The Scots move
Early on the morning of 9th September James IV, hearing that the English had outflanked him, moved his army from Flodden Hill to Branxton Hill.The move probably took until the early afternoon. He formed his force into four main units, squares or columns, known as schiltrons, each consisting of about 7000-8000 men.
The English arrive
Having crossed the River Till around midday the two parts of the English Army headed south. The Lord Admiral and the Vanguard, with the English cannons, arrived first, crossing the Pallinsburn at Branxbrig. As they came out of the Pallinsburn valley on their advance towards Flodden Hill, they came under fire from Scottish guns. Retreating back into the valley the Lord Admiral tried to locate his father, leading the Rearguard, to inform him of the new Scottish position on the top of Branxton Hill.
The Earl of Surrey and the rear part of the English Army (around 14,000 men) had crossed the Till at the New Heaton Ford (around 2 miles south of Twizel Bridge), marched along the west shore of the river and had crossed the Pallinsburn at Sandyford, west of Crookham.They then moved along the south side of the Pallinsburn looking for the Lord Admiral when they encountered the messenger.
Lord Stanley’s force was probably last to arrive, bringing up the rear of the Rearguard. Contrary to popular belief, he was not ‘late’ to the battle.
