Battle of Aldbourne Chase
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Aldbourne Chase, in 1643, was a battle of the First English Civil War
, in which a flying column of Royalist
troops, led by Prince Rupert, attacked the dangerously extended Parliamentarian
troops of Essex
's army at Aldbourne Chase in Wiltshire
. The action that followed was inconclusive, but allowed the Royalists to get to Newbury ahead of the Parliamentarian army.
, Essex needed to bring his army back to London, and the Royalists saw an opportunity to stop him. Essex marched north on 10 September to Tewkesbury
to feint an attack on Worcester. However, the Royalist army blocked his path at Pershore
, and Essex decided on the southern path back to London through Swindon
, Newbury
and Reading
. On 15 September, the Parliamentarian army turned south and scattered a Royalist garrison at Cirencester
. The King's army, marching parallel to Essex, attempted to cut him off, and Rupert's cavalry rode ahead to intercept Essex. He met the army of Parliament on the 18th September at Aldbourne
.
via Hungerford
, where some of the wounded died. This allowed the King's army to occupy Newbury on the 19th September just before the Parliamentarians arrived. The delay at Aldbourne led to the First Battle of Newbury
of the 20th September.
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
, in which a flying column of Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
troops, led by Prince Rupert, attacked the dangerously extended Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
troops of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
's army at Aldbourne Chase in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. The action that followed was inconclusive, but allowed the Royalists to get to Newbury ahead of the Parliamentarian army.
Prelude
After relieving the siege of GloucesterSiege of Gloucester
The Siege of Gloucester was an engagement in the First English Civil War. It took place between August 3 and September 5, 1643, between the defending Parliamentarian garrison of Gloucester and the besieging army of King Charles I. The siege ended with the arrival of a relieving Parliamentarian army...
, Essex needed to bring his army back to London, and the Royalists saw an opportunity to stop him. Essex marched north on 10 September to Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
to feint an attack on Worcester. However, the Royalist army blocked his path at Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
, and Essex decided on the southern path back to London through Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
and Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. On 15 September, the Parliamentarian army turned south and scattered a Royalist garrison at Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
. The King's army, marching parallel to Essex, attempted to cut him off, and Rupert's cavalry rode ahead to intercept Essex. He met the army of Parliament on the 18th September at Aldbourne
Aldbourne
Aldbourne is a village and civil parish about northeast of Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. It is in a valley in the south slope of the Lambourn Downs, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
.
The battle
Dawn on the 18th September brought wet weather. Rupert's cavalry found Essex's troops extended in line of March across Aldbourne Chase. A running action ensued, including a charge by Colonel Harvey against the Royalists to no avail. The battle passed through the village of Aldbourne, where ammunition wagons were upset and destroyed to prevent their capture .Aftermath
Following the action, Essex decided to take the route to NewburyNewbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
via Hungerford
Hungerford
Hungerford is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 9 miles west of Newbury. It covers an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 5,559 .- Geography :...
, where some of the wounded died. This allowed the King's army to occupy Newbury on the 19th September just before the Parliamentarians arrived. The delay at Aldbourne led to the First Battle of Newbury
First Battle of Newbury
The First Battle of Newbury was a battle of the First English Civil War that was fought on 20 September 1643 between a Royalist army, under the personal command of King Charles, and a Parliamentarian force led by the Earl of Essex...
of the 20th September.