Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	foot_n	horse_n	retreat_n	1,667	5	10.6575	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57927	A true relation concerning the late fight at Torrington between the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the forces under the command of Lord Hopton and others : sent in a letter to the Honorable William Lenthal Esq., speaker of the Honorable House of Commons, and by him appointed to be forthwith printed and published.	Rushworth, John, 1612?-1690.; Lenthall, William, 1591-1662.	1645 (1645)	Wing R2334A; ESTC R25118	3,665	10

A True RELATION Concerning the late Fight at Torrington Between the Forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Forces under the command of the Lord Hopton and others SEnt in a Letter to the Honorable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons and by him appointed to be forthwith printed and published LONDON Printed for Edward Husband Printer to the Honorable House of Commons Feb. 20. 1645. To the Honorable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons SIR SAturday Febr. 14. the army marched from Crediton and the Quarters thereabout to Chimleigh being ten miles the day very rainy and the way very deep Sunday they marched very early to a Rendezvouz some two miles in the way to Torrington with intention to have gone on but our parties of our Horse bringing in some Prisoners by whose Examinations we could not certainly learn which way the Enemy bent the certain knowledge whereof would mightily advantage us by taking the benefit of that side of the River on which they marched whereupon another party was sent out of Col Butlers Troop the Forlorn of which party being twelve took twelve of the Lord Gorings Life-guard and twenty four Horse and brought them to the General upon their Examination it appears the Enemy was ignorant of our Motion That they were drawn to no Rendezvouz That the Lord Hopton was in Torrington Presently after there came a Spye from Torrington who informed that that morning he left the Lord Hopton there That they heard a kinde of an Alarm but no certain Intelligence of our Motion And being informed that a party of the Enemies Horse was at Burrington the General sent a party of Horse to meet with them who accordingly charged the Enemy put them to a Rout shot Lieut. Colonel Dundash through the body and took several prisoners and brought Dundash three miles on the way but being mortally wounded as himself conceived was inforced to leave him at Ringash a Foot quarter of ours This is the same Dundash that ran to the Enemy when the Earl of Essex's army lay about Tame This Lieut. Colonel commanded the Lord of Clevelands Brigade the party of Horse that charged Dundash was commanded by Captain Barry of Rutlandshire who lost never a man but only his Brother run through the arm and one Mr. Needler of Captain Knights troop shot in the arm we sent another party of horse towards the East who likewise met with their horse and took three prisoners and some horse and shot Major Bret who being well mounted escaped those Forces confesse that Hopton was ignorant of our motion by this time the Bridge was made up some two miles off Chimleigh the which the Enemy had broken down so that our army might with convenience march over But the day being so far spent it was not held fit to march the whole army so three Regiments of horse and three of foot marched some four milss towards the enemy that night the rest returned ro Chimleigh with orders to march by break of day we did think the several alarms given them this day had so affrighted them that their Resolutions would have been taken before morning whether to go East or West the certain knowledge whereof was the thing we much desired and would guide us the better to pursue our designes Munday Febr. 16. the General with that party of the Army that was at Chimleigh marched up to the rest of the Army to Ringash and had there a Rendezvouz and afterwards upon the Moor within five miles of Torrington bad a general Rendezvouz both of horse and foot drew them up in Battalia and so marched up towards the enemy When we came within two miles of Torrington our Forlorn hope of horse charged theirs and put them to a retreat whereupon they came on again with a very strong party and put ours to a stand the reserves of our Forlorn being come up and some foot forced them to their Body again When we came neer Squire Rolls his house we had Intelligence that there was a party of 200 Firelocks and Muskettiers left to defend that place therefore the Army made an halt half a mile in the Eastside thereof till the Foot came up which the enemy perceiving as they might easily do by reason of the Hills and clearnesse of the day quit the house and drew their Forces to Torrington Our Forlorn of horse and foot advanced to Squire Rolls his house half a mile further towards Torrington there being several skirmishes in the narrow Lane between the Forlorn hope on both sides and several prisoners taken on each but most by our party The enemy drew their foot out of the Town into the Closes about a quarter of a mile our Forlorn hope of foot lined the hedges and so faced each other for about two hours within half a musket shot exchanging course Language and Bullets now and then after all the Foot and Horse were come up and drawn up in Mr. Rolls his Park a party of 800 foot was sent to second the Forlorn In case the enemy should endeavour to put any affront upon them also a Regiment was immediately sent to assist them who were no sooner come up to the rest but it began to be dark a Councel of War was called what was fit to be done whether to engage before day or not for that it being dark the enemy might lay Ambuscadoes they knowing the ground better then we whereupon the General Lieutenant General with the rest of the Colonels deferred a Resolution and rid from Mr. Rolls his house up to the Forlorn hope to see in what posture our forces were set and by prisoners to know what the Enemy intended while they were there The Tattoo was heard to beat in the town which assured us the Enemy still continued in the town not flying away as several Reports would have made us believe but to be certain of the same six Dragooners were commanded to creep under a hedge near the Barracadoes and to give fire to see if they would answer by which we might know whither they stood to defend the town The Enemy received the charge and answered it with a very sharp volley of shot Our Forlorn hope seeing the Dragooners engaged they gave fire whereupon the Enemy gave fire all along the hedges and works thereupon the Reserve to the Forlorn came on to Relieve them and so being engaged the whole army advanced and about eight at night the Battel begun some six fields from the town and so we fought from hedge to hedge until we beat them into their Barracadoes which they maintained for an hour after very manfully our men being often repulsed yet at last got over the Barracadoes and forced the Enemy into the town whereupon the the Horse were let in who scowring the streets were received by the Enemy and a hot charge given by both parties yet it pleased God at last we drave them out of the Barracadoes at the furthest end of the town and by this time many prisoners were taken and put into the Church but far more escaped being dark over the hedges and by-wayes which was not possible for us to prevent throwing down their Arms and every man flying several wayes for life our forces were no sooner possest of the town but the enemies Magazine which they left in the Church was fired whether on purpose by the enemy or by accident we cannot yet learn but it proved a terrible blow not onely blowing up the Church with all the Wood and Lead that was upon it deforming many houses in the Town but killed some of the prisoners in the Church and some of our men that were in the Church yard two great Webbs of Lead fell within twice a horse length of the General but it pleased God he escaped though in imminent danger many others being hurt both with the Timber Stones and Lead most of the Town was shaken by this blow being the terriblest that hath been seen in the memory of man there being neer eighty Barrels of Powder blown up together and one whole Barrel which were blown out of the Church into the street which took not fire The Enemy perceiving their Magazine to be thus fired gave one Charge more with their horse up to our Barracadoes commanded by Sir Iohn Digby Brother to the Lord Digby but our Muskettiers gave fire whereupon they took their farewel Our horse instantly advanced through the Town after them and begun the pursuite about eleven at night and I hope will give a good accompt of the businesse Thus it hath pleased God in an instant to scatter those Forces of the Lord Hoptons his Infantry being taken slain and totally routed his Horse many taken and dispersed and the rest gone in great disorder toward Cornwal as we hear where shortly I hope we shall meet with the remnant left of that Crew and put an end to the field Enemy in the West of England they confest they had eight Regiments of Horse consisting of two thousand five hundred men some other of that their Officers that are prisoners say Three thousand be they more or lesse they are very resolute men fought valiantly and after they were chased from hedge to hedge defended their Barracadoes and works at push of Pike and with the But-end of their Muskets till our foot got over a hedge flanckt them that they were forced to quit it They were old Cornish foot and all Greenviles and Gorings old Souldiers English and Irish were engaged in this Service but now are scattered threw down their Arms and fled for their lives We have abundance of men wounded Officers and Souldiers more then hath been at any storm since the Army came forth For indeed every hedge was it were a Bulwark to the Enemy so strong are the hedges in these parts but few slain we killed many of the enemy both horse and foot The particulars of this businesse you will have more fully hereafter let the glory be given unto God I am Sir Your most faithful Servant I. R. Torrington Feb. 17. SOme of their Horse we hear are going towards Barnstaple Colonel Cook is that way However it will be needful Colonel Whaley quarters near Newbery with some of his Horse to follow any party that may come to Oxford and not divert our Horse that are on so probable a design to further the weal of England FINIS