A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



On 6 March the marquis of Newcastle, after being reinforced by some 

 troops from Durham and cavalry from Yorkshire, started in pursuit. Crossing 

 the Wear by the same bridge as his opponents, he soon after came in sight of 

 the enemy on the high ground south-west of Sunderland. The following day 

 was spent in manoeuvring, neither side caring to attack the other, and on 

 8 March the Royalists after a slight skirmish withdrew to Durham under 

 cover of a heavy snowstorm. On the 1 2th Leven, who was in great difficulties 

 in the matter of supplies,'^" advanced to Durham, which Newcastle had 

 evacuated, but finding difficulty in securing forage for their cavalry the Scots 

 withdrew to Sunderland. On the i 5th they made an unsuccessful attempt to 

 take the fort at South Shields, but on the 20th, under the eyes of their general, 

 a storming party after the moat had been filled with bundles of sticks and 

 straw carried the fort by escalade. The capture of this fort commanding 

 the entrance to the Tyne enabled the Scots to cut off Newcastle from the 

 sea and to replenish their meagre stock of supplies from the incoming ships 

 which were captured. 



Meanwhile Newcastle, who had been joined by Montrose on the 1 5th, 

 had again moved north. On the 20th some of his horse were surprised 

 and captured at Chester le Street. Determining to attack Leven, who was 

 contemplating moving south to join Fairfax and obtain supplies, Newcastle 

 moved to Chester le Street on 23 March, and on the following day took 

 up a position at Hylton on the north bank of the Wear, some two and a 

 half miles from Sunderland. The Scots were drawn up on a ridge to the 

 east between the English and the sea. The action which ensued did not 

 begin until late in the afternoon, and continued most of the night, consisting 

 of a hot engagement between the opposing infantry, the inclosed nature of 

 the country preventing the cavalry from engaging. The action was a drawn 

 one. On the morrow the Scots attempted a turning movement with their 

 cavalry, which was checked by Sir Charles Lucas's brigade of horse. The 

 26th saw the English retire to Durham, and on the 31st Leven marched to 

 Easington Hill, where he remained till 8 April, on which day he moved to 

 Quarrington Hill. This movement cut Newcastle's communication with 

 Hartlepool, and he on the night of 12 April retired to Bishop Auckland, 

 leaving all his provisions behind. So quietly had this movement been carried 

 out that it was not till the afternoon of the 13th that the Scots discovered 

 their opponents had vanished. Leven immediately started in pursuit and 

 reached Ferryhill that night. Starting early on the morning of the 14th, 

 the Scotch cavalry reached Darlington before seven in the morning and 

 captured some prisoners and supplies. They missed, however, the main 

 body of Newcastle's force, which marched south by Piercebridge and 

 Barnard Castle. 



The departure of the Scotch force southward, leaving garrisons only at 

 Sunderland and South Shields, was an opportunity of which the Royalists 

 were not slow to avail themselves. In May Montrose, who had left the 

 marquis of Newcastle on 26 March, to attempt to rally the Royalists in 

 Scotland, returned to the bishopric. The fort at South Shields was re- 

 captured, but an attempt on Sunderland was frustrated by the seamen of the 



""Of five ships carrying supplies for Leven, three were lost at sea and the other two driven into the 

 Tyne by bad weather and captured by the Royalists. Ibid. 167. 



170 



