First and Second Battles of Newbury and the Siege of Donnington Castle During the Civil War 1643 -1646 : Naval & Military Press : 9781845743802 : 1845743806 : 15 Oct 2015 : The two battles of Newbury, fought midway through the Civil War, were missed opportunities to end the fighting, since both ended indecisively, but they were hard-fought actions involving some of the Civil War's best known commanders. The first battle, fought in September 1643, was a virtual repeat of the battle of Edgehill, the opening battle of the war, fought between the same commanders - Charles I and the Earl of Essex. The Royalists deployed first, but Essex made better use of the ground and a day's fighting, which cost 3,500 casualties, failed to give either side a decisive advantage. Horrified by the bloodshed, Charles I refused to renew the struggle the next day.The battle is notable for the virtual suicide of Lord Falkland, the King's Secretary of State, who, depressed by the fratricidal conflict, deliberate