"Dragoons in Battle - How Decisive Were They?" Topic

Probably we are all familiar with the action of Okey's Dragoons at Naseby. Deployed along Sulby Hedges, historians credit them with precipitating a premature advance by Rupert's cavalry, if not the entire Royalist army.

In this case, I think Okey's action was decisive, and the mobility of his troops was probably key in taking up the flanking position at the opportune moment, so this is not something that musketeers alone could have accomplished as readily. As for their later mounted charge, I suspect the Royalists were in such disarray at that point that a general conclusion of their usefulness as standard horse is a real stretch.

In general through, did Dragoons play a critical role in larger actions? I think there is no doubting their utility in scouting and on the march, but I'm not aware of any other actions where their role was so decisive as at Naseby. Any thoughts?

I think the proof, this time, is in the absense of any other accounts of them playing such a decisive role. The reason that event stands out so strongly is because it is rare. No doubt dragoons were useful troops in a few other battles but were they battle winners or tide-turners? Certainly not, their use would have certainly been exploited in later armies by including greater numbers of them had this been the case.

Hi ageofglory,

ECW dragoons, well I'm not so sure that Okey's really had that much effect, Rupert's wing seemed to shrug off the effects of their fire and go on to win their part of the battle initially at least. Matter of opinion though I expect ;-).

Other dragoon influences? Hmm…

Lunsford's 14 dragoons in ambush at Marshall's Elm – put the wind up the Parlts with their first volley as the Royalist cav prepared to charge.

Powick Bridge and Edgehill there were plenty of dragoons but not decisive – probably neutralised one another at Edgehill.

The dragoons did good service in the smaller campaigns eg Tom Fairfax had a few troops, so did Hopton etc.

At the storming of Cirencester Royalist dragoons were used to support infantry units.

Washington's dragoons were first over the walls at the storming of Lichfield and of Bristol.

Waller seems to have relied very heavily on his dragoons eg at Highnam, usually due to lack of foot.

Vermuyden did well at Winceby, Hooper on the Cropredy campaign (or was it Thelwall really?). I suppose by 1644 mounted musketeers were just as common as the dragoons eg Rupert's foot at Newark.

Okey's did very well at Naseby and in the post-Naseby era.

I suppose Blackadder's troop didn't affect Philiphaugh too much!

So overall I'd agree, not great influence on the big battles, but they were usually few in numbers, especially by 1644.

I've also been thinking about the usefulness of commanded musketeers. This seems to have been a regular practice to support wings of horse, but I wonder what happened to these poor fellows once the cavalry melee began in earnest?

Timbo –
Funny you mention Marshall's Elm! I think the mobility of Dragoons probably was much more of an edge in such small engagements. Can't really explain Philiphaugh, though, as I haven't read through the new Partizan Press book yet (though it looks quite good). Perhaps at Winceby Vermuyden was able to take advantage of the horse being occupied with each other. I'd like to read more about Waller.

Pictors –
I think you are on target, though Dragoons were present in Marlboroough's army and fought dismounted (at least at the Schellenberg, I think).

I have always enjoyed fielding them on the tabletop, even when they hover somewhat uselessly on the flank. You never know when they might mount up and strike for the trains or dispatch routing units. I certainly wouldn't have them stand toe to toe with proper horse, though!

Their greatest use was in campaigns. They were mobile, multi-purpose troops until the 18th century.

As we tend to concentrate more on the battle rather than the campaign, we may miss their usefulness. The raising of money anf provisions was probably "as important": a role very suited to dragoons.

Sorry for a second post: I am also reminded that the Parliamentary?/Commonwealth cavalry carried carbines when fighting the tories. As they would have had pistols as well, I presume they were also doing the duties of dragoons in such as Wicklow.

Following all this – just as went to bed I further was reminded about Stockport. I work there. In '44 the Royalists attacked – the dragoons shot the defenders away from the outer defences into the town; the Royalist cavalry follow-up caught the Parliamentarians on the bounce so Rupert took Stockport.

I think that Okey's dragons would have played a pivitol role at Naseby, had the Parliamentary horse been stronger than Rupert's wing (eithr numerically or with heavy gun support), as this would have meant hat they would be forcing Rupert's cavalry to either unertake a charge that wouldn't hav be favourable to them, or to withdraw from their position. As it is, they simply made tem charge earlier than necessary. Of course, they did help bring the battle to a swift end, when they attacked the Royalist infantry's rear, but Cromwell's horse already had that covered.

Goring's cavalry at Marston Moor were supported by blocs of 50 musketeers interspersed amongst the horse. It could be argued that he could have used dragoons in the same manner, and would then have had them with him in the latter stage of the battle, when his depleted horse went over to attack Cromwell's wing. I imagine an extra 500 riders, though not trained to charge, would have been handy, either to help him against Cromwell's horse or to leave behind Bailie's brigade to support the Royalist infantry under Tillier.

Dragoons were possibly used less effectively than they could have been, however, it is important to remember the logistics nightmare an extra 1000 or so horse would have been. I think that this might have been the main reason for including so few. And, if one doesn't have enough of a certain troop type, then he few units one does have become pretty much redundant, save in a hassling role, like Oakey's dragoons at Naseby.