Editing New Model Army (section)

===Dragoons===
The New Model Army contained one regiment of [[dragoon]]s of twelve companies, each of one hundred men, under Colonel [[John Okey]]. Dragoons were mounted infantry, and wore much the same uniform as musketeers although they probably wore stout cloth gaiters to protect the legs while they rode. They were armed with [[flintlock]] "[[snaphaunce]]s".{{sfn|Roberts|2005|p=92}}

On the battlefield, their major function was to clear enemy musketeers from in front of their main position. At the [[Battle of Naseby]], they were used to outflank enemy cavalry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/naseby/|title=English Heritage Battlefield Report: Naseby 1645|publisher=Historic England|access-date=17 May 2023}}</ref>

In 1650, Okey's dragoons were converted into a regiment of horse. It appears that after that date, unregimented companies of dragoons raised from the Militia and other sources were attached to the regiments of horse and foot as required. This was the case at the [[Battle of Dunbar (1650)|Battle of Dunbar]] on 3 September 1650.{{sfn|Young|Holmes|2000|p=300}}