Battle of Bridport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Bridport |
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| Part of The Monmouth Rebellion | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Dorset Militia |
 Monmouth Rebels |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Col. Thomas Strangeways Col. Thomas Erle |
Lord Grey Maj. Nathaniel Wade Lt-Col. Thomas Venner |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1,200 | 500+ | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 killed some wounded |
7 killed some wounded 23 captured |
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The Battle of Bridport was a fight that happened on June 14, 1685. It was one of the first battles of the Monmouth Rebellion. The battle took place in the town of Bridport, in Dorset, England. The King's forces won this battle. The rebels had to leave Bridport and march to Axminster.
Why the Battle Happened
In 1685, a man named Duke of Monmouth started a rebellion against King James II. Monmouth believed he should be king instead. He landed his rebel army at Lyme Regis in Dorset on June 11. He chose this area because he expected many people there to support him. This part of England, called the West Country, had many Protestant people. Also, the economy was struggling, which made people unhappy with the current king.
As the rebels gathered, King James II declared Monmouth a traitor. The King called out the local armies, known as the militia. These were the Dorset Militia, Somerset Militia, and Devon Militia. This happened on June 13, while the regular Royal Army was getting ready.
The Dorset Militia quickly responded. Their horse soldiers and local police patrolled the road between Lyme Regis and Bridport. On June 12, they had a small fight with some of Monmouth's officers. The rebels attacked fiercely, killing two militia members. But the militia had many more soldiers coming to help. The rebels soon left.
The Dorset Militia had five groups of foot soldiers (infantry) and one group of horse soldiers (cavalry). They gathered in different towns:
- Blandford - East Dorset Militia, led by Col. Erle
- Bridport - Red Regiment of Dorset, led by Col. Strangways
- Dorchester
- Shaftesbury
- Sherborne
- Dorchester - Dorset Regiment of Horse
By June 14, the entire Red Regiment of Dorset, with 1,000 soldiers, was ready in Bridport. They were preparing for a rebel attack.
Who Fought?
Here are the groups that fought in the Battle of Bridport:
King's Forces
- Red Regiment of Dorset Militia - Colonel Thomas Strangways (1,000 soldiers)
- East Dorset Militia - Colonel Thomas Erle (100 soldiers)
- Dorset Volunteer Cavalry - Captain Edward Coker (100 soldiers)
Rebel Forces - Lord Grey
- 4 Companies of Foot (infantry) - Major Nathaniel Wade (450 soldiers)
- Troop of Horse (cavalry) - Lt-Colonel Thomas Venner (50 soldiers)
The Battle Begins
On June 13, 1685, the Duke of Monmouth told Lord Grey to take some foot and horse soldiers to Bridport. Their job was to fight the King's militia and make them leave.
Early on June 14, Lord Grey's soldiers reached Bridport. They found that the bridge over the River Brit was not guarded. So, they easily entered the town. A group of pikemen (soldiers with long spears) stayed to guard the bridge. The rest of the foot soldiers moved further into the town.
As the rebels got to the town's crossroads, some Dorset Militia soldiers challenged them. They fired their guns, and the rebels fired back. The fight continued from street to street. The militia soldiers were forced out of the town. Lord Grey moved his troops forward to take control of Bridport. But by this time, the entire Red Regiment of Dorset Militia was ready. They were lined up between the town and the River Asker to the east.
Lord Grey started to move his soldiers east to attack Colonel Strangeways' militia. But the Dorset Volunteer Cavalry began shooting at the sides of Grey's groups from the side streets and buildings. On High Street, the rebels fought with the volunteers. Two militia officers, Captain Edward Coker and Captain Wadham Strangways, were killed by the rebels. Just before he died, Captain Coker shot and wounded Lt-Col. Venner. Meanwhile, Colonel Strangways was joined by Major Thomas Erle and some East Dorset Militia groups. They set up their soldiers at the East Bridge.
After making sure his sides were safe in the side streets, Lord Grey ordered his horse soldiers to attack the militia at the East Bridge. But after a quick volley (a group of shots) from Strangeways and Erle, the rebel cavalry rode back through the village. This made the rebel foot soldiers start to retreat too. Lt-Col. Venner left with his cavalry and infantry. But Colonel Wade stayed and led an organized retreat from the town. He kept firing at the Dorset Militia as they left. Wade led his soldiers back to Lyme Regis. There, they met the rest of Lord Grey's original force, along with Monmouth and the rest of the rebel cavalry.
What Happened Next?
The Dorset Militia lost two officers and had some men wounded in the battle. The rebels lost seven men, had some wounded, and twenty-three men were captured.
The strong fight put up by the Dorset Militia at Bridport made Monmouth change his plans. He also heard that the Somerset and Devon Militias were moving towards Axminster. So, Monmouth quickly marched west before the road to Taunton was blocked. Monmouth soon reached Axminster. He had a small fight with the Somerset Militia, easily beating them. Then he continued north into Somerset.
On June 17, Lord Churchill arrived in Bridport with some of the King's horse soldiers. With the Dorset Militia, he followed Monmouth's army into Somerset. The rebels and the King's soldiers would fight again at Keynsham and Norton St Philip. The final battle, Sedgemoor, happened in July and ended the rebellion.
Images for kids
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The Bull Inn, where Capts. Coker and Strangeways were killed
