English Civil War earl of Essex would put himself in their way". Accordingly, the army left Shrewsbury on 12 October, gaining two days' start on the enemy, and moved south-east. This had the desired effect, as it forced Essex to move to intercept them. The first pitched battle of the war, fought at Edgehill on 23 October 1642, proved inconclusive, and both the Royalists and Parliamentarians claimed it as a victory. The second field action of the war, the stand-off at Turnham Green, saw Charles forced to withdraw to Oxford. This city would serve as his base for the remainder of the war.
English Civil War Society authentic pikes and muskets. The English Civil War Society consists of many smaller subdivisions, each run semi-autonomously, and which are known to their members as "regiments". Each of these regiments falls under one or other of the two armies of the English Civil War Society, the Roundhead Association and the King's Army. The Roundhead Association army represents the army of Parliament – the "roundheads" – whilst the Kings Army represents that of the King – the "cavaliers" or "royalists". The King's Army currently has eight regiments under its control and the Roundhead Association has thirteen. There are regiments of "foote",