| The Lancastrian forces, led by Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, deployed on a ridge on the road between Saxton and Towton, with the small River Cock (or Cocke) on their right.Despite the poor weather conditions - driving snow - Edward opted for immediate attack. The Yorkist archers advanced and (using the following wind in their favor) fired a salvo of arrows. Firing into the wind, the Lancastrian response was largely ineffective.
Both sides advanced and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with swords and axes. The chaotic fighting lasted for hours. Randolph Dacre (Baron Dacre) was killed by fire from a line of trees concealing Yorkist supporters. |
It seemed that the superior numbers of Lancastrian forces moving forward to control the slight ridge ending in Castle Hill were winning the fray, when John Mowbray (3rd Duke of Norfolk) arrived with an additional Yorkist contingent.The disheartened Lancastrian soldiers were pushed back across "Bloody Meadow," and finally broke and fled. Many were drowned in the River Cock, and many cut down by Yorkist cavalry. One contemporary account stated that 28,000 men died and though this figure is probably excessive, Towton certainly had a very high death toll.
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Warwick and Edward left London with a large army and marched north. Henry VI had established an apparently strong defensive position just south of Northampton, with its back to the River Nene. A strong central force of archers was assisted by artillery. The day was very wet and the Yorkist army advanced into driving rain as well as arrows. However, the weather also rendered the royal field artillery useless.
When the Yorkist army reached the defensive line, Edmund Grey (Lord Grey of Ruthyn) decided to change sides. He ordered his men to surrender, and the Yorkist army poured in against the undefended Lancastrian flank.
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In brief, bloody fighting, Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham was killed with a number of other royalist captains. Warwick had given orders to spare common soldiers if possible, and casualties were light. Henry VI was captured and taken back to London, at which point the Tower of London's garrison surrendered.
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