ABSTRACT
Whilst the King perambulated around the Midlands, the New Model Army was following up its rout of Goring at Langport injuly 1645. On 9 January 1646 Cromwell caught Wentworth's cavalry at Bovey Tracey to the south-west of the royalist garrison of Exeter and inflicted heavy losses on it. Mutiny was rife, particularly amongst the Cornishmen, but somehow Hopton cobbled together 5,000 or so fighting men and took the field, entering Torrington on 10 February. On 14 February, leaving a token presence before the city, he advanced to Chumleigh, and on the 16th prepared to assault Torrington from his headquarters at nearby Ring Ash. Fairfax intended to attack next day, but suspecting that Hopton would withdraw, launched a night attack and, after bitter and protracted fighting in the streets, drove the royalists out in confusion, although several hundred parliamentarian prisoners were killed or maimed when the royalist magazine was set off..
