Capture of Wakefield

Capture of Wakefield

The Capture of Wakefield occurred during the First English Civil War. A Parliamentarian force attacked the Royalist garrison in Wakefield, Yorkshire. The Parliamentarians were outnumbered, having around 1,500 men under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax. After around two hours of fighting early in the morning of 21 May 1643, Fairfax broke through into the town.

About Capture of Wakefield in brief

Summary Capture of WakefieldThe Capture of Wakefield occurred during the First English Civil War. A Parliamentarian force attacked the Royalist garrison in Wakefield, Yorkshire. The Parliamentarians were outnumbered, having around 1,500 men under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, compared to the 3,000 led by George Goring. After around two hours of fighting early in the morning of 21 May 1643, Fairfax broke through into the town. Goring, who had been in bed suffering from either illness or a hangover, rose and led a counterattack in his nightshirt, but to no avail. The town was captured and Fairfax gained the prisoners he needed and much ammunition. According to his own account, the Parliamentarian army had less than 1,000 men at the time, and was forced to retreat. They first withdrew to Tadcaster and then were forced back to Selby in the north of the county, cutting them off from their main support to the west. At 2am, Wakefield’s army arrived and overcame a Royalist outpost consisting of two troops of cavalry and four cavalry; the other troops being under command of William Fairfax and George Gifford.

At around 2am Wakefield was not later than two hours before dawn, and the Parliamentarians arrived at Stanley, 2 miles from Wakefield. After an evening march on 20 May 16 43, Parliamentarian forces from Bradford, Leeds and Halifax met at Howley Hall, to the northeast ofwakefield, at midnight. Reinforced with troops from Howley. Hall, the parliamentarians had around 1,.500 infantry and 500 horse; 1,400 cavalry and three of dragoons; The force had overall command of around 2,000 troops; Sir Thomas. Fairfax was the overall overall commander of the overall force, while Sir Henry Foulis was leading four troops of the cavalry; also leading four other troops of four cavalry. The battle took place in the early hours of the morning on May 21, 1643. It was not until 2am that Wakefield’s army arrived, and just two hours later before dawn the Royalists were able to take control of the town and hold it for two days.