Newcastle 1644
Jan 19 Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven had crossed the Tweed with 21,000 Scots. Their main objective was to gain control of the River Tyne, so that the coal trade could be re-started with London.

Sir Thomas Glenham opposed these forces but he only had 5,000 men, had little effect and retreated to Newcastle.

 The Scots army marched with religious fervour. Each regiment had a minister and elders, services were regularly held and religious discipline rigidly implemented.
Jan 28 Leven's troops reached Morpeth, where he halted to allow stragglers to catch up.

The Marquis of Newcastle was hurrying north with his army of 5,000.

 At this time of year, the roads were in a very poor state. Many of them were flooded and this made progress slow for both armies.
Feb 3 Leven summoned the town to surrender but this was rejected. The Royalist defenders burnt down many of the suburbs so that they could not be used for shelter by the Scottish besiegers.
West Gate, Newcastle
Feb 6 Heavy siege guns landed at Blyth but it was another two days before the Scots could drag them to the town walls.

Leven in vain searched for somewhere to cross the river Tyne.

Feb 19 A skirmish occurred at Corbridge when a party of Royalists from the town rode out to take on the Scots cavalry. The Scots retired but the Royalists were too weary to pursue them.
Feb 21 Leaving 6 infantry regiments to watch the town, Leven marched the rest of his army to Heddon, 4 miles up river.
Feb 23 Scots quartered between Ovingham and Corbridge.
Feb 28 The Scots army crossed the Tyne and marched towards Sunderland.
Mar 4 Leven marches his army into Sunderland unopposed. The town declares for Parliament.

This forced the Royalists to move out of Newcastle. Joined by 12 troops of horse commanded by Sir Charles Lucas they cross the Tyne and head south.

 Leven now had a secure base from which to attack the Royalists and disrupt their line of communication.
Mar 6 Royalists cross the Wear at Lumley and move towards Penshaw. Minor skirmishes with the Scots as the two armies line up. There were heavy snow falls that night which prevented any fighting the next day.
Mar 7 Afternoon skirmishes but no major attack. Both sides decide this is not a good place for a battle. The Royalists withdraw to Penshaw.
Mar 8 The Scots are emboldened and pursue the Royalists, constantly harassing them but bad weather allowed the Royalists to reach the safety of Durham. Leven returns to Sunderland.
Mar 12 Leven sets out for Durham and a battle with Royalists but due to problems with supplies, returns to Sunderland. 2 supply ships from Scotland had been forced to seek shelter in the Tyne because of bad weather and had been seized by the Royalists. 3 other ships had been lost at sea.
Mar 15 Leven launches an un successful attack on the fort at South Shields.
Mar 20 Another attempt met with more success and the South Shields fort was taken. Some Royalist cavalry were attacked at Chester-le-Street.
Mar 23 The Marquis of Newcastle moved his men out of Durham towards Sunderland hoping this would persuade Leven to abandon South Shields. The armies drew up near East Boldon. Cannon fire was exchanged and fighting continued through most of the night. The Royalists lost 240 men in this encounter.
Mar 26 Newcastle moved his troops back into Durham.
Apr 8 Leven's army had been re-equipped at Easington and had taken up positions at Quarrington to disrupt the Royalist communication lines with the south. The Royalists retreated towards Bishop Auckland intending to make a stand at Piercebridge on the river Tees. However a messenger appeared with the news of the Royalist defeat at Selby. Newcastle marched his men to York to alleviate the threat from Parliamentarian forces.

Leven pursued them, harassing them at every opportunity.
Apr 16 The Scots had reached Thornaby, where they veered off to join forces with Sir Thomas Fairfax.
Apr 18 The Scots arrive at Wetherby.