Battle of Marston Moor

The Armies Deploy

With York successfully relieved, it was almost certain that the Scots, Manchester and Fairfax would retreat and split up. Rupert insisted that his orders from the King (which he did not show to Newcastle) were to defeat them in the field. On July 2nd, the Allied armies were already marching south from Marston Moor when their rearguard reported that the Royalists were advancing onto the moor. The Allied troops were hastily recalled, but Rupert did not attack immediately. He had ordered Newcastle to join him with part of the garrison of York, but these troops had mutinied over lack of pay and supplies, and consequently they arrived late.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When both armies were assembled in the late afternoon, they were deployed as follows:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Allied Armies

The Allied armies occupied Marston Hill, a low but nevertheless prominent feature in the flat Vale of York, between the villages of Long Marston and Tockwith.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Their left wing was under the command of Oliver Cromwell, and consisted of 3000 horse from the Eastern Association, including Cromwell's own regiment of "Ironsides", and 600 detached musketeers. 1000 lighter Scots horse under Sir David Leslie were deployed to Cromwell's rear, and 500 Scots dragoons (mounted infantry) on the extreme left.

Related Topics:
Oliver Cromwell - Sir David Leslie

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The centre, under several Generals with no overall commander, consisted of over 14000 foot, with 30 to 40 pieces of artillery. The various regiments had been hastily deployed as they returned to the field and were considerably mixed up, but most of Manchester's foot (under Lawrence Crawford) were on the left of the front line, and Lord Fairfax's in the centre. Scots brigades made up the right of the front line, and almost all the second and third lines.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The right wing was commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax, with 2000 horse from Yorkshire and Lancashire, and 600 musketeers, with 1000 Scots horse to his rear.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Royalist Armies

The Royalists occupied the low-lying moor, behind a drainage ditch. When the contingent from York belatedly arrived, Rupert's dispositions were criticised by Sir James Eythin, one of Newcastle's senior officers, as being drawn up too close to the enemy. However, Eythin also pontificated that it was too late in the day to redeploy, so the Royalist army did not move back.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Their left wing consisted of 2100 cavalry, mainly from the "Northern Horse", and 500 musketeers, under Goring.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Their centre was nominally commanded by Eythin, although Sergeant-Major General Henry Tillier led most of the troops. A forlorn hope of musketeers lined the ditch. The infantry units of Rupert's army, 7000 strong, formed the first line, with the 3000-man infantry contingent from Newcastle's army, and a brigade of horse numbering 600, behind them. There were also 14 field guns.

Related Topics:
Henry Tillier - Forlorn hope

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The right wing was commanded by Lord Byron, with 2600 horse and 500 musketeers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rupert commended a reserve of 600 cavalry, including his elite Lifeguard of Horse, in person.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~