The Battle of Hexam

The Lancastrians quickly regrouped after the battle of Hedgley Moor and marched south a second time. King Edward was hurrying north with his own army, but hearing of the Lancastrian’s proximity, the audacious Lord Montagu instantly set out to meet them with his own modest force. On the morning of 15 May 1464,  the Duke of Somerset roused his men from their slumber with the news that Montagu was swiftly approaching.  The Lancastrians took up positions to the south of Hexam, with their backs to the river known as ‘Devil’s water’. Montagu arrived shortly afterwards and opened the battle by charging across the fields to engage Somerset’s center. Somerset was pushed backwards and partially into the river where many of his men drowned. At around the same time Lords Roos and Hungerford, joint commanders of the right flank, did an action replay of Hedgley Moor, taking advantage of the chaos to flee the field with their men. The Lancastrian left flank and center waned and broke simultaneously, sending thousands of men into panicky flight. Montagu pursued them as far as Hexam, in the process capturing the Duke of Somerset. The Duke was executed the next day, followed within forty-eight hours by Lord Roos and Hungerford.  

 

The First Battle of St Albans 22 May 1455	The Battle of Hedgeley Moor 25 April 1469
The Battle of Blore Heath 23 September 1459	The Battle of Hexham 15 May 1464
The Battle of Northampton 10 July 1460	The Battle of Edgecote Moor 26 July 1469
The Battle of Wakefield 30 December 1460	The Battle of Losecote Field 12 March 1470

The Battle of Mortimer's Cross 2 February 1461	The Battle of Barnet 14 April 1471
The Second Battle of St Albans 17 February 1461	The Battle of Tewkesbury 4 May 1471
The Battle of Ferry Bridge 28 March	The Battle of Bosworth 22 August 1485
The Battle of Towton 29 March 1461	The Battle of Stoke 16 June 1487