Battle of Preston
The Battle of Preston, fought in August 1648, was a significant conflict during the English Civil War, marking the concluding phase of the war's second stage. The battle unfolded when Oliver Cromwell sent a contingent to challenge the Royalist forces led by James Hamilton, the Duke of Hamilton. The Royalists, whose forces were scattered and poorly organized, faced a well-prepared New Model Army. The engagement lasted three days, with Cromwell's troops ultimately defeating the Royalists and capturing over 10,000 prisoners. Following the battle, Hamilton surrendered, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale retreated. This decisive clash not only showcased Cromwell's military prowess but also set in motion events that would lead to the execution of King Charles I and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England. The Battle of Preston is therefore seen as a turning point in British history, illustrating the intense struggles of the time and the shifting power dynamics between the monarchy and Parliament.
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Battle of Preston
Type of action: Ground battle in the English Civil War of 1642–1651
Date: August 17-19, 1648
Location: Preston, Lancashire (twenty-five miles northwest of Manchester)
Combatants: 17,600 Royalists vs. 14,000 Parliamentarians
Principal commanders:Royalist, James Hamilton, third marquess and first duke of Hamilton (1606–1649), Sir Marmaduke Langdale (1598–1662); Parliamentarian, Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658)
Result: The New Model Army routed the armies of Langdale and Hamilton and effectively ended Royalist resistance
The forces of James Hamilton, third marquess and first duke of Hamilton, who was unaware of the close proximity of the Parliamentary army, were spread between Lancaster and Wigan when Oliver Cromwell sent a force of 200 horsemen and 400 infantry to probe Sir Marmaduke Langdale’s defenses at Preston on August 17, 1648. The divided and confused Royalist army, ineptly commanded by Hamilton, had not anticipated a fight there and had no strategy to confront the enemy. Cromwell’s advance party came upon a raw company, and his veterans quickly dispersed them. Over the next three days, in cramped, wet terrain, the seasoned New Model Army engaged in a vigorous and bloody battle with Langdale’s forces, supported by the advancing Scots. Cromwell successfully split the English and Scottish armies, defeated them convincingly, and claimed more than 10,000 prisoners by battle’s end. Hamilton surrendered at Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, on August 22, and Langdale retreated north.
Significance
The Battle of Preston concluded the second phase of the English Civil War and initiated a chain of events that culminated with the execution of Charles I and the establishment of the Commonwealth.
Bibliography
Baker, Anthony. A Battlefield Atlas of the English Civil War. London: Ian Allan, 1986.
Emberton, Wilfrid. The English Civil War, Day by Day. Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England: Alan Sutton, 1995.
Gentles, Ian. The New Model Army in England, Ireland, and Scotland, 1645–1653. Oxford: Blackwell, 1992.
Woolrych, Austin. Battles of the English Civil War: Marston Moor, Naseby, Preston. New York: Macmillan, 1961. Reprint. London: Pimlico, 1991.