Battle of Sark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Sark
Part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars
Battle of Sark, miniature from a manuscript of the Chronicle of Charles VII, king of France, c. 1470s
Date 23 October 1448 Location Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway grid reference NY314662 Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Earl of Ormonde	Earl of Northumberland
Strength
ca.4,000	ca.6,000
Casualties and losses
up to 600	around 3000+ killed and drowned, most of the army killed or captured.
Registered battlefield
Designated	3 August 2016
Reference no.	BTL40

The Battle of Sark, also known as the Battle of Lochmaben Stone, was a major fight between England and Scotland. It happened in October 1448. This battle was the first big Scottish victory over the English in over 50 years. The last one was the Battle of Otterburn in 1388.

This win made Scotland much stronger against England for more than ten years. It also helped the powerful Douglas family in Scotland become even more important.

Why Did the Battle of Sark Happen?

After the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 1300s, England and Scotland often fought along their shared border. In 1448, these fights became much more serious.

In May, Henry Percy, whose father was the Earl of Northumberland, attacked and destroyed the Scottish town of Dunbar. The Scots fought back by attacking Alnwick in England. In June, the Earl of Salisbury, who was in charge of the border area, destroyed the Scottish town of Dumfries.

In response, William Douglas, the 8th Earl of Douglas, gathered a large Scottish army. He had help from other powerful Scottish leaders like the Earl of Ormonde, the Earl of Angus, and the Earl of Orkney. This Scottish force then destroyed Warkworth Castle and Alnwick in England. When the Scots moved even further into England, King Henry VI of England told the Percy family to strike back.

How the Battle Unfolded

The stage was set for the battle in October. The Earl of Northumberland led about 6,000 English soldiers into Scotland. They set up camp near the Lochmaben Stone. Their chosen spot was not good. It was in a tidal waterway between the River Sark and Kirtle Water.

Meanwhile, Hugh Douglas, the Earl of Ormonde, gathered about 4,000 Scottish soldiers. These men came from Annandale and Nithsdale. On October 23, 1448, Ormonde marched his army to face Northumberland.

Northumberland divided his English troops into three main groups. Magnus Reidman, a famous soldier from the Hundred Years' War in France, led one side. Sir John Pennington, with many Welsh soldiers, led the other side. The largest group was in the middle, led by Northumberland himself.

Ormonde arranged his Scottish army in a similar way. He had Sir John Wallace of Cragie face Magnus Reidman. Against Sir John Pennington, he sent Lord Maxwell and Sir Adam Johnston, along with many other local leaders. Ormonde and his own soldiers faced Northumberland in the center. Both armies had many soldiers wearing heavy armor, and some were on horseback.

The battle began with the English firing arrows. They shot many arrows from their English longbows at the Scottish lines. After being hit by several waves of arrows, the Scots decided to charge forward. They did not want to repeat what happened at Homildon Hill, where arrows caused heavy losses.

It is said that Sir John Wallace shouted loudly to his men, "Why should we stand still thus to be wounded afar off? Follow me, and let us join in hand-strokes, where true valour is to be seen!" The Scots charged the English lines. In the close-up fighting, the English were pushed back by Scottish axes, spears, and halberds. Magnus Reidman was killed during this fierce fight.

When the English lines broke, many of them were caught by the rising tide in the waterway. A large number of English soldiers drowned. Many English soldiers were also captured. Among the captured were Sir John Pennington and Sir Robert Harrington. Lord Percy, the son of the Earl of Northumberland, was also captured while helping his father escape.

How Many Were Lost?

The number of Scottish soldiers who died in the battle varies depending on the old records. Some say as few as 26, while others report up to 600. For the English, the numbers range from 2,000 to 3,000 killed or drowned.

It seems unlikely that only 26 Scots died, especially since they faced many arrows and lost a leader like Wallace of Cragie. Many historians believe the actual number of deaths for both sides was higher, showing it was a very tough battle.