Oliver Cromwell as a Soldier
by Woolrych comments that Oliver Cromwell’s military successes were even more remarkable as he had no military experience before 1642. His contribution to the parliamentary cause and their armies particularly the New Model Army was great.
Cromwell preferred the men under his command to be drawn from the yeomanry and the lower classes believing they had greater commitment to winning the war. Hill amongst others claim that his ‘Ironsides’ of the Eastern Association had turned near defeat at Marston Moor to victory. The New Model Army formally headed by Sir Thomas Fairfax reflected the religious views of Cromwell. It contained many Independent, Sectaries and Quakers. Feared as much by Parliament (which intended to impose Presbyterianism) and the Anglican or Catholic Royalists. The Independents were at one with Cromwell in that they wanted all out victory. The ‘Self-Denying Ordinance’ purged the army of peers and MPs, Cromwell the most notable exception.
He played an important role in winning the second civil war and the lead role in winning the third as Fairfax refused to move against the Irish. The Scots within the Covenant switched sides for the second civil war. They preferred a weak king who would enforce their Presbyterian Church on all three kingdoms in return for keeping his thrones, to the English Parliament that did not keep promises, or even worse a republic dominated by the New Model Army. Cromwell’s defeat of the Scots at Preston in 1648 sealed the king’s fate; those MPs who did not support the trial were removed by Pride’s purge. Prior to this Cromwell had tried to reach a settlement with Charles, but then became in favour of his execution.
The Rump Parliament feared that Ireland could be used as a launch pad to restore the monarchy in the form of Charles II and therefore sent Cromwell to deal with the Irish.
The massacre of the garrison at Drogheda in September 1649 is probably the most controversial aspect of Cromwell’s military career. It provides prove of his cynical and ruthless ways to his detractors and was hard if not impossible to justify for admirers, although it has not stopped attempts to do so. Drogheda had the desired effect of weakening Irish defences, which allowed Oliver to return to face the threat from Scotland.
The Scots had been angry at the execution of their king (Charles I was born in Dumfermline, Scotland) and became resolved to put his son on all three of the vacated thrones. After all the Scots had only had religious differences with Charles, which had inadvertently started the civil wars in the first place. Oliver was now in charge of the New Model Army and entered Scotland during July 1650. By the beginning of September Cromwell had moved to Dunbar to evacuate his wounded and gain re – supply by sea. Although outnumbered the New Model Army gained an overwhelming victory with minimal loss to themselves. It was another prime example of Cromwell attacking the weakest points of his enemies, during a night attack. In the aftermath of this victory he did not allow the Scots to go into the Highlands but allowed them to go to England. This was a sensible strategy as it weakened their forces and allowed him to secure Glasgow and Edinburgh before setting off in pursuit. At the battle of Worcester a year to the day following Dunbar, the tired Scots were finally caught in Cromwell’s trap and despite brave resistance were crushed. Cromwell had ended the military threats to the republic.
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