BattlefieldsBattle of Lostwithiel
English Civil War

Battle of Lostwithiel

1644
Cornwall, England
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Cornwall, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Parliamentarians
Forces
Parliamentarians: circa 6,500 infantry and circa 3,000 cavalry
VS
Victor
Royalists
Forces
Royalists: 12,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry
Outcome
Royalist victory; secured the South-West for the Royalists for the remainder of the war. Essex escaped with his cavalry but his infantry surrendered.
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Lostwithiel took place over a 13-day period from 21 August to 2 September 1644, around the town of Lostwithiel and along the River Fowey valley in Cornwall during the First English Civil War. A Royalist army led by Charles I of England defeated a Parliamentarian force commanded by the Earl of Essex. Although Essex and most of the cavalry escaped, between 5,000 and 6,000 Parliamentarian infantry were forced to surrender.

Confirmed battlefield location
Casualties & Losses

Royalists: circa 500; Parliamentarians: circa 700 killed/wounded and circa 5,000 taken prisoner (as many as 3,000 of the prisoners later died of exposure and disease on the march to Southampton)

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