When it came to choosing sides during the Civil Wars, it usually depended on who controlled your local area.There were three main types of soldiers within both armies: cavalry (horsemen), infantry (foot soldiers) and dragoons (mounted infantry who would ride into battle and dismount to fight). Infantrymen were organised into regiments, usually of 400-600 men, and commanded by a colonel. Within these infantry regiments were pikemen (armed with short swords for hand-tohand fighting and a long pike measuring 16-18ft) and musketeers, who were armed with muskets that fired lead musket balls at the enemy.
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Cavalrymen were also organised into regiments and went into battle with a pair of pistols, a broadsword and often a carbine (a type of musket). Field artillery such as cannon, mortars and heavy guns were also common and could cause significant damage.