Surrey arrives on the field (7th September)
On 7th September Surrey and the English Army arrived at Wooler Haugh, 7 miles south of the Scottish Camp on Flodden Hill. On seeing how heavily fortified the Scottish camp on Flodden Hill was, Surrey wrote to James asking him to come forth and give battle. James responded - ‘it beseems not an Earl to handle a King after this fashion’ (meaning an Earl should not dictate terms to a King.)
On receiving this response Surrey moved his army from Wooler Haugh to a camp site at Barmoor Castle on 8th September. That evening he sent his son the Lord Admiral onto Watch Law to assess the eastern side of the Scottish fortifications on Flodden Hill. (He reported that the Scottish camp was equally as fortified on its east side.)
The Scottish army is outflanked (8th-9th September 1513)
Leaving its baggage train at Barmoor, the English army set out in two parts: the Vanguard under the command of the Lord Admiral and the Rearguard under the command of the Earl of Surrey.The Vanguard crossed the River Till at Twizel Bridge, the Rearguard at a little known ford at New Heaton, thus avoiding the castles of Etal and Ford. They regrouped in the valley of Pallinsburn on the northern edge of the battlefield.
The Scottish army responds (9th September 1513)
Early on the morning of 9th September, James learned that the English were attempting to outflank his army by crossing the River Till at its northern end. The King ordered a rapid redeployment northwards from Flodden Hill to the top of Branxton Hill, an equally commanding position but without any pre-prepared defences. The estimated 40,000 men, women and children of the Scottish baggage train also moved off Flodden Hill and disappeared forever into the fog of battle.
