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 King Charles I defeated a Parliamentarian force commanded by the Earl of Essex, who had advanced into Cornwall hoping to relieve the siege of Plymouth and secure the South-West for Parliament. Essex had entered Cornwall on 26 July with around 6,500 foot and 3,000 horse, deploying his men in a defensive arc around Lostwithiel with detachments at Restormel Castle and Beacon Hill. However, the Royalists, estimated at 12,000 foot and 7,000 horse, systematically cut off his escape routes and garrisoned the fort at Polruan to block the harbour of Fowey.
On 21 August, King Charles launched his first major assault. Royalists under Grenville attacked and dislodged the Parliamentarians at Restormel Castle, the Oxford army captured Beacon Hill with little resistance, and Prince Maurice occupied Druid Hill. By nightfall the Royalists held the high ground on the north and east sides of Lostwithiel. Although Essex and most of the cavalry managed to escape, between 5,000 and 6,000 Parliamentarian infantry were ultimately forced to surrender. The Royalists, unable to feed so many prisoners, gave them passes back to their own territory; they arrived in Southampton a month later having lost nearly half their number to disease and desertion.
Considered one of the worst defeats suffered by Parliament over the course of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the battle secured South West England for the Royalists until early 1646. The 1644 year entry notes it as Charles I and the Royalists' last major victory of the war.
On the morning of 21 August 1644, King Charles I launched a co-ordinated assault on the trapped Parliamentarian army. Grenville and the Cornish Royalists attacked Restormel Castle from the north, easily dislodging the defenders, whilst the Oxford army seized Beacon Hill to the east with little resistance and Prince Maurice occupied Druid Hill. By nightfall the Royalists commanded the high ground on every side, leaving Essex's force with no prospect of relief after Sir John Middleton's reinforcements had already been turned back at Bridgwater, sealing the fate of between 5,000 and 6,000 Parliamentarian infantry who would shortly be compelled to surrender.
Between 5,000 and 6,000 Parliamentarian infantry surrendered; nearly half of those were subsequently lost to disease and desertion before reaching Southampton. Royalist casualties were described as fairly low on 21 August.
Parliamentarians: approximately 6,500 foot and 3,000 horse under the Earl of Essex. Royalists: approximately 12,000 foot and 7,000 horse under King Charles I, Prince Maurice, and Richard Grenville.
This battlefield is listed on the Register of Historic Battlefields — a national designation identifying Britain's most significant battle sites for protection and further research. Reference: NHLE 1413762.
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