Battle of Cheriton 1644
Hopton, reinforced by the Earl of Forth and a detachment of troops from Oxford advanced from Alresford to meet the Parliamentarians under Waller who were approaching from the direction of East Meon. The two sides met in fields near Lamborough Lane.

The 6,000 Royalists occupied higher ground but were outnumbered by the 10,000 parliamentarians.

 Waller had been marching towards Winchester.
May 29 The sun rose to burn off a heavy mist which hid the enemies from each other. Colonel Appleyard was ordered to take 4 divisions of musketeers and capture Cheriton Wood in front of the left Royalist flank. There was chaos in the woods as they met 800 men from the City of London Brigade who had already occupied the wood. It was hard to tell friend from foe and it ended in close-quarter hand-to-hand fighting. The Royalists eventually managed to push the enemy back out of the wood.

Then on the other flank, Sir Henry Bard without orders from Hopton decided to charge the enemy forces which were partially hidden by the lie of the land. They met Haselrigge's cavalry and were soon in trouble. More Royalists went to help but they were also cut to pieces.

The day had started well for the Royalists, but ended with a victory for Waller and the Parliamentarians.

 

 Both sides in the wood had chosen to wear white identification tokens in their caps and used the same battle cry 'God With Us'
Hopton was forced to retire to Oxford to be absorbed into the King's main army leaving most of the area to the south of the Thames in Parliamentarian hands.

This was Waller's first real victory and it enhanced his reputation.
Royalists : (6,000) Ralph Hopton, Earl of Forth, Sir Henry Bard, Col. Appleyard

Parliament : (10,000) William Waller, Arthur Haselrigge

 About 2,000 men were killed in the battle.