Date: 4th May, 1471
Time: morning
Location: near Tewkesbury, by the Severn River
Factions: Lancaster vs York Victor: York
Troops/inventory: Lancaster - 6,000 - 7,000 men-at-arms (including
archers), some cannons
York - 5,000 - 6,000 men-at-arms (including archers
& spearmen), artillery
Injuries/fatalities of interest: Lancaster
York - none
Interesting bit: One of the most remarkable feats of King Edward IV's
military career happened on the way to this battle. The army he was to fight
against, which was under the orders of Margaret of Anjou, needed to cross
the Severn River at Tewkesbury in order to join forces with Jasper Tudor.
Conversely, it was necessary for Edward to prevent this from happenning, to
increase his chances of defeating his enemy. Effectively, the King needed to
get his army of 6,000 men and a large wagon train (including the royal
artillery and guns captured from Warwick at Barnet) from Sodbury to
Tewkesbury, more than 30 miles away. Astoundingly, King Edward's army
achieved their goal in one day, despite soaring temperatures and having
stopped only once for food and water.
Needless to say, Margaret's army had not expected the Yorkists to prevent
their river crossing. They were defeated the following morning in what must
have been a battle between two very exhausted armies.