In February 1644, the Royalist commander Prince Rupert moved to Wales to take up his new post of President of Wales. In May of the year, however, he marched with his available forces to Lancashire, leaving Oswestry garrisoned by a small force under the command of Colonel Edward Lloyd. At that time, the Royalists of the Oswestry garrison were responsible for the control of Wales and the Marches.[2] With the absence of Prince Rupert, the local Parliamentarians led by Lord Denbigh and Colonel Thomas Mytton decided in June 1644 to take control of the walled town and castle.[1]
The battleedit
The attack began at 14:00 hours on 22 June as the Parliamentarians had learned from spies that the garrison at that time was not fully defended as the Governor had taken some Parliamentary prisoners to Shrewsbury.[3] The Parliamentarian cavalry was deployed in the rear to guard against relief attempts while 200 foot moved up to attack the town. In their initial attack, the Parliamentarians first captured the defended St Oswald's church which stood outside the town walls and then demolished the main gate of the town with cannon fire. The Royalist defenders withdrew to Oswestry Castle and the Parliamentarians occupied the town. The following morning the Royalist garrison was persuaded to surrender. Lord Denbigh then set off in pursuit of Prince Rupert, leaving Colonel Mytton to garrison the town.[1]
Aftermathedit
As the loss of Oswestry severed communications between Chester and Shrewsbury, Sir Fulke Huncke, the Royalist commander in Shrewsbury, felt obliged to recover the town and set off on a relief mission with 2000 infantry and 600 cavalry. Lord Denbigh, who had by now reached Cheshire, sent back Sir Thomas Myddelton with a force of cavalry to support the Parliamentarian defenders. Colonel Marrow led out the Royalist cavalry to intercept Myddelton's force, but was routed on 2 July by the Parliamentary cavalry at Whittington, some three miles from Oswestry.[1][2]
Faced by the loss of his cavalry, Huncke was forced to return to Shrewsbury. Oswestry Castle was later destroyed by the Parliamentarians by 1650.[4]
battle, oswestry, 86111, 05524, 86111, 05524, part, first, english, civil, warremains, oswestry, castledate22, june, 1644locationoswestry, shropshireresultparliamentarian, victorybelligerentsroyalistsparliamentarianscommanders, leadersedward, lloydlord, denbig. 52 51 40 N 3 03 19 W 52 86111 N 3 05524 W 52 86111 3 05524 Battle of OswestryPart of the First English Civil WarRemains of Oswestry CastleDate22 23 June 1644LocationOswestry ShropshireResultParliamentarian victoryBelligerentsRoyalistsParliamentariansCommanders and leadersEdward LloydLord Denbigh Thomas MyttonStrengthUnknown200 foot OswestryShrewsburyclass notpageimage Shropshire and Oswestry The Battle of Oswestry took place during the First English Civil War on 22 23 June 1644 when Parliamentarians led by Lord Denbigh attacked and took control of the Royalist garrison in Oswestry Shropshire 1 Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksBackground editIn February 1644 the Royalist commander Prince Rupert moved to Wales to take up his new post of President of Wales In May of the year however he marched with his available forces to Lancashire leaving Oswestry garrisoned by a small force under the command of Colonel Edward Lloyd At that time the Royalists of the Oswestry garrison were responsible for the control of Wales and the Marches 2 With the absence of Prince Rupert the local Parliamentarians led by Lord Denbigh and Colonel Thomas Mytton decided in June 1644 to take control of the walled town and castle 1 The battle editThe attack began at 14 00 hours on 22 June as the Parliamentarians had learned from spies that the garrison at that time was not fully defended as the Governor had taken some Parliamentary prisoners to Shrewsbury 3 The Parliamentarian cavalry was deployed in the rear to guard against relief attempts while 200 foot moved up to attack the town In their initial attack the Parliamentarians first captured the defended St Oswald s church which stood outside the town walls and then demolished the main gate of the town with cannon fire The Royalist defenders withdrew to Oswestry Castle and the Parliamentarians occupied the town The following morning the Royalist garrison was persuaded to surrender Lord Denbigh then set off in pursuit of Prince Rupert leaving Colonel Mytton to garrison the town 1 Aftermath editAs the loss of Oswestry severed communications between Chester and Shrewsbury Sir Fulke Huncke the Royalist commander in Shrewsbury felt obliged to recover the town and set off on a relief mission with 2000 infantry and 600 cavalry Lord Denbigh who had by now reached Cheshire sent back Sir Thomas Myddelton with a force of cavalry to support the Parliamentarian defenders Colonel Marrow led out the Royalist cavalry to intercept Myddelton s force but was routed on 2 July by the Parliamentary cavalry at Whittington some three miles from Oswestry 1 2 Faced by the loss of his cavalry Huncke was forced to return to Shrewsbury Oswestry Castle was later destroyed by the Parliamentarians by 1650 4 References edit a b c d Plant a b Lancaster 2019 Cathrall 1855 pp 65 66 Gatehouse Gazetteer Oswestry Gatehouse Gazetteer Sources editCathrall William 1855 The History of Oswestry Oxford Oxford University Retrieved 7 May 2020 Lancaster James 2019 Oswestry Castle and Oswestry Town Walls CastlesFortsBattles co uk CastlesFortsBattles co uk Retrieved 7 May 2020 Plant David Oswestry Shropshire June July 1644 BCW Project Retrieved 15 April 2019 External links editContemporary notes of the Civil War in Wales Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Oswestry amp oldid 1198613941, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
