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Preston
Engagement/Skirmish Name : Preston
Date(s) : 17 August 1648 - 18 August 1648
Part of : The Civil Wars of the Three Kingdoms , The 2nd English Civil War ,
Outcome : A victory for Parliamentarian Forces over Royalist Forces
Type of battle : Land
Summary
A mainly Scottish Royalist army about 17,600 were caught by a Parliamentarian force under Cromwell. The Parliamentarians only numbered 8,600 but the Royalist army was on an over extended line of march with the cavalry 16 miles south of the infantry and the artillery way behind the infantry. The only cohesive Royal force was Langdale's 3,000 infantry and 600 horse. This rearguard valliantly delayed Cromwell's attack.
Although the main body of the infantry were able to link up with the cavalry the Royalists were heavily defeated.
