Siege of Arundel

The Siege of Arundel took place during the First English Civil War, from 19 December 1643 to 6 January 1644, when a Royalist garrison surrendered to a Parliamentarian army under William Waller.

Siege of Arundel (1643)
Part of First English Civil War

Arundel Castle, 2006; the Norman keep (shown here) is the only survivor from 1643, the rest 19th century
Date19 December 1643 - 6 January 1644
Location
Arundel, West Sussex
Result Parliamentarian victory
Belligerents
Royalists Parliamentarians
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Bampfield
Sir Edward Ford		 William Waller
John Birch
Strength
800 [lower-alpha 1] 5,000
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

At the end of 1642, South-East England was largely controlled by Parliament, with pockets of Royalist support in Hampshire and Kent. In an October 1643 offensive led by Sir Ralph Hopton, the Royalists advanced into Sussex, where a small garrison at Arundel Castle surrendered without fighting on 2 December.[lower-alpha 2]

Hopton's policy of trying to hold as many towns as possible left individual garrisons isolated, while the Royalists lacked a mobile field army, capable of quickly supporting threatened positions. Arundel was attacked by a large Parliamentarian force on 19 December; although strongly held, severe weather and poor roads meant it could not be relieved, and surrendered on 6 January.

Background

When the war began, Parliamentary forces secured most of southern England, including the ports of Southampton and Dover, as well as the bulk of the Royal Navy. After Portsmouth surrendered in September, Parliament controlled every major port from Plymouth to Hull, preventing the Royalists from importing arms and men from Europe.[1]

However, in June 1643, Ralph Hopton, Royalist commander in the south-west, advanced into Wiltshire; on 13 July, he inflicted a serious defeat on Waller's 'Army of the Southern Association' at Roundway Down, just outside Devizes. This exposed Parliamentary garrisons in the west, and on 26 July, Prince Rupert stormed Bristol.[2]

Capturing the second largest city in Britain was a significant achievement, and enabled the Royalists to transfer troops from Ireland. Combined with victory at Roundway Down, this provided an opportunity to persuade Parliamentary moderates into a negotiated peace. At a strategy meeting in Oxford, they agreed Prince Rupert would capture Gloucester, the last major Parliamentary position in the west, then move against London.[3]

Arundel
Winchester
London
Bristol
Oxford
Alton
Portsmouth
Dover
RoundwayDown
Gloucester
Newbury
Farnham
Plymouth
Southern England; key locations 1643

This would be supported by Hopton advancing into Hampshire and Sussex, whose iron foundries were Parliament's main source of armaments.[4] However, he was short of money and supplies, while his infantry consisted mostly of half-trained Irish conscripts, which delayed him until mid-October. By then, Prince Rupert had failed at Gloucester, and his advance on London checked at the inconclusive battle of Newbury on 20 September.[5]

One of Hopton's officers was Sir William Ogle, who had been serving in Ireland, but came from Winchester. While scouting the advance in late October, he discovered its Parliamentary garrison had been withdrawn, and occupied the town, forcing Hopton to advance before he was ready. When he reached Winchester in early November, his troops promptly mutinied, and a number had to be executed before order was restored. Meanwhile, Waller had assembled a new army at Farnham Castle, consisting of Trained bands from the South-Eastern Association of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, bolstered by others from London.[6]

Throughout the war, both sides relied on these militia, whose service was normally limited to 30 days, within their home area. As the largest and best equipped, London units were used by Parliament to fill gaps, and Waller's army included several regiments mustered in early September to repel Prince Rupert's advance on London. An attack on Basing House in November failed, the Londoners demanding to be sent home.[7]

Hopton advanced on Farnham, but was unable to tempt Waller into giving battle, and retreated. The Royalists established winter quarters at various points in West Sussex and Hampshire, including Alresford, Alton and Petersfield, although senior officers warned they were too far apart for mutual support. On 2 December, a small Parliamentary garrison at Arundel Castle surrendered to Edward Ford, former Sheriff of Sussex.[8]

The siege
Ralph Hopton, Royalist commander in the south

Under instructions from the Earl of Essex to retake Alton, then Arundel, Waller persuaded the London Bands to help him capture Alton on 13 December. When he asked for their help with Arundel, they refused, and were sent home on 15 December.[9]

The Royalist garrison originally contained 800 infantry, and four troops of horse, withdrawn by Hopton prior to the siege. Its governor, Colonel Joseph Bampfield, was an experienced soldier, who constructed additional earthwork defences to the north and south-west of the town, while bringing in provisions from the surrounding countryside. His attempt to capture Bramber further east failed, and when Hopton learned of the loss of Alton, he immediately ordered him back to Arundel. Despite being six miles inland, it was an important inland port, and the only Royalist base strong enough to resist attack.[6]

Waller arrived there on 19 December, with around 5,000 men, mostly men from the South-Eastern trained bands, who were of limited quality.[6] He immediately assaulted the outer defences on 20 December, which were captured after an initial repulse; Lt-Colonel John Birch was shot in the stomach, allegedly surviving only because the cold weather stemmed the flow of blood.[10]

The garrison retreated into the castle, but lost their supplies, which had been stored in the town, while the besiegers drained the lake that was their main water supply. Oxford sent Hopton an additional 1,000 horse under Lord Wilmot, but he was now desperately short of infantry, having lost another 600 at Alton. On 27 December, he advanced from Winchester with 2,000 horse, and 1,500 infantry; leaving a skeleton force to continue the siege, Waller intercepted him at North Marden, 15 miles from Arundel. Outnumbered, Hopton withdrew, allowing Waller to bring up heavy guns from Portsmouth, which opened fire on 4 January. Weakened by typhus, and short of supplies, the Royalists surrendered on 6th; about 100 re-enlisted in the Parliamentary army, the rest sent to London.[lower-alpha 3][11]

Bampfield later wrote an account of the siege, in which he claimed sickness and casualties had reduced the garrison to less than 200 effectives. He was held prisoner for six months, before being exchanged for two Parliamentary officers held in Oxford.[12]

Aftermath
William Waller, commander of the South-Eastern Association

Following the loss of Arundel, Charles ordered Hopton to withdraw into Wiltshire, to ensure he remained in contact with Bristol. However, he persuaded him he should remain in Hampshire to prevent Waller's cavalry raiding Royalist areas in the west. On 12 January, Waller advised Essex he was fortifying and provisioning Arundel, before a heavy snow fall ended operations for the next few weeks.[13]

By the end of February, Waller's army had been increased to 5,000 infantry and 3,500 horse; he was ordered to slip past Hopton and retake the west. Unfortunately, one of his commanders, Sir Richard Grenville, deserted to the Royalists in early March, and shared this information. Hopton received reinforcements, but was defeated at Cheriton on 29 March; apart from isolated strongpoints, this ended the Royalist threat in the south-east.[14]

Waller installed a permanent garrison, and the castle was used to store military supplies and hold prisoners. In May 1645, Captain William Morley was appointed governor, a position he retained until 1653, when 'the walls and works' of the castle were made indefensible, or 'slighted'.[15]

A detailed description of the impact of the siege on Arundel was provided by Lady Mary Springate, whose 23 year old husband Thomas was part of the garrison installed after its capture. She describes it as 'depopulated, all the windows broke with the guns, and the soldiers making stables of all the shops and lower rooms.' Mary was eight months pregnant; her husband died of fever two days after her arrival.[16] This anecdote was used by author Hester Burton in her 1969 novel, Thomas, based on a detailed account written by Lady Mary for her posthumous daughter, who married the Quaker leader, William Penn.[17]

Footnotes
  1. Waller reported taking '1,000 prisoners', which included civilians suspected of being Royalist sympathisers
  2. Sometimes given as 9 December, but this seems more likely, since Waller was advised of its surrender on 5 December
  3. On Thursday the Enemy sent a Drummer to me, with a Letter, signifying their Willingness to surrender the Castle, if they might have Honourable Conditions: I returned Answer, That when I first possessed myself of the Town, I summoned them in the Castle to yield upon fair Quarter; but they were pleased to refuse either to give or take Quarter: I now took them at their Word, and bid them yield to Mercy. That Night I heard no more of them; but the next Morning the Drummer came to me again with another Letter, wherein they disavowed that Answer to my Trumpet, laying the Fault upon One (who they said had no more Soldiery than Civility) that without their Assent or Knowledge had given that Language. I sent them Answer, That I was very much satisfied, that, in this Disavowing that Harshness, they had made room for Courtesy; and that I was contented to give them fair Quarter; and that, according to their Desire formerly expressed, if they would send out to me Three Officers of Quality, I would employ Three of equal Condition to them, to treat with them about the Particulars of the Surrender: Within a short Time after, there came out unto me Colonel Bamfeild, Major Bovill, and Captain Hodgido, who pressed very much that they might have Liberty to march away like Soldiers, otherwise they should chuse Death rather than Life; and so broke off: About Two Hours after, they sent out to me Lieutenant Colonel Rawlins and Major Moulin, who, after some Debate, came to Agreement with me, that this Morning they would deliver the Castle into my Hands, by Ten of the Clock, with Colours, Arms, &c. undefaced and unspoiled; and that the Gentlemen and Officers should have fair Quarter and civil Usage, the ordinary Soldiers Quarter: For Performance of Covenants, Sir Edward Ford and Sir Edward Bishopp were immediately to be yielded to me; which was accordingly done. This Morning we entered; and are now, blessed be God, in Possession of the Place. We have taken Seventeen Colours of Foot, and Two of Horse; we have taken One Thousand Prisoners one with another, besides One Hundred and Sixty which we took at the first entering of the Town, and such as came from the Enemy to us during the Siege. I humbly desire the London Regiments may be speedily sent hither, to secure this important Place, whilst I advance with that Strength I have towards the Enemy, who lies still at Havant. I humbly rest, “Your Excellency's Most humble Servant, Wm. Waller.” Arundell, 6 Januarii, 1643/4.

References
  1. Wedgwood 1958, pp. 119-120.
  2. Day 2007, pp. 2-3.
  3. Royle 2004, p. 275.
  4. Wedgwood 1958, p. 281.
  5. Wedgwood 1958, pp. 252-254.
  6. Wanklyn, Jones 2005, p. 139.
  7. Nagel 1982, pp. 145-148.
  8. Donagan, 2008 & DNBOnline.
  9. Nagel 1982, p. 150.
  10. "John Birch". BCW Project. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  11. Wedgwood 1958, pp. 288-289.
  12. Bampfield 1685, p. 13.
  13. Wanklyn, Jones 2005, p. 140.
  14. Wanklyn, Jones 2005, pp. 142-143.
  15. Baggs, Warne 1977, pp. 17-19.
  16. Carlton 1992, p. 301.
  17. Royle 2004, p. 276.

Sources
  • Baggs, AP (author), Warne, HR (author), Hudson, TP (ed) (1977). 'Arundel' in A History of the County of Sussex Volume 5, Part 1; Arundel Rape (1997 ed.). Victoria County History. ISBN 978-0197227817.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Bampfield, Joseph (1685). Colonel Joseph Bamfield's Apologie written by himself and printed at his desire.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Carlton, Charles (1992). Going to the Wars: The Experience of the British Civil Wars 1638-1651. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415032827.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Day, Jon (2007). Gloucester & Newbury 1643: The Turning Point of the Civil War. Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1844155910.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Donagan, Barbara (2008). Ford, Sir Edward (Online ed.). Oxford DNB.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nagel, Lawson Chase (1982). The militia of London, 1641-1649. University of London.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Royle, Trevor (2004). Civil War: The War of the Three Kingdoms 1638-1660. Brown, Little. ISBN 978-0316861250.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wanklyn, Frank; Jones, Robert (2005). A Military History of the English Civil War: 1642-1649. Pearson Longman. ISBN 978-0582772816.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wedgwood, CV (1958). The King's War, 1641-1647 (2001 ed.). Penguin Classics. ISBN 978-0141390727.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.