Battle of Alton

Part of English Civil War

Alton

Farnham

Basing

Arundel

Date	13 December 1643
Location	Alton, Hampshire
Result	Decisive Parliamentary victory

Belligerents

Royalists

Parliamentarians

Commanders and leaders

Sir Ralph Hopton

Sir William Waller

Strength

~1000:
300–500 horse
600+ infantry

5000:
Red Regiment (Westminster)
Green Regiment (London)
Yellow Regiment (London)
A foot regiment (Waller's own)
Horse that had survived Roundway Down

Casualties and losses

100+; 500+ captured

~10

The Battle of Alton (also Storm of Alton), of the First English Civil War, took place on 13 December 1643 in the town of Alton, Hampshire, England. There, Parliamentary forces serving under Sir William Waller led a successful surprise attack on a winter garrison of Royalist infantry and cavalry serving under the Earl of Crawford. In the context of the First English Civil War, the Battle of Alton was the first decisive defeat of Sir Ralph Hopton, leader of Royalist forces in the south, and the event had a significant psychological effect on him as commander. More important to Hopton was the loss of men, however, as he was already short-handed in much-needed infantry. The successful Parliamentarians were able, after their victory, to attack and successfully besiege Arundel, a larger and more formidable Royalist outpost in the south of England.

At dawn on the 13th, as Waller's army approached Alton, Crawford fled with the cavalry to Winchester, leaving Colonel Richardus Boles to defend Alton with only the infantry. Outnumbered and overpowered, Boles's men were soon forced to seek refuge in the Church of St Lawrence, where they made a desperate last stand. Boles was killed, along with most of his remaining men. The Parliamentarians won a clear victory, losing only a few men and taking many prisoners.

Boles's fight is also notable for its demonstrated drama and heroism. Stories boast of Boles, who is said to have killed a number of his enemies before falling himself. The battle of Alton is known as one of the "most savage encounters" of the English Civil War. Indeed, musket holes from this fierce fight can still be seen in the south door to the church and inside, where so many cornered men were killed and captured. The Battle of Alton was notably the first battle in the English Civil War to use leather guns, employed effectively by Waller before and during the battle proper.

On 13 September 1643, English Parliament ordered Major General William Waller to muster forces for the "protection" of Hampshire County. In November, he was given control of forces stationed in Farnham, a major Parliamentary staging ground, in order to take control of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. These forces were supplemented by the Red Regiment (from Westminster) and the Green and Yellow regiments (from London). Also at Waller's disposal were a personal regiment of foot soldiers and surviving cavalry from the Battle of Roundway Down.

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Wikipedia