battle burton bridge battle burton bridge fought royalist forces burton trent july english civil war time battle town times held sides garrisoned unit command captain town military governor colonel key river crossing burton desired queen maria proceeding southwards yorkshire convoy supplies destined king charles oxford led colonel launched cavalry charge bridge succeeded defeating capturing officers including queen convoy proceeded way south oxford receiving promotion recognition victory burton changed hands times course war finally coming parliament control background county days travel main seat power london long standing paying taxes imposed king james forced write county justices peace failure raise single penny support king campaign reclaim germany son law county slow pay charles ship money began levied defiance parliament inland counties saw resistance open dissent king occurred objection men county king campaign scots riots took place armed guard having formed prevent levy outbreak civil war town burton largely sympathetic cause probably large following town general disapproval high church practices archbishop canterbury later executed opposition early war burton burton river crossing arched medieval structure known burton bridge desirable sides described passage trent dove north positioned royalist towns derby despite strategic location town possessed natural defences burton change hands dozen times course war coming attention earl rendezvous forces late withdrew forces winter cathedral scene fighting war rumours prior war town held secret supplies gunpowder catholic rebellion investigated lord began war switched allegiance king returning parliament found false explosion store gunpowder occur causing roof church destroyed strategic importance heightened position boundary royalist garrisons region burton come attention early establishment garrison nearby derby county committee leader sir february placed garrison county border burton consisting infantry company dutch major withdrew month later assist attack newark parliament forces initially command lord death successful siege march appointed replacement forces amounted infantry horse partially armed met sir commander chief organise attack known earl sent fast moving cavalry regiments plan met troops led later lord garrisoned engaging inconclusive killed time queen maria landed yorkshire supply weapons purchased abroad intended bring king oxford advance king sent nephew rhine oxford horse foot cannon clear prince troops evicted garrisons birmingham successfully recaptured placed royalist garrison key towns including burton secure route convoy garrison burton soon driven acting operation lord grey commander chief placed garrison infantry cannon proceeding remainder force unsuccessfully attacked battle garrison burton commanded captain previously commanded largest companies force held radical political views seen potential rival concerned deployment position plot rid case decided remove command place men direction colonel county committee military governor burton july queen convoy guard advanced newark burton summoned associations forces defend town refused muster july cavalry led colonel charged engaged men engagement described bloody desperate damage caused town church battle decided action bridge forces parliament decisively beaten according town plundered destroyed maria recorded taken men march claimed twice requested surrender town attacked queen forbade violence conversely claimed men forced church offered surrender refused killed night alleged looted town raped women drowning civilians river took officers prisoner including captain colonel wife later exchanged promoted major commissioned act colonel raise regiment horse promoted brigadier general bravery shown action aftermath having lost burton feared attack derby withdrew troops nottingham leicester defend able secure supplies barrels powder muskets cases pistols additional troop horses allowing arm regiment fully time derby attacked queen forces bypassed moved proceeding according king instructions avoid delays new royalist garrison burton fortified bridge maintained control town driven january attack took commanding officer major captains officers men prisoner focal point assault losing lives claiming lost men attack withdrew prisoners derby allowing lord retake town bridge intended hold means communication flying army royalist garrisons raid attacked plundered town april control newly raised regiment horse retook narrowly failing capture parliament troops established garrison november driven february king charles briefly burton headquarters year town final time parliament early centre supply coin beer forces besieging war restoration charles_ii burton remained place dissent large presbyterian baptist congregations raising doubts church_of_england town loyalty legacy medieval bridge battle fought replaced victorian era plaque commemorating battle erected bridge july sir english civil war society umbrella group english civil war monument erected site death battle lane notes desperate bridge arches received honour honour battle burton bridge brewery markets known local legend states present area battle tied horse nail miles bridge medieval burton bridge site earlier battle defeated rebellious earl lancaster
Battle of Burton Bridge (1643)