CHAPTER XTT. 



Cavat;ry in the Wars in England between Charles 1. 

 AND THE Parliament. 



The great Civil War in England,. 1642 to IGi^O, pro- 

 duced some very able cavalry leaders, ami the mounted 

 service was skilfully handled, and exercised a most 

 important influence upon the result of the battles. 

 Cromwell, the great cavalry general of the Parliamen- 

 tary army, had as much downright solid energy as 

 Gustavus Adolphus, and as i..ach impetuosity in leading 

 a charge as his celebrated opponent, the fiery Prince 

 Rupert ; while his shrewd common sense, and his iron 

 will, made him one of the greatest rulers aud soldiers 

 that ever lived. A plain country genthmian, forty-four 

 years of age, without military training or experience of 

 any kmd, he raised a regiment of cavalry at the com- 

 mencement of the war for the Parliamentarv service, 

 which, distinguished above all in the army for steadiness 

 as well as brilliant gallantry, was soon known by the 

 soubriquet of "The Ironsides." Within three years this 

 country gentleman was commander-in-chief of the army, 

 and within ten years was the most absolute ruler that 

 e^ er swayed the destinies of England. 



Prince Rupert, with equal, if not greater impetuosity 

 than Cromwell, lacked the prudence and caution required 

 in any important command. The energy of these two 

 officers imprinted a character upon the cavalry operations 

 of the war, very difterent from that of former ages. The 

 dash and vigour of the cavalry charges rendered them 



