The Battles of Newbury by Christopher L. Scott

Author:Christopher L. Scott [Scott, Christopher L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Modern, 17th Century, Europe, Great Britain, General, Reference, Atlases; Gazetteers & Maps
ISBN: 9781844688524
Google: 4gXMDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2008-07-15T03:19:15+00:00

The River Lambourne; although not very deep, it was a substantial obstacle to movement.

The King’s army held a strong defensive position, the fortified works making it ominously difficult to attack. This was not lost on Waller and Manchester, upon whom the divided command had settled since Essex’s worsening condition prevented him from returning to the campaign. However, from their vantage point on Clay Hill the two commanders surveyed the triangle of strongpoints and pondered their options. One option they did not have was to do nothing. They had gained the strategic advantage, and if they engaged immediately the odds would be greatly in their favour, as Rupert and Northampton had not yet arrived with their experienced Horse. Moreover, a major victory at Newbury could destroy the King’s army and bring the war to a rapid close. They had to attack.

Waller and Manchester decided that a frontal attack from east to west with the strongly fortified Shaw House in the centre would be both risky and costly, especially as they had to cross the Lambourne and the guns of Donnington Castle could support the Royalists’ left flank. Such an attack would also channel their larger army into a narrow front and thus negate their superior numbers. They needed a plan that would not only divide the Royalists’ firepower but also stretch their defensive capabilities. It was decided to try a rear attack. They would divide their forces. Manchester, with 3,000 of his own Foot, supported by 1,500 Horse in three brigades, one each from Waller’s army, the Eastern Association and the London Horse, would keep the Royalists facing Clay Hill busy, while Waller, with the rest of his cavalry, all of Essex’s army, Harrington’s London Brigade and Cromwell leading the remainder of the Eastern Association Horse, would undertake a long march, stealthily circumnavigating the whole Royalist position and eventually coming out on the other side of Newbury to attack Speen from the west, effectively taking the King’s army in the rear.

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