The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

SECOND BATTLE OF ST ALBANS

The Second Battle of St Albans occurred on the 17th of February 1461, during the Wars of the Roses between the Yorkists under the Earl of Warwick and the Lancastrians under Margaret.

The Yorkists had an army of about 10,000 men covering a long front from St Albans to Nomansland Common with four unconnected defensive positions and a number of complicated defensive devices. The Lancastrians opened the attack on the Yorkists left flank in St Albans, and met with stiff opposition from Yorkist archers positioned around the watch tower and Eleanor Cross. The fighting in the streets of St Albans progressed for much of the morning, before the Lancastrians swung to their left so as to engage the Yorkist position on Bernard's Heath. The main engagement of the battle then followed around Bernard's Heath and the high-ground above Sandridge. During the battle a light snow fall was blowing in the wind into the faces of the Yorkist defenders, hindering their archers. The Yorkist centre position commanded by Lord Montagu was outnumbered, and left unaided for many hours before the right flank was brought to their assistance, but by then a mass desertion of Yorkist troops from Kent proved demoralising and the Yorkist army retreated. Warwick stabilised the Yorkist line at Nomansland Common, but it was too late and he left the field with some 4000 troops.
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