Foiled before Lyme, Prince Maurice marched to Exeter and joined Sir John Berkeley, who was besieging the city. On 25th July the Earl of Warwick had mode an attempt to relieve Exeter by sea but had failed, losing three ships in the process. The Parliamentarians now planned to relieve Exeter by land, building up forces from the garrisons of Plymouth, Barnstaple and Pldeford. Sir John Berkeley, on hearing of this plan, sent Colonel John Digby with his own regiment of horse and some "loose" troops of dragoons to North Devon to stop the Parliamentarians from bringing together their forces. Digby arrived at Torrlngton, which was to see fame later in the war, where he was reinforced by newly raised levies of horse and foot which had come from Devon and Cornwall. The Parliamentary garrisons of Barnstaple and Bideford, put together, numbering about 300 horse and 1,200 foot, under command of Colonel Pennet, decided to attack him. The battle that followed was amazing because it was one of the only, if not the only battle where six men charged an army and the army fled.

Colonel John Digby had been told of the Parliamentarians approach and accordingly, had drawn up his forces to receive them at dawn. At noon there was still no sign of the Parliamentarians so he dismissed the Royalists back to their quarters. In less than an hour he was told that the enemy were within half a mile from the town. He ordered the foot to take up positions in the town streets while he himself rode out with the 150 horse which had been the guard. These 150 he split into small detachments where the gaps in the hedges and copses gave enough room for them to advance against the enemy. Advancing towards him, Digby saw the Parliamentarian forlorn hope, consisting of 50 musketeers. Collecting six officers, Digby charged these men who promptly panicked and fled. The panic connected with the main body who also promptly fled. Then, Digby summoned his other 150 troopers and pursued the demoralised Parliamentarians. During this pursuit 200 men were killed and a further 200 men taken prisoner. As a result of this crushing victory for the Royalists the fort at Appledore surrendered to Digby, with Barnstaple and Bideford following.

Never in the history of military warfare can a victory like that have been gained by so few. However, that Royalist good news was not all. Discouraged by the loss of these important North Devon ports, Exeter surrendered on 4th September. Royalist success was at its highest.

Source:
Colonel H.C.B.Rogers O.B.E. Battles & Generals of the Civil Wars 1642-1651. Seeley Service & Co. Ltd. 1968.

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