ROYALISTS WIN AT FOWEY

In this English Civil War encounter the Parliamentarian and Covenanter armies had taken up a position, either side of the river Fowey at a hamlet which controlled a bridge crossing the river, while they rested and recuperated from their retreat from a superior Royalist army.

The Covenanter forces were already demoralised and were allocated the left flank, which had a potential strong point in a partially walled enclosure.  The main strength of the Parliamentarians on the right flank was their massive numbers of guns.

Unbeknown to their enemies the Royalist’s had detached their best troops in a flank march, which had crossed the river upstream.  This force arrived soon after battle was joined between the two forces.

The Covenanter horse ably supported by the Parliamentarian guard cuirassiers who, while few in number, had a significant effect against vast numbers of Royalist horse; while they lasted that is!

The foot of all sides fought long and hard, with significant losses on all sides, however the outnumbered Parliamentarians and Covenanters were soon praying for nightfall, so they could slip away.

This would not come soon enough for the Covenanters on the left flank as the Royalist flank march was steamrollering along the river behind most of their heavily engaged foot, and despite brave efforts by the remaining Covenanters this could not be prevented.

The moment the sun was low in the sky the Parliamentarian commander pulled out his guns and most of his foot covered by his surviving cavalry, leaving the Covenanters to their fate, barely caring that the Covenanters commander lay dead from a musket ball to the left temple in the enclosure.