Reading sees King in action

7/8 April 1644 The Reading campaign http://www.flickr.com/photos/1644campaign/ Following the onset of dry weather, troops began to move. Essex prepared his troops for battle on prepared ground just outside Tywford, four miles to the north east of Reading. The King and Hopton got ready to move on Essex and give battle at Tywford On 7 April, Waller left his Farnham base and marched north west towards Reading. By the evening he had reached Phoenix Cross some 13 miles south of Reading. News of his arrival stirred the King into action and the Royalists resolved to march at first light on the 8 April. Essex too received news of Waller’s approach and decided to move away from Twyford at first light and attempt to meet up with Waller to the south of Reading. Being in the field and ready for action meant that at 7am Essex’s army were up and ready to move- heading south down the a 321 and then b3030. By 9am they had travelled 3.5 miles and were approaching Winhersh. The column of march stretched some 2 miles back up the road though. The King’s army was some what slow to leave Reading and its environs. Scouts left the town at first light and headed up the A4 to Twyford. They reached the outskirts by 8am to discover Essex was on the march down the south road. The army finally left Reading at 8.15am and by 9am had marched almost 2 miles and received the news about Essex’s manoeuvres. Both sides continued marching and by mid day Essex’s column had reached Three Mile Cross to the south of Reading but stretched 2 miles back towards Winhersh. The King’s army was just one mile east of Winhersh meaning that a gap of 2.5miles lay between Essex’s rear guard and the King’s rapidly closing forces. It is likely that the rear guard will be caught by the King within the next 3-4 hours if marching continues. However. No news of Waller has been heard of by either side.... By noon it was clear that both sides were strung out in column of march. The King’s army was marching faster than Essex’s men and will catch them sometime during the afternoon if nothing changed. Essex therefore decided to make a stand and hope that he could fight off the King. And maybe Waller would appear. At 1pm Hopton’s advance guard of 3 cavalry regiments charged Essex’s rearguard. After a thirty minute struggle Hopton prevailed. But Essex had more troops feeding back onto the field who managed to stem the Royalist tide. Both sides fed troops across the battlefield but the Royalist left and centre began to get the upperhand. Parliament’s men looked to be overwhelmed. Hopton’s horse pushed far into the Parliamentary rear ranks but was shot down the column of foot emerging on the battlefield. Just as the Roundhead’s looked doomed, Waller’s horsement turned up around 2.30 and the next hour saw more horse and then Waller’s foot arrive on the field. Waller’s cavalry was pushed round the Royalist right and swept around it, taking some artillery in the process. However in the centre the Royalists still had strong forces facing a thinning Roundhead line. Astley’s foot held off the Parliamentarians giving the 3 central Royalist regiments of the Kings foot Astleys other foot to hold in place. On the Royalist left near the village saw them edge closer to victory with the Balfour’s Roundhead horse giving way leaving Bulstrode’s foot to hold what remained of the Parliamentary right flank. By half four the Royalists seeing their right flank collapse decided total victory was beyond despite victory on their left - them so decided to retreat back to Reading. It was clear the Royalist’s had had the better of the fight but that sheer numbers had prevented them from carrying the field. Waller had saved the day; but only just in time. Losses seemed to be that the Royalists had about half their regiments flee from the field. Parliament also had about the same run away but of course with Waller’s men had significantly more troops,12000, engaged than the Royalist 7500. Whilst the Royalists retreated back to Reading, covered by their remaining cavalry, the Roundheads spent the day and the April 9 on the battlefield resting and recovering their dead and wounded.

4 April Plymouth under seige

Maurice continues to be unopposed in the south west. Plymouth is now underseige and despite the best efforts of parliament's navy it appears that its fall is likely before the end of the month.

Montrose captures Scotland

Glasgow has fallen under Montrose's spell and his army now holds the major city. The lowlands and highlands await his next move....

Double blow for Royalists

On 17 March Brereton marched his Parliamentary force into Shrewsbury and captured the town for the Roundheads. He is now well poised to strike at an undefended Bristol(teeming with Royalist gold) or move north to threaten Chester and Royalist links with Ireland. An even bigger blow against the Royalists was struck by Leven when the city of Newcastle surrended with honours to the Scots on 20 March. This leaves the north east of England open to a Scots invasion with a linkup with Fairfax and Manchester's forces now a real possibility.

Standoff at Reading - late March

News is filtering across the country that since mid March the King and Hopton's joint army has been attempting to get to grips with the Earl of Essex. Word is that Reading is the focal point of their campaign but snow and heavy rain have put paid to any chance of a pitched battle. Word has not been forthcoming about whether a decisive battle has yet been fought.

The King's speech!

And so as the days draw longer and all manner of creatures begin to emerge from their deep winter fast we should be looking toward long days spent under the summer sun that brings ease to our tired frames longing to purge the ague of a long damp winter. But this year as last and the one before I fear we cannot allow ourselves to dream of such simple joys. The dark clouds of war remain leaden and cast over my Kingdom as if tethered by an unseen shroud that neither man nor a great multitude of beasts can shift. Of late news has spread the length and breath of the Kingdom telling of a great battle fought at Bramham between the combined forces of my Nephew Prince Rupert, and my most loyal Lord’s Byron and Newcastle. Our forces won a great victory leaving the rebel forces under the Earl of Manchester and Fairfax cowering under a bush licking their wounds and so, I’m told asking Parliament to send furniture. What manner of soldiers are they to fight with a chair leg and a carpet beater? But in less mirth I hope with all my heart that we can bring a close to the unnecessary bloodshed of this war that only Parliament seems to want to wage. Were we could sit down with good counsel and resolve matter than that the future of the Kingdom be decided by brains beaten from a brow lying spilt in the furrows of some muddy field. My Lord Hopton has certainly had the better of his old friend Sir William Waller, and their struggle to which they are undeniably chained can only emphasise the struggle we all face, not only is our Kingdom wrenched apart by the fowl smell of saltpetre but friends and worse still families now live in fear of each other. But my greatest worry of all is that this war amongst friends will not bring peace to either fraction or our Kingdom to a greater place than that from which it left and no let there be no mistaking the real beneficiaries of this ungodly struggle will be the Scots. Every hour we fight as pugilists their hodden clad mass takes its toll, have they not raped and plundered their way through our northern most lands enough already? They say they know not whom they fight for, lest they be doing the bidding of this Parliament but if the truth be out we all know who they fight for. Themselves and that alone. Great Britons, rise up, let us not fall out amongst ourselves but unite and forget such squabbles as we have had over these last years, return to merry England with the sweet smell of roses and the cross o’ St George flying high. Unite us against this heathen mass that will not stop even once it has ripped our hearts from the bosom of our lands. Be assured of this, they mean to rape and pillage until there is none left on this island but their own. Together we stand strong, let us unite and stamp upon this troublesome thistle until it is broken. Parliament on your heads and in your hands alone be the wanton destruction of this Kingdom. The Oxford army and those that march with us are of greatest resolve more so than the tapsters and tradesmen free to drink their fill in the taverns of London reading of this war if it were a play and on whom you rely to be called soldiers. No sirs god is with us and should you choose to deny the rights of the Lord God then gentlemen on your hands alone be the destruction of this great nation. Our armies have weathered the storms of winter well. Or supporters grow in number as each longer day passes and we have enjoyed our merry walks across the fields of England keeping a watchful eye on those who would do Parliament’s bidding. But soone as that strengthening sun rises higher each day drying the mud and bakes it hard to rutted waggon ways then the guns will roll once more. Be afraid Parliament of god for in his infinite wisdom there is no doubt that cometh the hour, cometh the hour when the King shall enjoy his own again. But gentlemen we are friends, there is no need for such fighting talk let us lay down our arms bore against one and other and let us together throw back the hissing, spiting, vengeful Scottish manticore. For should you not bid this, my forces rise ever stronger in the west, in the north, in the far north where a thorn grows ever sharper and yet even closer to Parliament and I shall not bid my soldiers to stop until we knock on the very doors of the house itself and then gentlemen those that are most well shod having grown fat and rich through the needs of supplies to and the spoils of this war, then those gentlemen be best running the fastest away but I fear there are not enough fields in England for them to cross and yet make distance between those themselves and those that god favours." Charles I England, March 1644

parliament's report 28 March 1644

Quarterly Report of the Committee of Both Houses This year of 1644 shows great promise for the true and glorious cause of Parliament against the King's advisors. Our allies the Scots have started thier march to the south to assist us in liberating ourselves from the yoke of the advisors oppression. Our commanders in the north, namely Manchester and Fairfax have met the enemy in battle and roundly beaten them. The junction of these combined forces will give us overwhelming superiority to the forces of our enemies and the whole of the north will flock to our banners. It will then only be a matter of time before these forces advance on the heartlands of the enemies to deliver the final blows of this war. In the south of the country we have actively harried our opponents and delivered them some mighty blows. We are still strong and have the capacity to advance upon their so called capital at Oxford when the time is right. Meanwhile our fleet is active and has swept the sea clear of royalist privateers. We control the Channel and continue to supply our forces in coastal garrisons which in turn hold down far larger forces of our enemies. In this way we weaken our foes while building up our forces under Waller and Essex to take part in what we are sure will be the final acts of this tragic war.