MAJOR GENERAL OF THE WEST
by H. B. Disbrowe, 1971
While Parliament had been successful in the north and east, the King's forces had won victories in the south and west. The war was a stalemate and during this period, lasting from November 1644 to February 1645, negotiations for a settlement were resumed with the King.
While the negotiations were in progress, Cromwell had been busy persuading Parliament to reorganize the army along the lines which had proved so successful in his own regiment. He succeeded and in February 1645, the New Model Army with Sir Thomas Fairfax as its commander, came into existence.
As a condition to the formation of the new force he, as a member of Parliament, had been forced to relinquish his own command. But when it became apparent that he was needed in organizing and training the new formations, he was allowed to continue on a temporary basis.
The New Model Army was planned to consist of: eleven cavalry regiments of 600 men each; two regiments of dragoons of 500 men each; twelve regiments of infantry of 1200 men each; and an artillery regiment of 50 guns. Cromwell's regiment, The Ironsides, was divided at this time to form two new regiments. The command of one was given to his cousin, Edward Whalley, the other to Sir Thomas Fairfax. Major Disbrowe was assigned to Fairfax's regiment as second in command. As Fairfax was also the army commander, the active command of the regiment was now Disbrowe's in all but name.
For the first time in English history its soldiers were put into uniform. The infantry regiments of the New Model wore red coats with white markings to identify the individual regiments. They were armed with the matchlock musket or the pike. The cavalry wore their iron headpieces and chest armour, the latter over a thick leather coat. The troopers were armed with a sword and two pistols.
In the training of the New Model, the methods which had proved effective with the Ironsides were used. Strict discipline was maintained and much attention given to developing tactical skills. Chaplains and lectureres were appointed to minister to the spiritual needs of the men. Included in their duties was the task of preaching to the troops and exhorting them before battle.
At the beginning of May 1645 the New Model was ready for action and Fairfax was ordered to march west. But Parliament was unsure of itself and, because of this, his early manoeuvres were indecisive. He moved towards Taunton in Somerset and was recalled; then laid siege to Oxford and was again withdrawn. In the meantime the King had captured and plundered Leicester. Fairfax needed Cromwell and petitioned Parliament to reappoint him to the cavalry command. The request was reluctantly agreed to by the Commons and on June 13th he rejoined Fairfax near Guilsborough to the great joy of the troops under Fairfax and Cromwell met the King's army at Naseby.
While the King's army was outnumbered, its commander, Prince Rupert, was confident of victory. Most of the New Model troops were pressed men, as yet untested in battle, while the King's were experienced veterans. According to the custom of the day, the opposing forces were drawn up opposite each other; infantry in the centre, cavalry on the flanks, and reserves in the rear.
The Parliamentary forces under Fairfax occupied the highest ground and faced the King's army to the north. The cavalry on the right flank, which included Major Disbrowe's regiment, was under the direct command of Cromwell; on the left Ireton was in command. The infantry at the centre was commanded by Skippon [1].
At about ten o'clock on the morning of June 14th, the battle opened with an exchange of artillery salvos. The Royalist foot advanced, first moving up the slope; the Parliamentarian centre moved forward to meet them. A volley of musket fire was exchanged, then both sides charged with pikes and clubbed muskets. Under the fierce attack of the Royalist infantry, the Parliamentary first line gave way, but the second line advanced and drove the Royalists back. On the left flank Ireton's [2] cavalry charged and was met by Rupert's horse. The cavaliers crashed through Ireton's men and galloped on to plunder the Parliamentary baggage train at Naseby village. In this fierce little engagement Ireton was wounded and temporarily taken prisoner [3]. In previous battles Rupert's cavalry had never returned for a second charge. On this occasion however, they abandoned their plundering after a time and returned to the battlefield.
In the centre, the King's infantry engaged the Parliamentary foot so fiercely that all but one of Skippon's regiments broke and fled. This regiment held its ground giving the others time to reform their ranks and return to the fight. On the right, Cromwell ordered Whalley and his regiment to charge the King's cavalry under Langdale [4]. After a short but fierce engagement the Royalists squadrons fled in the direction of Clipston village. Cromwell then turned on the Royalist centre with the main body of his cavalry. The Royalist infantry fought with great bravery but were overwhelmed, and soon regiment after regiment surrendered. The Blue Brigade of Royalist infantry fought to the bitter end turning back one attack after the other. They were finally overcome when Cromwell personally led an infantry charge against one side of their square while Fairfax and Disbrowe led their regiment of horse against the other.
Elsewhere on the battlefield Rupert, returning from his victorious charge against Ireton, attempted to unite with the survivors of Langdale's cavalry in order to mount another charge. But it was hopeless and, turning north, they fled as fast as they could ride in the direction of Leicester. The King, with a few of his aides, joined in the flight.
It was a tremendous victory for Parliament for many thousands of prisoners were taken and all the King's baggage and artillery captured. While it did not end the war, the battle was decisive, for it destroyed the main army of the King. From this point onward the war became a clean-up operation consisting of many small engagements fought over the face of England. The most immediate result however, was the surrender of Leicester, which took place four days after the battle.
Marston Moor provided, in a dramatic and incontestable manner, the superiority of the New Model Parliamentary army. As a result of its success, its organizers, of whom Cromwell was the most prominent, grew in power and influence. Cromwell, now a public hero, issued a veiled warning to Parliament not to claim credit for the victory, which belonged to God and the army, and not to tamper with the principle of liberty of conscience for which his men had fought [5].
Notes for Chapter Five:
[1] - Major General Phillip Skippon
[2] - Colonel Henry Ireton, who was soon to marry Bridget, the daughter of Oliver Cromwell
[3] - He (Ireton) was freed later in the day.
[4] - Sir Marmaduke Langdale
[5] - Abbott, Vol. I, p. 360