Battle of Sourton Down

Battle of Sourton Down

Battle of Sourton Down was a battle of the first English civil war that took place on 25 April 1643. Sourton Down lies on the edge of Dartmoor west of Okehampton in Devon.

The battle involved Cornish Royalist troops under Sir Ralph Hopton who were ambushed by Major-General James Chudleigh with his cavalry. Captain Drake also led a charge against Royalist dragoons.

Other Royalist commanders included Lord Mohun, Sir Bevil Grenville [ [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_grenvile.html Sir Bevil Grenvile, 1596-1643, Cornish Royalist General] ] and Sir Nicholas Slanning.

The Parliamentarians attacked but were eventually driven back and the Royalists took up defensive positions among ancient earthworks on the moor. Reinforcements of infantry came from Okehampton and Chudleigh and continued to threaten the Royalists, but as skirmishing continued into the night, a violent rain storm broke over the battlefield with added to the confusion and terror.

Grenvile played a key part in a stand amongst the Royalist guns that saved the Cornish army from destruction but eventually the Royalists were routed and left behind their weapons, stores and gunpowder. Hopton's portmanteau was also captured. It contained letters from the King ordering the Cornish army to join forces with the Earl of Hertford and Prince Maurice in Somerset.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Battle of Marston Moor — Part of English Civil War The Battle of Marston Moor, by J. Barker …   Wikipedia

  • First English Civil War — The First English Civil War (1642–1646) was the first of three wars known as the English Civil War (or Wars ). The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and… …   Wikipedia

  • Cornwall in the English Civil War — Maps of territory held by Royalists (red) and Parliamentarians (green), 1642 1645 Cornwall played a significant role in the English Civil War, being a Royalist enclave in the generally Parliamentarian south west. Contents …   Wikipedia

  • Nicholas Slanning — Sir Nicholas Slanning (1 September 1606 – July/August 1643)[1] was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He was a Royalist army officer active in the West of England, during the English Civil War.… …   Wikipedia

  • Битва при Эджхилле — Английская гражданская война Дата 23 октября, 1642 Место Эджхилл Итог …   Википедия

  • Сражение при Несби — Английская гражданская война Дата 14 июня 1645 года Место Несби, Нортгемптонши …   Википедия

  • Битва при Марстон-Муре — Бой при Марстон Муре Английская гражданская война The Battle of Marston Moor, by J. Barker Дата July 2, 1644 …   Википедия

  • Бой при Марстон-Муре — Английская гражданская война Сражение при Марстон Мур, by J. Barker …   Википедия

  • Битва при Адуолтон-Муре — Английская гражданская война Дата 30 июня 1643 Место Адуолтон Мур (возл …   Википедия

  • Битва при Эджгилле — Битва при Эджхилле Английская гражданская война Дата 23 октября, 1642 Место Edge Hill, Warwickshire Итог Inconclusive …   Википедия

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”