In February 1645, Parliament
decided to form a new army of professional soldiers and amalgamated
the three armies of William Waller, Earl
of Essex and
Earl
of Manchester.
This army of 22,000 men became known as the New
Model Army. Its commander-in-chief was General Thomas
Fairfax, while Oliver Cromwell
was put in charge of its cavalry.
Members of the New
Model Army received proper military training and by the time they
went into battle they were very well-disciplined. In the past, people
became officers because they came from powerful and wealthy families.
In the New Model Army men were promoted when they showed themselves
to be good soldiers. For the first time it became possible for working-class
men to become army officers. Oliver Cromwell
thought it was very important that soldiers in the New Model Army
believed strongly in what they were fighting for. Where possible
he recruited men who, like him, held strong Puritan
views and the New Model
Army went into battle singing psalms, convinced that God was on their
side.
The New
Model Army took part in its first major battle just outside the
village of Naseby in Northamptonshire on 14th June 1645. The battle
began when Prince Rupert led a charge
against the left wing of the parliamentary cavalry which scattered
and Rupert's men then gave chase.
While this was going on
Oliver Cromwell launched an attack
on the left wing of the royalist cavalry. This was also successful
and the royalists that survived the initial charge fled from the battlefield.
While some of Cromwell's cavalry gave chase, the majority were ordered
to attack the now unprotected flanks of the infantry.
Charles
I was waiting
with 1,200 men in reserve. Instead of ordering them forward to help
his infantry he decided to retreat. Without support from the cavalry,
the royalist infantry realised their task was impossible and surrendered.
By the time Prince Rupert's
cavalry returned to the battlefield the fighting had ended. Rupert's
cavalry horses were exhausted after their long chase and were not
in a fit state to take on Cromwell's cavalry. Prince
Rupert had no option but to ride off in search of Charles
I.
The battle was a disaster
for the king. About 1,000 of his men had been killed, while another
4,500 of his most experienced men had been taken prisoner. The Parliamentary
forces were also able to capture the Royalist baggage train that contained
his complete stock of guns and ammunition.
The Battle of Naseby was
the turning point in the war. After Naseby, Charles was never able
to raise another
army strong enough to defeat the parliamentary army in a major battle.
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