Supplying the New Model Army

The orthodox view of modern writers that armies of the 17th century relied more upon plunder and free quarter is highly pervasive, yet more recent research suggests that during the British Civil Wars there were increasing changes to this custom. The creation, politics, religious identity, officer corps and military campaigns (especially the Battle of Naseby) of the New Model Army, commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax, have been the focus for various writers, however little attention has been paid to the supply and logistics of this force. The result has been a critical gap in the understanding of the recruitment, victualling, ordnance, ammunition, clothing, arming, and logistics employed by the Committee of the Army in both the initial establishment of the New Model and its subsequent campaigns. The methods of sustaining this military force of up to 17,000 men in the field necessarily called for a largely centralised system which operated at an increasing distance from London and the army’s headquarters at Reading. This study challenges the prevailing view that Fairfax’s troops increasingly relied upon local sources during 1645 and 1646, rather than an organized system of supply from London manufacturers and other commercial means. Hence, this highly relevant and important work adds significantly to our knowledge of the supply, strengths and appearance of the New Model, and will appeal to academics, local historians, re-enactors and wargamers.

"....a remarkably detailed and technically grounded study of logistics in the English Civil Wars....The book’s strength lies in its precision and empirical density. It draws on a vast array of primary sources, many of which are underexplored or previously unused....Supplying the New Model Army is a foundational work for understanding the practical logistics of the English Civil Wars. Abram’s mastery of archival material, attention to material detail, and organizational clarity make this an important reference for anyone studying early modern warfare, military administration, or the general history of armies. By bringing into focus the often-overlooked material foundations of Parliament’s military success, Abram offers not only a clearer picture of how the New Model Army fought, but also of how it endured." Nuova Antologia Militare (NAM) Journal, No 6, 2025