Langport 1645
After Naseby, Charles went to Hereford and then on to Raglan Castle where he started to plan his recovery from defeat and the rebuilding of his army. Rupert had been sent to defend Bristol. The Earl of Glamorgan was sent to Ireland to raise an army.
Jul 3 Fairfax marched his men south through Marlborough. He arrived at Dorchester where he was greeted by the Dorset Clubmen whom he had to appease. Fairfax had a force of about 14000 men as he had joined with Massey's Western Association men.
Goring gave up the siege of Taunton when he heard of the approaching Parliamentarian army and had moved his forces to Langport where they took up strong defensive positions. Goring had about 7000 men and was hoping for reinforcements from South Wales.
Goring sent off a decoy force to make Fairfax think he was going back to Taunton, so Massey was sent off after it.
Jul 7 Fairfax marches into Yeovil, but finds the bridge over the river Yeo is broken. He crosses further west at Ilchester.
Jul 9 A detachment is sent to attack the Royalist rearguard under Gen. George Porter at Isle Abbotts. They were surprised and unprepared and fled back to Langport, losing 50 men killed and 200 captured.

This attack warned Goring that he was being surrounded by a large Parliamentarian force so he sent his baggage train back to Bridgwater, intending to follow it.

Fairfax camped at Long Sutton that night.
Jul 10 The Royalists were deployed along Ham Hill just outside Langport, and Fairfax ordered his men to arrange themselves on a hill opposite them to the East (Pict's Hill). A narrow lane runs from Somerton across Pict's hill, down to cross the Wagg stream and up to Ham Hill. Both armies were positioned either side of this lane with the cavalry in the centre and infantry on the flanks. This lane is the B3153 today.
11 am. The battle begins with an artillery barrage aimed at the Royalist defenders of the crossing of the Wagg, followed by a force of musketeers to force the Royalists back.
400 horsemen led by Major Christopher Bethel charged down the lane no more than 4 abreast, across the Wagg and uphill to attack the Royalist cavalry. The narrowness of the lane meant that the Royalists could not take advantage of their superior numbers of cavalry. Bethel's charge forced the Royalists back, while another detachment of cavalry under Disbrowe joined the fight. These 800 men, six troops of cavalry, attacked with such intensity that "Gode took away the enemy’s courage and away they run".

Lt Col John Lilburne reported that, "I heard the General, Lt General and all the chief officers that saw it, say it was one of the bravest that ever their eyes beheld."
Now the rest of the Parliamentary troops attacked as well and the Royalists fled, the cavalry going through Wearne and Aller, while the infantry fled through Langport, which they fired as they went. Some 270 Royalists were killed against about 30 from the New Model Army. Fairfax attributed this small loss of life to "hedges and heels", that is the precipitate flight of the Royalists. He captured about 2000 Royalists.

Goring's army virtually crumbled, many deserting in the flight from the battle.

 The effect of the battle was, in the words of Fairfax’s report that " we having scattered this Army, there is not an Army of His Majesties in being, but such as may be with an ordinary active power scattered and brought to nothing". Cromwell’s comment was that the success was "not inferior to any we have had; …. You have the Long Sutton mercy added to the Naseby mercy".
Royalist (7000 men) : Goring

Parliament (13000 men) : Sir Thomas Fairfax, Maj. Christopher Bethel, Disbrowe.

 Christopher Bethel died of wounds received in the assault of Bristol later in the year