When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, Cornwall was generally more supportive of the Royalist cause, while Devon and Somerset were sympathetic towards Parliament, though significant opposition existed in both areas.

He wanted to attack Plymouth, but the city could easily be reinforced by sea, and the Cornish militia refused to cross the River Tamar into Devon.

[8] After some minor skirmishes, the two sides agreed a local truce in late February, allowing Hopton to retreat into Cornwall; this was greeted with incredulity by William Waller, Parliamentarian commander in the west, who argued it primarily benefited the Royalists.

He attacked at around 10:00 am the next morning, taking the Royalists by surprise, but they quickly recovered and, faced by superior numbers, Chudleigh withdrew to his base at Okehampton.

[15][16] In his subsequent report, Chudleigh complained that "by the intolerable neglect of our lying deputy Scout Master, we were surprised by the whole enemy body of horse and foot.

Chudleigh's cavalry initially overwhelmed the Royalist artillery, until Slanning was able to regain the guns, and establish a defensive position amongst ancient earthworks on the moor, reinforced with sharpened wooden stakes.

Outnumbered, and having achieved his main objective, Chudleigh ordered his men to hang lit matches in gorse bushes to make it appear that they were still there, and withdrew.

[14] Uncertain as to the size of the attacking force, the Royalists held their position until daybreak, then retreated, first to Bridestowe, a village about two miles (3.2 km) south-west of Sourton Down, and then later that day back to Launceston.

[25] The capture of Hopton's instructions reportedly led to Stamford "leap(ing) out of [his] chair for joy", believing this was an opportunity for a decisive victory.

He raised the largest field army he could, stripping garrisons throughout Devon, and bringing reinforcements from Somerset, to fight what he believed would be "the deciding contest of the war for the West".