Battle of Dunbar
The Battle of Dunbar, fought in September 1650, was a significant military engagement during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, specifically within the context of the English Civil War. This battle occurred as Oliver Cromwell led his forces into Scotland to challenge the proclamation of Charles II, who had been declared king by the Scottish Parliament. Despite facing logistical challenges, Cromwell's troops, numbering around 11,000 to 12,000, were able to strategically retreat to Dunbar.
Scottish forces, commanded by David Leslie, aimed to cut off Cromwell's retreat and protect their position on Doon Hill. The battle's outcome hinged on a surprise attack by Cromwell's cavalry, which effectively outflanked the Scottish troops, leading to a decisive defeat for Leslie’s forces. The battle resulted in approximately 3,000 Scots killed and around 10,000 taken prisoner, significantly diminishing the Scottish military presence.
Cromwell's victory at Dunbar not only solidified his reputation as a formidable leader but also played a crucial role in the political landscape of Britain, contributing to the eventual formation of a British republic. This engagement highlights the complexities of 17th-century Scottish and English relations, as well as the broader struggles for power and governance during this tumultuous period.
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Battle of Dunbar
Type of action: Ground battle in the English Civil War of 1642–1651
Date: September 3, 1650
Location: Slightly over a mile south of Dunbar, Scotland
Combatants: 22,000 Scottish Covenanters vs. 11,000-12,000 Parliamentarians of the New Model Army
Principal commanders: Parliamentarian, Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658); Scottish Covenanter, Alexander Leslie, earl of Leven (c. 1580–1661), David Leslie (1601–1682)
Result: Scots fail to repel English invasion
At the end of July, 1650, as Oliver Cromwell’s 16,000 troops entered Scotland to undo the proclamation of Charles II as king, David Leslie, under the nominal command of Alexander Leslie, earl of Leven, directed the evacuation and devastation of southern Scotland and fortified Edinburgh. Cromwell, with a force eventually reduced to 11,000 to 12,000 by privation and disease, retreated to Dunbar on the east coast of Scotland. Cromwell was cut off, and Leslie, propelled by orders from Presbyterian clergy confident of divine favor, could not afford to let his prey escape. The Scottish line at Dunbar extended three thousand yards from the coast on the forward slope of Doon Hill. John Lambert’s horse cavalry and George Monck’s foot soldiers surprised the Scottish right flank, leaving Cromwell’s charge with reserves of foot soldiers and cavalry to pin the central Scottish infantry between a hill and a ravine. The center and left positions of Leslie’s front broke and ran, chased by horsemen of the New Model Army. With 3,000 Scots slain and 10,000 taken prisoner, Leslie retreated to Stirling, leaving Cromwell’s route to Edinburgh open.
Significance
Cromwell’s victory, which virtually wiped out Leslie’s army, enhanced his reputation for invincibility, and hastened the creation of a British republic.
Resources
Bennett, Martyn. The Civil Wars in Britain and Ireland, 1638–1651. London: Blackwell, 1997.
Gaunt, P. The Cromwellian Gazetteer. Reprint. London: Sutton, 1998.
Kenyon, J. P., H. Ohlmeyer, and J. Morrill, eds. The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638–1660. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.