Battle of Gainsborough
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Gainsborough was a battle in the English Civil War
, fought on 28 July 1643.
in Lincolnshire
lay in an area which supported Parliament
, but the town itself had Royalist
sympathies. The town was of strategic importance to both sides, sited as it was on a crossing of the River Trent
and laying on a crossing of important roads leading south and north. In March 1643 Sir John Henderson sent a raiding party
from the Royalist base at Newark
to capture Gainsborough for the King
. The town was surrounded and quickly surrendered without any resistance.
The town was put into the charge of the Earl of Kingston
and was used as a base to harass the Parliamentarians in Lincolnshire. Royalist attacks at Louth
and Market Rasen
, together with the capture of gunpowder
intended for Rotherham, provoked Parliament into action. Lord Willoughby of Parham
launched a surprise night attack on Gainsborough on 16 July 1643 and captured it. The Earl of Kingston was later killed by a cannon ball
from his own men
as he was being taken as prisoner down the river to Hull.
Willoughby's triumph was short-lived. The Royalists immediately sent Charles Cavendish
with a force to retake Gainsborough. Parliament sent forces from Nottingham
under Sir John Meldrum
and Colonel Oliver Cromwell
from Cambridgeshire
to relieve and reinforce the town. The two forces met on 27 July at North Scarle
, ten miles south of Gainsborough, where they were joined by a detachment from Lincoln.
, just south of Gainsborough, they met an advanced guard of 100 horse
, part of Cavendish's army. After a short skirmish the horsemen were driven back to Cavendish's main body which was drawn up on top of Foxby Hill to the east of the town. The Royalists consisted of three regiments of Horse with a further regiment in reserve
, and they had the strategic advantage. The Lincoln troops were ordered to advance up the steep and sandy gradient, and upon reaching the top they came face to face with the Royalist Horse. As the Lincolners were forming up, Cavendish attacked. Cromwell, seeing this, charged with his own cavalry
to meet Cavendish. After some fierce horse to horse fighting, the Royalist Horse gradually began to fall back, eventually fleeing from the battlefield pursued by the Parliamentary cavalry.
With the Parliamentary Horse gone, Cavendish took advantage by counter-attacking the remaining Lincoln troops with his reserve regiment. But Cromwell was still on the field with a reserve of three troops of Horse. He charged into Cavendish's rear, forcing the Royalists down the hill and into the flat marshy land
of the Trent, where 300 Royalists were slaughtered. Cavendish was knocked off his horse and killed by a sword thrust in the chest. The place where he was killed was later known as Candish Bog.
At Morton
they drove off two troops of Horse. Then climbing a hill, they were shocked to discover the army of Lord Newcastle
consisting of about 30 regiments of Foot and a great body of Horse, who were marching on Gainsborough to retake it for the King. Willoughby's foot soldiers fell back in disorder. With his own men and horses exhausted by the recent battle, Cromwell ordered a withdrawal. In a disciplined rearguard
action, two parties of Horse, one from Cromwell's regiment and one from the Lincolners, stood firm and retired alternately in order to cover the main force. With the loss of only two men, they held back the Royalists until finally reaching the safety of Lincoln.
Meanwhile Newcastle was besieging Gainsborough, and fired on the town with cannon
, setting fire to part of it. After a three day siege
, Willoughby surrendered on 31 July. Newcastle then turned his forces around and headed north to besiege Hull
, leaving a Royalist garrison at Gainsborough. With the town back in Royalist hands, raiding parties once more started to harass Parliamentary held areas.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, fought on 28 July 1643.
Prelude
When the English Civil War was declared, GainsboroughGainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
lay in an area which supported Parliament
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...
, but the town itself had 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...
sympathies. The town was of strategic importance to both sides, sited as it was on a crossing of the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
and laying on a crossing of important roads leading south and north. In March 1643 Sir John Henderson sent a raiding party
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
from the Royalist base at Newark
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
to capture Gainsborough for the King
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. The town was surrounded and quickly surrendered without any resistance.
The town was put into the charge of the Earl of Kingston
Robert Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull
Robert Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull was an English nobleman-Family:He was the second son of Sir Henry Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire, and Frances Cavendish, daughter of the Rt. Hon. Sir William Cavendish and Elizabeth Hardwick...
and was used as a base to harass the Parliamentarians in Lincolnshire. Royalist attacks at Louth
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
and Market Rasen
Market Rasen
Market Rasen is a town and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the River Rase northeast of Lincoln, east of Gainsborough and southwest of Grimsby. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 3,200....
, together with the capture of gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
intended for Rotherham, provoked Parliament into action. Lord Willoughby of Parham
Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham was an English peer of the House of Lords.He succeeded to the title 14 October 1617 on the death in infancy of his elder brother Henry Willoughby, 4th Lord Willoughby of Parham...
launched a surprise night attack on Gainsborough on 16 July 1643 and captured it. The Earl of Kingston was later killed by a cannon ball
Round shot
Round shot is a solid projectile without explosive charge, fired from a cannon. As the name implies, round shot is spherical; its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the gun it is fired from.Round shot was made in early times from dressed stone, but by the 17th century, from iron...
from his own men
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
as he was being taken as prisoner down the river to Hull.
Willoughby's triumph was short-lived. The Royalists immediately sent Charles Cavendish
Charles Cavendish (general)
Charles Cavendish was an English royalist general, killed at the battle of Gainsborough.-Life:He was second son of William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire and his wife Christiana, born on 30 May 1620, and named after Prince Charles, his godfather. In 1638 he was sent abroad to travel with a...
with a force to retake Gainsborough. Parliament sent forces from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
under Sir John Meldrum
John Meldrum
Sir John Meldrum was a soldier of Scottish origin who spent 36 years in the service of the Stuart kings of Scotland and England, James VI and I and Charles I. In 1636, Meldrum was granted by letters-patent from the king licence to continue and renew the lighthouses erected by Charles I on the...
and Colonel Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
from Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
to relieve and reinforce the town. The two forces met on 27 July at North Scarle
North Scarle
North Scarle is a village and civil parish situated on the county boundary with Nottinghamshire on the River Trent in the district of North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England...
, ten miles south of Gainsborough, where they were joined by a detachment from Lincoln.
The battle
The next day, 28 July 1643, the 1200 strong force marched north. At the village of LeaLea, Lincolnshire
Lea is a small village and parish on the outskirts of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. It is at the junction of the A156 and B1241, approximately 2 miles south of Gainsborough town centre and 14 miles north-west of Lincoln....
, just south of Gainsborough, they met an advanced guard of 100 horse
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, part of Cavendish's army. After a short skirmish the horsemen were driven back to Cavendish's main body which was drawn up on top of Foxby Hill to the east of the town. The Royalists consisted of three regiments of Horse with a further regiment in reserve
Military reserve
A military reserve, tactical reserve, or strategic reserve is a group of military personnel or units which are initially not committed to a battle by their commander so that they are available to address unforeseen situations or exploit suddenly developing...
, and they had the strategic advantage. The Lincoln troops were ordered to advance up the steep and sandy gradient, and upon reaching the top they came face to face with the Royalist Horse. As the Lincolners were forming up, Cavendish attacked. Cromwell, seeing this, charged with his own cavalry
Ironside (cavalry)
The Ironsides were troopers in the Parliamentarian cavalry formed by English political leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century, during the English Civil War. The name came from "Old Ironsides", one of Cromwell's nicknames...
to meet Cavendish. After some fierce horse to horse fighting, the Royalist Horse gradually began to fall back, eventually fleeing from the battlefield pursued by the Parliamentary cavalry.
With the Parliamentary Horse gone, Cavendish took advantage by counter-attacking the remaining Lincoln troops with his reserve regiment. But Cromwell was still on the field with a reserve of three troops of Horse. He charged into Cavendish's rear, forcing the Royalists down the hill and into the flat marshy land
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
of the Trent, where 300 Royalists were slaughtered. Cavendish was knocked off his horse and killed by a sword thrust in the chest. The place where he was killed was later known as Candish Bog.
Aftermath
With the battle over, Cromwell rode into Gainsborough with supplies for Willoughby's garrison. While this was being done, news arrived that a small Royalist force was marching on Gainsborough from the north. Cromwell and Meldrum, thinking this was a remnant of Cavendish's force not yet engaged, rode out to meet them with 600 of Willoughby's foot soldiers.At Morton
Morton by Gainsborough
Morton is a village and civil parish directly north of the town of Gainsborough, on the River Trent, in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England....
they drove off two troops of Horse. Then climbing a hill, they were shocked to discover the army of Lord Newcastle
William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle
William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne KG KB PC was an English polymath and aristocrat, having been a poet, equestrian, playwright, swordsman, politician, architect, diplomat and soldier...
consisting of about 30 regiments of Foot and a great body of Horse, who were marching on Gainsborough to retake it for the King. Willoughby's foot soldiers fell back in disorder. With his own men and horses exhausted by the recent battle, Cromwell ordered a withdrawal. In a disciplined rearguard
Rear guard
A rear guard or rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal...
action, two parties of Horse, one from Cromwell's regiment and one from the Lincolners, stood firm and retired alternately in order to cover the main force. With the loss of only two men, they held back the Royalists until finally reaching the safety of Lincoln.
Meanwhile Newcastle was besieging Gainsborough, and fired on the town with cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
, setting fire to part of it. After a three day siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
, Willoughby surrendered on 31 July. Newcastle then turned his forces around and headed north to besiege Hull
Siege of Hull (1643)
The unsuccessful second Siege of Hull by the Royalist Earl of Newcastle in 1643 was a victory for Parliament at the high point of the Royalist campaign in the First English Civil War...
, leaving a Royalist garrison at Gainsborough. With the town back in Royalist hands, raiding parties once more started to harass Parliamentary held areas.