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English Civil War

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · Mar 1

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

📸: Steve Liddle

#history #reenactment #battle #battlereenactment #englishcivilwar #britishcivilwar #warofthreekingdoms #royalist #parliament #newport #supplies #education

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

His decision to withdraw had come following news of an approaching Parliamentarian army and having received no update on the supplies he crucially needed. When Parliament recaptured the town they fortified it so that no Royalist force could easily capture the town again.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

When the Royalists decided to send supplies to Newport Pagnell they realised that they no longer had enough carts to transport the material, causing further delays. On the 27th October 1643, Sir Dyve decided to withdraw from the town and head to safety.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

But the request for supplies was not immediately granted by the Royalist high command. While Prince Rupert argued that the supplies should be sent immediately the other Royalist commanders and advisors to the King wanted to consider other requests first.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

Therefore it was imperative for Sir Dyve to be resupplied so that he could defend the town from a Parliamentarian counterattack.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

On the 6th October 1643 a Royalist force commanded by Sir Lewis Dyve captured the small, but important, town of Newport Pagnell. Royalist control of the town would sever the supply route between London and the eastern counties.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

In some cases the army high commanders had to make difficult choices about which forces would be prioritised supplies. In other cases it was the result of poor logistics and communication that left forces devoid of supplies.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

Throughout the Civil Wars the need for supplies was a problem both sides struggled with. The failure to resupply the armies would both cripple their ability to fight effectively and lower the morale of the soldiers.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 6h

Holding out for supplies!

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 1d

This enquiry eventually led to members of the Houses of Commons and Lords being barred from holding any command. Parliament’s military would be completely restructured, leading to the creation of the New Model Army.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 1d

Infuriated by what he saw as unwilling and incompetent leadership, Cromwell demanded an enquiry into the conduct of Parliament’s commanders, including the Earl of Manchester.

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 1d

The dispute between Parliament’s high command would only worsen, coming to a head in the aftermath of the Second Battle of Newbury later that year. Despite outnumbering the Royalists, delays and poor communication prevented Parliament from taking advantage.

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 1d

Parliament’s alliance with Scotland meant that the Earl of Manchester was inclined to support Crawford, causing further friction with Cromwell, who had begun to question Manchester’s willingness to continue the war.

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 1d

The main source of the conflict was the dispute between Oliver Cromwell and Scottish commander, Lawrence Crawford. Crawford and Cromwell had clashed upon Crawford’s promotion to Sergeant Major General of Foot, due to their conflicting religious beliefs, and those of Cromwell’s cavalry.

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 1d

Division Strikes Parliament ⚔️

By the time Parliament’s army of the Eastern Association reached the East Anglia town of Huntingdon in September of 1644, its high command found itself beset by infighting.

📷: Michael Molcher

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

📸: Mike Graham

#history #reenactment #battle #battlereenactment #shelfordhouse #royalist #parliament #englishcivilwar #britishcivilwar #warofthreekingdoms #siege #education #didyouknow

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

An estimated 80% of the defenders died in the initial assault before Poyntz could reign his men back into control. Stanhope’s body was looted and then thrown onto a dung heap. The house was then looted of all valuables before being burned to the ground.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

Following this refusal Poyntz ordered the castle to be stormed. Using intelligence from a captured turncoat the Parliamentarians stormed through the defences of the house, slaughtering any that tried to defend it. As most of the defenders were soldiers from Ireland they received no mercy.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

Not wanting to storm the small fortress Poyntz sent forward an envoy to demand the garrison to surrender. Despite being heavily outnumbered Stanhope refused and stated that he would instead “lay Nottingham Castle as flatt as a pancake.”

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

But this house became a target for Parliamentarian Sydnam Poyntz who was marching towards Newark in his pursuit of the King. With his army of nearly 9000 men it was clear who would be the victor in this battle.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

Shelford House was controlled by Royalist Sir Philip Stanhope. Here Stanhope had a garrison of two hundred soldiers to protect the area from Parliamentarian raids from Nottingham, Derby or Leicester. It also served as a staging base for Royalist raiders travelling from Newark.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

It is often commonly assumed that the most violent days of the Civil War were on its largest battlefields, but some of the most notorious incidents occurred during minor skirmishes. One of the most violent affairs of the Civil War took place in November 1645 when Shelford House was stormed.

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 2d

Brace the door! ⚔️

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Reposted by English Civil War

English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 3d

We're still buzzing after our final event of the year – occupying the town of Newent in Gloucestershire for Newent Celebrates! What an amazing weekend, check out what we got up to here 👇👇👇
earlofmanchesters.co.uk/no-tears-all...

No tears, all fun as Newent Celebrated!

What an amazing end to our reenactment season – Newent Celebrates! may have ended up a bit wet but the only tears were those of our competition-winning onion eaters! Newent is a historic town in the h...

earlofmanchesters.co.uk

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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 3d

There was no guarantee the rank and file soldier would even be given a sword. One Parliamentarian regiment of over 1,000 men was recorded as only receiving 538 swords, leaving the rest to rely on their pikes, muskets or whatever else they could find.