The Royalist and Parliamentary
armies used similar tactics and weapons during the Civil
War. Before a battle began both sides would line up facing each
other. In the centre would be the infantry brigades of musketeers
and pikemen. On each side of the infantry were the cavalry. The right-wing
would be led by the lieutenant-general, the left-wing by the commissary
general.
The heavy artillery was
stationed at the rear where it could fire over the heads of the infantry.
Smaller cannons, that fired nails and scrap iron in canvas bags, were
positioned in front of the infantry. Most soldiers were provided with
armour that covered their breasts and backs. Armour was expensive
and on many occasions some members of the infantry were forced to
wear leather tunics instead. Although completely inadequate against
gunfire, these tunics did provide some protection against swords.
The pikeman carried pikes
that were between twelve and eighteen feet long. When the enemy employed
a cavalry charge, the musketeers sheltered
behind and between the pikemen. During
the cavalry charge the pikemen aimed their
pikes at the chests of the oncoming horses.
Musketeers carried a matchlock.
Although the matchlock was not very accurate it could kill a man from
three hundred yards. Because of the state of medical welfare at that
time, any shot wound would probably result in the soldier dying. The
main disadvantage of the matchlock was the time it took to reload
after each shot. To solve this problem, musketeers in the front line
fired their matchlocks
and then they retired to the
back to reload.
Another strategy involved
the musketeers in the first line kneeling, the second line crouching
and the third line standing. The three
lines of musketeers all fired at the same time.
After firing, these men went to the back and
were replaced by the next three lines of musketeers.
The men in the cavalry
also carried either a short-barrelled
musket or a flint-locked carbine. The
main strategy was to advance at a quick trot until
in range of the enemy. The men in the front
fired, then wheeled away. In
their second charge they advanced at full gallop using either a short
sword or cutlass.
Engraving of a Musketeer
(c.1620)
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
