Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 99/397

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ARMY HISTORICAL RESEARCH

currently facing Rupert from the north-eastern side of the Hedge. If Parliament’s men had thought of trying to catch Rupert’s Foot, they would first have had to gallop 1,000 yards to the nearest gap, squeeze through it into Warpsgrove Lane and follow through the lanes only to find the ambush set by the Royalist dragoons. They would also have left over 1,000 of the Royalist troopers in their rear. The question for Gunter, who had assumed general direction of the Parliamentary force, was how could he attack without risking everything? Strange as it may seem, Luke and Dalbier, who out-ranked Gunter, appear to have passed over command of the combined force to Gunter, who although only a major, was perhaps presumed to have a better tactical grasp of the situation than his newly-arrived superiors. As Gunter was killed in the action, he may also have been used by Luke and Dalbier as a convenient scapegoat to deflect responsibility from themselves for actions that they should have controlled to prevent the disaster that followed. Gunter could reasonably expect that reinforcements would be coming from Thame and perhaps hoped that Stapleton had sent a large detachment directly to Chiselhampton. The Parliamentarians’ only option was to attempt to delay the retreat of the Royalist Horse. As an ad hoc force, it can be imagined that there might have been some difficulties of command and co-ordination among the various groups of Parliamentarians, whereas Rupert had three formed regiments under his immediate control. Given that Hampden had simply joined Crosse, it is plausible to suggest that Luke, Dalbier and Gunter would have conferred on how to head off Rupert’s force, although the Parliamentarian sources imply that Gunter made the decisions. Seeing his quarry leaving, Gunter appears to have formed the whole combined force into 13 makeshift troops and a forlorn hope of horse and dragoons. Unable to get through the Great Hedge the Parliamentarians galloped the 1,000 yards towards Warpsgrove House where there was a gap. At Warpsgrove Lane eight troops passed through the Hedge and formed a front. A reserve of five troops was left on the north-east side of the Hedge; three troops close to Warpsgrove House near the gap and two troops a little further away. 19 The Late Beating Up described the action as follows: 20 His Highness was now making halt in Chalgrove cornfield: about a mile & half short of Chiselhampton bridge. Just at this time (being now about 9.aclock we discerned severall great Bodyes of the Rebells horse and Dragooners, coming down Golder-hill towards us; from Esington and Tame: who (together with those that had before skirmished with our reere) drew down to the bottom of a great Close, or Pasture ordering themselves there among the trees beyond a great hedge, which parted that Close from our field .

19 ‘Late Beating Up’, pp. 6-7. 20 ‘Late Beating Up’, p. 5.