Part 1 in ECWN&Q #1

The action at Birmingham had cost Rupert valuable time. In addition, Graves' men had managed to flea to Lichfield, where they alerted the garrison. For a speedier advance, the Prince 1eft his foot and artillary about Birmingham while he went on with the Horse.

Lichfield quickly fell to the victorious Royalists. they swarmed over the town, but the Close (which contained the Cathedral, Church and houses of the Clergy) was strongly fortified and resolved against him. The wall, about which there was a broad and deep moat, which was also thick and strong that no battery the Prince could raise would make and impresion.

Rupert called up his Foot and as soon as he realized that the Governor, Colonel Russell, intended to make a fight of it. After finding the artillary ineffectual he endeavoured to arrange a treaty, but the Colonel would have none of it, for he knew that was on his side. The fact that Rupert would settle for a treaty showed him the urgency of the matter from the Royalist point of view. He also had plenty of food, and troops "equal to numbers on the ground."

Even the weather favoroured the Parliamentarians, for since Rupert's arrival, it had poured with rain. Such were the downpours that by the time peace had receded, the mud beyond the moat was waist deep and deepening.

Lord Digby, a most unfortunate fellow on this occasion, was shot through the thigh whilst wading his way between dry areas. After this removal of Digby from any further action, Col. Hastings rushed to Cannock, where he raised 50 volunteer miners, and another 100 joined the following day. These experienced additions, along with local recruits and a few Horse who were persuaded to partake of such menial work, gave the Royalists a strong force for the tasks ahead.

"In less than 10 days we had drawn the moat dry, and prepared 2 bridges for the graff." At the same time, at leats one or two mines were under construction. Claredon states that one of the mines were discovered and destroyed, but at this early stage of the War, and with the first gunpowder mines to be used by tha military in England, under construction, it seems doubtful that those within the walls would have been capable of countering.

Assault

By April 20th, the powder was planted, merely awaiting the lighting of the fuse. Rupert now gave Russell one last chance to capitulate, but be refused, instead ringing the Cathedral Bell and thus preparing his men for action. Later that evening, the one mine was sprung.

The Cathedral Close was rocked as tons of masonry flew in all directions through clouds of dust and smoke. As the air settled, a breach of about 20 feet could be seen in the wall. Russell's men quickly leapt into action in an attempt to stop any storm carrying the Close. However, prior to the assault, they had endured several rounds of close range artillery fire.

Once the guns had had their fill, Col. Usher led his men forward, but the concentration of fire forced them to ratreat -- leaving the Colonel and some of this men dead.

While it remained light, the Royalists made no further attempt to take the Close. However, as soon as dusk fell, a second, more determined storming poarty went in. Russell's men defended the breach "...with all possible courage and resolution and killed and hurt very many, whereof some officers of prime quality whereof the Lord Digby" (he was recovering and unlikely to have participated in the attack).

"Col. Gerard, Col. Wagstaffe, and Major Legge were the chief of the wounded; and when they had entered the breach, they continued the dispute so fiercely within (the narrowness of the breach and the ascent, not suffering many to enter together, and no horse being able to get over) that after they killed Col. Usher and some other good officers and taken other prisoners (both Wagstaffe and Legge were in theier hands), they compelled the Prince to consent to very honourable conditions; which he readily yielded to, as thinking himself the gainer in the bargain."

On April 21st, 1643 the garrison of Lichfield Close marched away from the scene of their defeat with a guarantee of safe conduct to Coventry. By his fine efforts in defense of the Close, Russell had gained Rupert's admiration, "...though the purchase had shrewdly shaken (the Prince's troop) and robbed him of many officers and soldiers he much valued."

The casualties for such actions are hard to calculate, but on this occasion Rupert's men certainly suffered more heavily than Russell's. Possibly 40-50 dead, mostly occurred in attempting to storm the breach. Russell probably lost no more than half that number, and possibly even less than that, for there appears to be no slaughter of the garrison. It has to be admitted that the figures are a personal calculation.

Even if Lichfield cost more lives, it still would have been a necessity from the Royalist point of view. The North/South Road to Oxford was now open witha safe stop available at the Close. However, Rupert's march to join the Queen was cut short, for he was ordered to rejoin the King. Col. Bagot "a son of a good and powerful family in that county" (Warwickshire/Staffordshire) was appointed governor. The town was held for the King until July, 1646.

The Prince went with his servants to Oxford, the rest of the army ordered to follow on as son as the situation allowed. As for the Queen and the powder, they were both able to move from the Earl of Newcastle's protection to the safety of Oxford. The Royal campaign had been a success.

Sources

Clarendon: HISTORY OF THE GREAT REBELLION (1888)
Thomsen: WARRIOR PRINCE (1976)
Sherwood: CIVIL STRIFE IN THE MIDLANDS (1976)

Part 1 in ECWN&Q #1

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