storm english civil war took place december town hampshire england parliamentary forces serving sir led successful surprise attack winter garrison royalist infantry cavalry serving earl context english civil war decisive defeat sir leader royalist forces south event significant psychological effect commander important loss men short handed needed infantry successful able victory attack successfully larger formidable royalist outpost south england dawn 13th army approached fled cavalry winchester leaving colonel defend infantry outnumbered men soon forced seek refuge desperate stand killed remaining men won clear victory losing men taking prisoners fight notable demonstrated drama heroism stories said killed number enemies falling battle known savage encounters english civil war musket holes fierce fight seen south door church inside men killed captured notably battle english civil war use leather guns employed effectively battle proper background september ordered muster forces protection november given control forces stationed major parliamentary staging ground order control kent surrey sussex hampshire forces supplemented westminster green yellow regiments london disposal personal regiment foot soldiers surviving cavalry marched intending occupy towns gradually approaching objective basing great strategic importance basing proximity main road london salisbury winchester worthy attention marching halted november determined capabilities marched day later retreated november attacked men bennett november laid siege withdrew failure soldiers near mutiny poor weather conditions tried night november retreated await army arrived november given horse infantry troops recently returned fighting ireland ordered late september secure wiltshire hampshire push far possible london end spread men winter winchester alleviate burden town winter approaching quickly left army vulnerable placed charge december began small town quickly disposal cavalry regiment infantry regiment exact number men unknown likely prelude week prior scouted town planned attack intent senior men maintaining secrecy raid evening december small party forces struck lodging fell minor attack morning hours december sent requesting sent sack promising exchange wine sent refused send challenging reverend civil war hampshire exchange eager repair reputation promptly decided attack nearest royalist outpost miles away according contemporary publication watching main road time battle mustered men near december midnight men marched west marched miles direction order confuse royalist scouts abruptly turning south march quick quiet owing long frost hardened roads use wooded areas helpful advance use leather guns employed time english civil war unlike heavier artillery leather gun led single horse transported efficiently difficult terrain effective tool bombardment forces reached western capturing posted north royalist managed raise alarm dawn leading horse quit head winchester approached town reported promised remaining infantry men return soon reinforcements initially cavalry attempted flee eastern border routed town south heading directly winchester parliamentary horse fleeing chased half mile heavy cavalry sir nicknamed losing men number horses pursuit guarded entrances town men concentrated north west corner town regiment infantry companies companies attacked north north west royalist infantry took effective cover inside buildings fired quickly particularly favoured large brick house near church house soon abandoned artillery positioned foot hill west fired forcing defenders retreat church parliamentary regiments london companies descended hill attacked built effective fortification flanked fortifications forcing marching town cover smoke house set fire soon rest men entered town flying colours pushing men church nearby fortifications including large north held ground hours fired windows church employed inside church proper fire greater heights eventually forced abandon south east wall church retreating men left muskets sticking temporarily unaware left time concluded defenders gone parliamentary army promptly attacked churchyard driving men church forces threw hand grenades windows working enter church inside building declared run sword called quarter time church doors soon managed gain entry inside shot jury rigged dead horses men killed surrendered killed seven men killed killed requested quarter inscribed honour tell famous fight man world good night fear mortality body die spent art aftermath battle captured men enlisting additionally royalist soldiers killed men lost represented nearly half infantry forces south hand lost men gained reputation success prisoners work dragging horse church inside burying fallen comrades near northern wall building captured men marched tied pairs ordered men demolish town fortifications survivors enlist streets london mark victory hat gifted wine left said fleeing left sack hearing death called mourning loss considered best commanders following weeks letters sent sir servant december severely depressed defeat appropriate given military import morale boost enjoyed significant december ordered sir sir draft letter commending success parliamentary victory battle allowed advance south east began successful siege garrisoned unable break siege remaining foot soldiers horse received oxford siege armies forced retire winter harsh weather
Battle of Alton