The Battle of Edgehill

Charles marched his army from Shrewsbury on 12th October, intending to make straight for London. However, Essex also marched for London from Worcester, almost parallel to Charles' route.

On the 21st October they were but 7 miles apart. Realising the danger of marching on without checking Essex' advance, Prince Rupert persuaded Charles to deploy on the slopes of Edgehill.

Essex, not having realised that the opposing army was so close drew up quite a distance from the slopes during the day. The battle would not commence until afternoon. Both armies arranged their infantry in the centre, with cavalry on both sides. Dragoons were positioned on the flanks to guard against flanking manoeuvres.

The main Royalist horse, under Rupert, was on the right, opposite Sir James Ramsey's horse. On the Royalist left was Henry Wilmot who was opposite Fielding's horse. Unlike the Royalists, Essex kept a reserve of two horse regiments under the command of Stapleton and Balfour.

The Royalists had five brigades of infantry in their centre, opposite Essex's three brigades and two regiments. The number of troops overall, though was between 13 and 14 thousand each.

Charles I rode past his army in order to raise morale before the battle. This resulted in a cheer from the Royalist ranks. The parliamentary army responded with artillery fire, which began a period of about an hour of artillery fire from both sides.

Prince Rupert initiated the battle proper by charging his cavalry brigade at the Parliamentary cavalry opposite. At the sight of this, Sir Faithful Fortescue tore off his orange sash and rode to join the Royalists! Demoralised, the remaining cavalry routed and rode through the infantry that were supporting them. Four infantry regiments then broke and ran.

Meanwhile, on the other flank, Wilmot also charged the Royalist horse at the opposing cavalry. He too succeeded in routing his opposition, although the infantry remained untouched. In an error that was to prove critical, both cavalry brigades then continued their pursuit, running down the routed troops. This action took them far from the battlefield, and many of Rupert's horse occupied themselves sacking the town of Kineton.

This left the Royalist army with no cavalry whatsoever! The parliamentarian reserve, though, was as yet unscathed. Two cavalry regiments lead by Stapleton and Balfour we able to assist the infantry without fear of cavalry assault.

The Royalist foot in the centre attacked, but were held by their opposites, with no side gaining an advantage. This did not last, though, since Balfour charged his cavalry into their rear, and the whole brigade was routed with heavy casualties.

Essex, keen to press the attack whilst he had cavalry superiority, ordered a general advance. Again, this was held by the opposing troops. Yet again, the cavalry harassment of the Royalist rear caused the troops to give ground.

The Royal Foot Guards were broken by repeated combined cavalry and infantry attacks, and the royal standard was taken by Essex' Lifeguard only to be recaptured soon after by an act of heroism by a Royalist officer.

Although the number of Royalists running was increasing, an ordered withdrawal of two regiments enabled a new defensive line to be created. Although Essex could have attacked again, it was getting dark, Rupert's cavalry were returning to the field and everyone was exhausted from the fighting, so he decided to disengage.

Both sides camped on the battlefield and in the morning, the Royalists moved up Edgehill, and were not pursued.

The battle of Edgehill, which could have gone either way, remained inconclusive and the Earl of Essex's subsequent withdrawal to Warwick left the road to London open for the Royalists to continue their advance on the capital. This eventually leading to the engagements at Brentford and Turnham Green.