Battle of Ormskirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Ormskirk |
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| Part of First English Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Royalists |
 Parliamentarians |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lord Byron Viscount Molyneux |
Sir John Meldrum | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 100 killed 300 prisoners |
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The Battle of Ormskirk was a fight that happened on 20 August 1644. It was part of the First English Civil War, a big conflict in England. In this battle, the Parliamentarian army, led by Sir John Meldrum, won a clear victory. They defeated the Royalist forces, who were commanded by Lord Byron.
Contents
What Was the English Civil War?
The English Civil War was a series of battles fought in England between 1642 and 1651. It was a struggle for power between the King, Charles I, and the Parliament.
- The Royalists (also called Cavaliers) supported King Charles I. They believed the King should have supreme power.
- The Parliamentarians (also called Roundheads) supported Parliament. They wanted Parliament to have more power and control over the King.
This war divided families and communities across the country.
Why Did the Battle Happen?
Royalist Retreat and Rebuilding
Before the Battle of Ormskirk, the Royalists had suffered a big defeat at the Battle of Marston Moor in July 1644. After that loss, their cavalry (soldiers on horseback) left the city of York. They retreated across the Pennines mountains.
Prince Rupert, a key Royalist leader, went to Chester. There, it was decided that Lord Molyneux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley would go north into Lancashire. Their mission was to find new soldiers and rebuild their forces.
Gathering Forces
As Lord Molyneux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley moved through Lancashire, other Royalist soldiers joined them. These included Lord Byron, Lord Goring, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale. Soon, they had gathered a force of about 2,500 horsemen.
However, they were being watched. A Parliamentarian army from Lancashire, made up of foot soldiers and cavalry, was following them. This force was led by Sir John Meldrum. He kept tracking the Royalists.
The Chase Ends
Finally, on 20 August 1644, Sir John Meldrum's Parliamentarian forces caught up with the Royalists. They met on Aughton Moor (also known as Aughton Moss). This area is on a hill southwest of Ormskirk in Lancashire. The Royalists had no choice but to prepare for a fight.
The Battle of Ormskirk
The Royalists Make a Stand
The Royalist cavalry formed up in a battle line on Aughton Moor. They were ready to fight.
Parliamentarian Attack
The Parliamentarian foot soldiers advanced first. They fired a volley of musket shots at the Royalists. This sudden attack caused confusion among the Royalist lines. They began to retreat in disorder.
Right after the musket fire, the Parliamentarian cavalry charged forward. This charge completely broke the Royalist formation. The Royalists were routed, meaning they were completely defeated and scattered.
Aftermath of the Battle
The Parliamentarians took about 300 Royalist soldiers as prisoners. Many others were killed.
Lord Byron and Lord Molyneux, the Royalist commanders, had to abandon their horses. They hid in a cornfield to escape capture. The battle ended as evening approached. If it had been earlier in the day, the Parliamentarians might have captured even more Royalists. The remaining defeated Royalist soldiers managed to escape into Cheshire.
What the Leaders Said
Lord Byron blamed the defeat on the poor performance of Lord Molyneux's soldiers. He said that Molyneux's brigade panicked after the first musket shots. They ran into Byron's own regiment, causing chaos and routing his troops. This allowed the Parliamentarian cavalry to charge and cause more damage.
A Parliamentarian newspaper at the time, called The Perfect Diurnal, reported the victory. It said that the Lancashire forces had beaten the enemy, taking many prisoners and horses. It also mentioned that about 100 Royalists were killed.
Another report from a letter said that the Parliamentarians took between 800 and 1,000 horses. It also confirmed that Lord Byron and Lord Molyneux had to hide in a cornfield.
The Battle of Ormskirk was a clear win for Parliament. It showed the strength of their forces in Lancashire.
