Battle of Warrington Bridge (1651) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Warrington Bridge |
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| Part of the Anglo-Scottish War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 England |
 Scotland |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Thomas Harrison John Lambert |
Charles II | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 12,000 | 16,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Warrington Bridge was a small but important fight that happened on August 13, 1651. It was part of the Anglo-Scottish War. This battle took place between the Scottish army, led by King Charles II, and the English Parliamentary forces. The English troops were commanded by Major-General John Lambert.
Contents
What Happened Before the Battle?
Setting the Scene for Conflict
Major-General John Lambert had just returned to England. He was with a group of cavalry, which are soldiers who fight on horseback. These soldiers had been with Oliver Cromwell when he went to Scotland. Lambert's job was to bother the Royalist army. The Royalists were people who supported King Charles II.
Meanwhile, Major-General Thomas Harrison was in charge of the Parliamentary forces in England. The Parliamentary forces supported the English Parliament, not the King. Harrison and Lambert's armies met up near a town called Warrington.
The Battle at Warrington Bridge
Defending the Bridge
The combined armies of Harrison and Lambert got ready to fight. They were joined by about 3,000 local soldiers, called militia, from Staffordshire and Cheshire. In total, they had about 3,000 foot soldiers and 9,000 cavalry.
They took up positions at the bridge in Warrington. This bridge crossed the Mersey River. The river separated the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. The English forces planned to stop the Scottish army from crossing the bridge.
The Fight Begins
Lambert sent a few troops north of the town. Their job was to have a small fight with the Scottish advance guard. An advance guard is the first group of soldiers in an army. These English skirmishers met the Royalists about two miles north of Warrington. They were quickly pushed back.
The Scottish army then moved quickly into the town. They reached the bridge around noon.
Holding the Line
As soon as the Scots reached the bridge, they attacked. A fierce fight began between their advance guard and Harrison's troops. The local soldiers from Cheshire, who were guarding the bridge, held their ground for about an hour and a half. About 2,000 Scottish soldiers were sent against them, making the fight very tough.
When Lambert realized that the Scots had a very large force, he decided to pull back. His men tried to damage the bridge as much as they could before retreating. The strong attack from the Scots made Lambert's retreat even faster.
What Happened After the Battle?
A Claim of Victory
Lambert's quick retreat allowed the Royalists to say they had won the battle. They claimed they had forced their way across the bridge. This small fight was a step in the larger Anglo-Scottish War.
