without any considerable loss to themselves. They laid-down the bridges for the Horse to enter;—Major Desborow commanding the Horse; who very gallantly seconded the Foot. Then our Foot advanced to the City Walls; where they possessed the Gate against the Castle Street: whereinto were put a Hundred men; who made it good. Sir Hardress Waller with his own and the General’s regiment, with no less resolution, entered on the other side of Lawford’s Gate, towards Avon River; and put themselves into immediate conjunction with the rest of the brigade.
During this, Colonel Rainsborough and Colonel Hammond attempted Pryor’s Hill Fort, and the Line downwards towards Froom; and the Major-General’s regiment being to storm towards Froom River, Colonel Hammond possessed the Line immediately, and beating the enemy from it, made way for the Horse to enter. Colonel Rainsborough, who had the hardest task of all at Pryor’s Hill Fort, attempted it; and fought near three hours for it. And indeed there was great despair of carrying the place; it being exceeding high, a ladder of thirty rounds scarcely reaching the top thereof; but his resolution was such that, notwithstanding the imaccessibleness and difficulty, he would not give it over. The Enemy had four pieces of cannon upon it, which they plied with round and case shot upon our men: his Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen, and others, were two hours at push of pike, standing upon the palisadoes, but could not enter. “But now” Colonel Hammond being entered the Line (and “here” Captain Ireton,[1] with a forlorn of Colonel Rich’s regiment, interposing with his Horse between the Enemy’s Horse and Colonel Hammond, received a shot with two pistol-bullets, which broke his arm),—by means of this entrance of Colonel Hammond, they did storm the Fort on that part which was inward; “and so” Colonel Raimsborough’s and Colonel Hammond’s men entered the Fort, and immediately put almost all the men in it to the sword.
- ↑ This is not the famous Ireton; this is his Brother. ‘Commissary-General Ireton,’ as we have seen (p, 223), is also here; he is not wedded yet.
