Cromwell's War Machine: The New Model Army 1645-1660 [Hardcover]

Although the title relates directly to the New Model Army, and includes a very well written summary of the creation and campaigns of that army; the meat of this book is an examination of exactly how British armies of the period were recruited, trained and manoeuvred - together with the actual mechanics of how these armies fought. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this rather crucial element of understanding how armies were put into the field in Civil War England has until now been largely ignored by historians.

Using his extensive knowledge of contemporary drill books and accounts of the period, Keith Roberts puts the theory and practice of campaigning in Britain into a European context and examines how contemporary events in Europe were reflected in the attitudes and strategic/tactical doctrine of English Civil War commanders. In particular the development of an increasingly aggressive fighting style by the Parliamentarian armies, backed by the professionalism and discipline that emerged with the foundation of the New Model Army under Fairfax and Cromwell is well presented.

So, whether you are a general reader interested in the period or a military buff who has wondered what it was about the New Model Army that enabled it to decisively beat the King and take its place amongst the most respected European armies of the period; this is a book you simply must have.

The final sentences of this book: "In 1672 Charles II complained to the French ambassador that the French were harbouring English rebels, commenting that this would never have been done in Cromwell's time. He received the reply, `Ha, Sire, that was another matter: Cromwell was a great man and made himself feared by land and sea.'" This book explains why that was. The contents are:
P001: Background to Civil War, 1637-1642
P026: The European Background: War, Politics and the Military Revolution
P048: Recruitment, Uniform, Arms and Equipment
P079: Training Methods and Training Manuals
P095: Pay, Rations and Free Quarter
P108: Regiments, Roles and Responsibilities
P137: Strategy, Tactics and Siege Warfare
P172: Professionalism: Honour, Self-respect and Symbolism
P183: military Life in Camp and Garrison
P200: From Victory to Mutiny
P214: Mutiny
P226: The Campaigns of the New Model Army, 1648-1653
P254: The Rise and Fall of a New World Power
P262: Notes, Index.

As you can see from the above, this is a thorough study of the New Model Army in its entirety, not just an account of its campaigns. This book will give you an understanding of how armies of the day were recruited, trained, fed, equipped and led. I found Chapter 7, Strategy, Tactics and Siege Warfare, particularly interesting, having just read David Lawrence's The Complete Soldier: Military Books and Military Culture in Early Stuart England, 1603-1645 (History of Warfare). The author shows that the New Model Army was created to fight battles in the "Swedish manner", and not to fight in then Dutch manner, as had been the custom for much of the preceding war. "Its structure shows that it was originally designed as a battlefield army, an army whose objective was to win the war through battlefield success. The indications for this are simple. The New Model Army consisted of twelve regiments of infantry, eleven of cavalry and one of dragoons. In 1645 the infantry regiments consisted of 1,200 men plus officers, and the cavalry regiments of 600 men plus officers. A contemporary army whose main objective was siege warfare would, by contemporary practice, have a ratio of three infantrymen to one cavalryman, but one whose service was to fight in the open field would have a ratio of two infantrymen to one cavalryman." I also found his discussion of uniform and flag colours to be of great interest - a `blue' regiment would be a regiment with blue flags, a `red' regiment would be one with red flags. If the regiment had red coats or blue coats, it would be referred to as a bluecoat or redcoat regiment. If only someone had explained that to me when I was painting my toy soldiers thirty years ago.

This is a well-written and informative book, and well worth reading - in fact, indispensable reading - for anyone interested in the military affairs of the early-mid seventeenth century.

Further reading
The Complete Soldier: Military Books and Military Culture in Early Stuart England, 1603-1645 (History of Warfare)
An Apprenticeship in Arms: The Origins of the British Army 1585-1702
Exercise of Arms: Warfare in the Dutch Revolt (1568-1648) (History of Warfare)

not the book i was looking for. this book is a bit dull and concentrates too much on simple military procedures around at the time. there is no insight as to why the Model Army beat everybody it came up against and not enough discussion of their philosophy and their is not enough in it about Cromwell. a good idea badly executed. i wont be re-reading this one.