On 3 September 1650, two former allies fought a bitter clash of arms in the rain-soaked fields around the quiet seaside town of Dunbar. For one, it was a signal mercy which cemented his reputation and paved the way for political as well as military supremacy. For the other, it meant defeat, occupation, and the end of a cause. In England, Dunbar is remembered as one of Cromwell’s most brilliant victories. In Scotland, as an avoidable tragedy caused by the placement of blind faith over sound judgement. And for those whose ancestors suffered in its terrible aftermath, it is a story of both sorrow and survival.

This new analysis of the Battle of Dunbar explores the battlefield and its events in close detail, using the author’s intimate knowledge of the landscape. From the high politics to the individual experience, Arran Johnston brings the story of the Dunbar campaign vividly to life and sets its significance within the context of both the seventeenth century and our own times.

“Johnston's meticulous account of the campaign reflects his intimate knowledge of the countryside and its roads. It gives the reader a vivid sense of just how seventeenth-century armies moved and provisioned themselves on campaign. The granular description of Leslie's failure at the Battle of Dunbar is most welcome, because his—and his army's—performance had to that point been commendable. The author also explains the role of government representatives who questioned and interfered with Leslie's decisions and even his command structure. "Essential Agony" should now be mandatory reading for anyone interested in seventeenth-century warfare and the careers of Oliver Cromwell and David Leslie.”

‘'Wargamers wishing to recreate the campaign and battle of Dunbar will benefit greatly from reading this carefully researched and detailed account. ''