March Distance in ECW

[Last Hussar]

Any idea how far an army could go in a day during the ECW?

[Orcs]

I would think around 10 - 15 miles a day on average. Most periods up to the modern mechanized age would be around this figure. Romans marched approx 20 miles in a day.

[Gwydion]

Essex made a 20 mile forced march to disengage from the King's army, from Tewkesbury to Cirencester on 14 September 1643 capturing a Royalist baggage train there which he surprised by the speed of his march.

He then had to slow down in rain and mud, and after being forced to cross the Thames to the South bank slowed even more as the artillery and London Regiments could not keep up a fast pace. He was making only around 5 miles a day at this point and the Royalists got in front of him at Newbury and blocked the route to London.

Rupert made a single day march with most of his army from near Knaresborough to York in a 22 mile semi circular march on 1 July 1644 to relieve York from the north and outflank the Parliamentary troops blocking the direct march at Marston Moor.

So anywhere between 5 miles a day and 22 miles a day although the latter would not be sustainable for multiple days.

Yes Rupert made a 22 mile march to trick the Parliamentarians outside York, but in the long approach march he was marching nearer ten miles a day - Preston to Skipton c 30 miles in three days, 23 -26 June. He then took a two day rest at Skipton to allow for rest and stragglers to catch up before starting up again.

[Big Insect]

I think what has been written above are all a good indicators.

However, a lot depends upon:

a) the composition of the army - if it is primarily Horse &/or Dragoons (& maybe only lighter artillery) then the 22 miles in a day is feasible, otherwise 15 miles would be good going and 10 more realistic with a lot of foot, baggage and heavy guns

b) Weather makes a significant difference - even to a mounted force - unlike Roman roads, most English roads would have been dirt tracks at best, even major ones, and whilst the frontage of most armies means that only a small % of troops actually travel on the roads, it is (again) the guns and baggage that will slow things down.

c) Moral - a defeated or demoralised force will generally move faster away from an enemy than towards it.

Interesting question
Cheers
Mark

[Gwydion]

Well, both Essex's march and Rupert's march of around 20 miles each were horse foot and guns, with baggage. So entirely possible in a day - but not as I said sustainable on repeated days.

Poor morale oddly enough frequently slowed down movement once it was perceived (correctly or incorrectly) troops were out of immediate danger. Picking up the step when tired, depressed, and without hope of victory though not apparently under immediate threat of destruction is not easy. Often a healthy desire to escape - eg back to London for Essex should have produced a much faster pace than 5 miles a day if that theory of retreating troops moving faster held. It didn't.

Weather was certainly a factor.