Parliament strongholds of Leeds and Bradford. The Fairfaxes set out to try and catch Newcastle on the march and fight him on ground of their choosing (Adwalton Moor). This did not quite work as Fairfax found Newcastle ready for him. Fairfax was able though to get his troops in position.

The Armies:
Fairfax's army was around 3000 (his account) although the Newcastle memoirs talk of 5000. The composition of the forces is more important. Fairfax had little cavalry, less than a third of his army. The rest were almost entirely musketeers. Newcastle comments on the Parliament musket greatly outnumbering their own. More than half of Newcastle's army was Horse, the rest Foot regiments. Newcastle was never able to arm enough musketeers and his regiments were probably never more than 50/50 pike/musket. Fairfax therefore held an advantage in firepower but Newcastle in all other arms. Newcastle also had several cannon with him but at least initially these seem to have been left behind the army.

The Site:
Fairfax intended to offset his lack of forces, maximise his firepower advantage and protect his men from the Royalist cavalry. He formed up in an area of closely hedged land at the edge of the moors, behind a large ditch and bank astride the Leeds/Bradford road. Newcastle was obliged to form his forces in broken ground with his cavalry impeded by areas of coal pits and spoil heaps. Where the road crossed the ditch the narrow gap was guarded by Fairfax's cavalry and large proportion of his musket.