At 11 September 1297 Scottish army under Andrew Moray and William Wallace met with the larger English army under the Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham at Stirling Bridge...
When the vanguard, comprising 5,400 English and Welsh infantry and several hundred cavalry had crossed the Bridge, the attack was ordered. The Scots spearmen came down from the high ground in rapid advance towards Stirling Bridge, quickly seizing control of the English bridgehead. Surrey's vanguard was now cut off from the rest of the army. The heavy cavalry to the north of the river was trapped and cut to pieces, their comrades to the south powerless to help. Surrey, who was a valuable warrior and still had a formidable contingent of archers, had remained to the south of the river and was still in a strong position. The bulk of his army still remained intact and he could have held the line of the Forth, denying the triumphant Scots a passage to the south. But his confidence was gone. After Tweng's escape he ordered the bridge's destruction and retreated towards Berwick.
WI Surrey hadnt lost his nerve and counter-attacked the Scots? He was still able to claim victory (or at least a stalemate)
How is changing History an English victory at Stirling? Any thoughts?
When the vanguard, comprising 5,400 English and Welsh infantry and several hundred cavalry had crossed the Bridge, the attack was ordered. The Scots spearmen came down from the high ground in rapid advance towards Stirling Bridge, quickly seizing control of the English bridgehead. Surrey's vanguard was now cut off from the rest of the army. The heavy cavalry to the north of the river was trapped and cut to pieces, their comrades to the south powerless to help. Surrey, who was a valuable warrior and still had a formidable contingent of archers, had remained to the south of the river and was still in a strong position. The bulk of his army still remained intact and he could have held the line of the Forth, denying the triumphant Scots a passage to the south. But his confidence was gone. After Tweng's escape he ordered the bridge's destruction and retreated towards Berwick.
WI Surrey hadnt lost his nerve and counter-attacked the Scots? He was still able to claim victory (or at least a stalemate)
How is changing History an English victory at Stirling? Any thoughts?