Battle of Chalgrove Field
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Chalgrove was a small battle during the English Civil War
in the county of Oxfordshire
. It took place around 09:00 hours on the morning of 18 June 1643 in Chalgrove Field, northeast of Chalgrove
in Oxfordshire
. It was a minor Royalist
victory and is notable for the mortal wounding of Parliamentarian
Colonel John Hampden
, who died six days later of his wounds.
, who had recently defected from the Parliamentarians, Prince Rupert took 1,800 men on the night of 17 June on a raid to harass the Earl of Essex
's army and attempt to capture his payroll of £21,000. On the morning of 18 June, Prince Rupert's force surprised and destroyed Parliamentarian garrisons at Postcombe
and Chinnor
. The pay convoy evaded Rupert, and Parliamentarian troops led by Sir Philip Stapleton
and Colonel John Hampden pursued Rupert back towards Oxford
. At Chalgrove
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the city, Rupert ordered his infantry ahead while his cavalry set an ambush.
The Royalist troopers quickly followed and routed the Parliamentarians in the short, sharp engagement which followed. During this fight, John Hampden was mortally wounded in the shoulder (some sources claim by two carbine balls, others by shrapnel from his own pistol exploding).
where he died six days later.
Following Chalgrove, Colonel Hurry led another raid a week later which swept around Essex's army and plundered Wycombe
. This led to sharp criticism of Essex in London, and he offered his resignation, which was refused.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in the county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. It took place around 09:00 hours on the morning of 18 June 1643 in Chalgrove Field, northeast of Chalgrove
Chalgrove
Chalgrove is a village and civil parish of some . It is in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Oxford. The parish includes the hamlet of Rofford and the former parish of Warpsgrove with which it merged in 1932....
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. It was a minor 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...
victory and is notable for the mortal wounding of Parliamentarian
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...
Colonel John Hampden
John Hampden
John Hampden was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, John Hampden (ca. 15951643) was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, John Hampden (ca. 15951643)...
, who died six days later of his wounds.
Prelude
Acting on information from Colonel John HurryJohn Hurry
Sir John Hurry was a Scottish soldier.He was born in Aberdeenshire, and saw military service as a young man in Germany.In 1641 he returned home and became Lieutenant-Colonel in a Scottish regiment. At the end of the same year he was involved in the plot known as the "Incident"...
, who had recently defected from the Parliamentarians, Prince Rupert took 1,800 men on the night of 17 June on a raid to harass the Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
's army and attempt to capture his payroll of £21,000. On the morning of 18 June, Prince Rupert's force surprised and destroyed Parliamentarian garrisons at Postcombe
Postcombe
Postcombe is a village in the civil parish of Lewknor, about south of Thame in Oxfordshire. It is on the A40 road with the Chiltern Hills to the east and the M40 motorway just to the south....
and Chinnor
Chinnor
Chinnor is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Thame. The village is a Spring line settlement on the Icknield Way below the Chiltern escarpment...
. The pay convoy evaded Rupert, and Parliamentarian troops led by Sir Philip Stapleton
Philip Stapleton
Sir Philip Stapleton , of Warter-on-the Wolds in Yorkshire, was an English Member of Parliament, a supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War. His surname is also sometimes spelt Stapylton or Stapilton.-Life:...
and Colonel John Hampden pursued Rupert back towards Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. At Chalgrove
Chalgrove
Chalgrove is a village and civil parish of some . It is in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Oxford. The parish includes the hamlet of Rofford and the former parish of Warpsgrove with which it merged in 1932....
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the city, Rupert ordered his infantry ahead while his cavalry set an ambush.
The battle
The Parliamentarian horse closed quickly before the ambush could be set, leaving the two sides separated only by a large hedge. Leading the charge, RupertThe Royalist troopers quickly followed and routed the Parliamentarians in the short, sharp engagement which followed. During this fight, John Hampden was mortally wounded in the shoulder (some sources claim by two carbine balls, others by shrapnel from his own pistol exploding).
Aftermath
John Hampden retired to ThameThame
Thame is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about southwest of the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. It derives its toponym from the River Thame which flows past the north side of the town....
where he died six days later.
Following Chalgrove, Colonel Hurry led another raid a week later which swept around Essex's army and plundered Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
. This led to sharp criticism of Essex in London, and he offered his resignation, which was refused.
Further reading
- Chalgrove Field, Buckinghamshire, 18 June 1643 on the British Civil Wars & Commonwealth website
- Chalgrove 1643 website of http://www.thevickerage.worldonline.co.uk