Eastern Association

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The Eastern Association of counties was a Parliamentarian or Roundhead army during the English Civil War. It was formed from a number of pro-Parliamentary militias in the east of England in 1642, including a troop of cavalry led by Oliver Cromwell. It was initially led by Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, one of Parliament's Major-Generals, after the dismissal of Lord Grey Of Warke.

Contents 1 The foundations of "the best equipped army of the Civil War" 2 The Eastern Association during the Civil War 3 Military Personnel of the Eastern Association 4 The Regiments of the Eastern Association

[edit] The foundations of "the best equipped army of the Civil War"

The army was composed of units raised in Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Lincolnshire. This was one of the richest agricultural parts of England; meaning that the Eastern Association was of the best financed and equipped armies on either side in the early part of the civil war - widely influencing the sophisticated detail and command of the later New Model Army.

[edit] The Eastern Association during the Civil War

Early in the war, in the winter of 1642-43, it established Parliamentary control over East Anglia and in subsequent campaigns, it moved against Royalist controlled Yorkshire. The Eastern Association fought in the Parliamentary victory at the battle of Marston Moor in June 1644 and then at the drawn second battle of Newbury,joining forces with the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller's London and Southern Association armies in October of that year. This missed opportunity was an early factor toward some military commanders, including Cromwell, doubting the ability of Manchester as a commander. This was the last major battle the army was ever to take part in. In early 1645, it was disbanded under the Self-Denying Ordinance and incorporated, along with the Parliamentarian armies of the Earl of Essex and William Waller, into the New Model Army.

[edit] Military Personnel of the Eastern Association

Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester [Commander Of the Eastern Association/Major-General in the Parliamentary Army]; Oliver Cromwell [Lieutenant-General Of Horse]; Lawrence Crawford [Sergeant Major-General Of Foot]; Bartholomew Vermuyden [Colonel Of Horse, & Commisionary-General]; Henry Ireton [Quartermaster-General]; John Lilbourne [Lieutenant-Colonel, & Commander Of Manchester's Dragoons]; Charles Fleetwood [Colonel Of Horse]; John Pickering [Colonel Of Foot]; Francis Russell [Colonel Of Foot]; Sir Miles Robart [Colonel Of Foot]; Edward Montagu [later The Earl Of Sandwich, Colonel Of Foot]; Thomas Rainsborough [Colonel Of Foot].

[edit] The Regiments of the Eastern Association

 Horse - Manchester's; Cromwell's Ironsides; Vermuyden's; Fleetwood's.

 Dragoons - Manchester's (Under Lilbourne's command); Lilbourne's; Vermuyden's.

 Foot - Manchester's; Crawford's; Montagu's; Robart's; Pickering's; Russell's; Rainsborough's; (Possibly) Lilbourne's.