford. Ten miles south-east of the city, at Chalgrove, Rupert ordered his infantry ahead while his cavalry set an ambush.

The battle

The Parliamentarian horse closed quickly before the ambush could be set, leaving the two sides separated only by a large hedge. Leading the charge, RupertThe Royalist troopers quickly followed and routed the Parliamentarians in the short, sharp skirmish that followed. During this fight, John Hampden's pistol exploded in his hand and he was mortally wounded.

Aftermath

John Hampden retired to Thame where he died six days later.

Following Chalgrove, Colonel Hurry led another raid a week later which swept around Essex's army and plundered Wycombe. This led to sharp criticism of Essex in London, and he offered his resignation, which was refused.

References

Further reading

* [http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1643-reading.htm#chalgrove Chalgrove Field, Buckinghamshire, 18 June 1643] on the [http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/ British Civil Wars & Commonwealth website]
* [http://www.thevickerage.worldonline.co.uk/ecivil/chalgrove.htm Chalgrove 1643] website of [http://www.thevickerage.worldonline.co.uk/ecivil/index.htm English Civil War]