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EVENING    TELEGRAPH"     REPRIN'ts.— V. 


lEELAlSTD'S 


ATTLES   AND  BATTLEFIELDS 


A    SERIES    OF    ARTICLES 


BY 


WESTON   ST.   J.   JOYCE 


Reprinted  from  the  ''^Evening  Telegraph" 


4* 


DUBLIN: 


33    MIDDLE     ABBEY    STREET. 


1886. 


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PREFACE 


In  the  following  series  of  articles  an  endeavour  has  been  made,  without  deference  to 
sect  or  party,  to  truthfully  delineate  the  leading  battles  fought  on  Irish  soil  from  the 
Danish  invasion  down  to  modem  times.  From  still  earlier  ages  many  great  battles  arc 
recorded  ;  but  in  those  remote  periods  history  was  to  such  an  extent  encroached  ujMn,  if 
not  superseded,  by  fable  and  romance,  as  to  render  any  detailed  accounts  almost  valueless, 
except  as  legendary  classics.  Even  in  the  Danish  period,  chroniclers  appear  to  have 
possessed  but  a  rudimentary  appreciation  of  sober,  truthful  narrative.  Bombastic  and 
extravagant  exaggeration  was  their  prevailing  characteristic,  and  it  is  rather  in  collateral 
and  incidental  issues  than  in  the  main  narrative  that  we  must  seek  for  authentic  details. 

During  the  earlier  portion  of  the  Anglo-Norman  period  English  historians  are,  as  a 
rule,  very  prejudiced  and  untrustworthy  ;  "but  in  the  later  Anglo-Irish  wars,  the  official 
military  despatches  are  calmly  and  intelligibly  written,  and,  on  the  whole,  are  fair  and 
truthful. 

In  the  case  of  the  Williamite  wars  the  authorities  are  more  conflicting  than  in  any 
other  Irish  war  ;  but  there  are  so  many  writers  on  this  period,  that  a  judicious  examina- 
tion of  them  cannot  fail  to  elicit  the  truth  as  to  this  great  dynastic  struggle. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  Irish  won  most  of  the  great  battles  till  the  Williamite 
wars.  This  may  seem  inconsistent  with  the  continuity  of  English  sovereignty  in  the 
country  j  but  it  should  be  recollected  that  these  battles  did  not  follow  one  another  with 
sufl5cient  rapidity  to  have  any  very  marked  result,  that  in  the  innumerable  minor  conflicts 
the  English  were  more  frequently  victorious,  and  that  the  Irish,  during  long  periods  of 
their  history,  were  so  busily  engaged  in  petty  inter-tribal  warfare  that  they  had  no 
time  to  devote  to  fighting  the  invader. 

The  Danish  war — the  first  dealt  with  in  this  series — ended  at  the  battle  of  Clontarf, 
where  the  power  of  the  fierce  Vikings  was  crushed  for  ever  in  Ireland.  A  succession  of 
petty  dynastic  wars  occupied  the  attention  of  the  country  from  that  time  till  the  ill- 
advised  expedition  of  Robert  Bruce,  which  left  but  little  mark  upon  the  sands  of  history, 
and  terminated  with  the  life  of  its  unfortunate  leader  at  the  battle  of  Faughart  hill  in  1318. 


7 


59  455 


ly  .  PEBFACB. 

Tho  wiir  of  Hugh  O'Neill  Wiis  tl\o  most  serious  revolt  ngniiist  their  sovereignty  with 
wliich  tlic  Kuglish  over  had  to  contciid.  After  a  sticcossion  of  victories  leading  up  to  the 
battle  of  tho  Yellow  Ford,  followed  by  tho  abortive  cam[)aign  of  l']ssex,  tho  tide  at  length 
turned  in  favour  of  England,  and  the  Irish,  with  their  S])anish  allies,  in  IGOI,  met  with  a 
ruinous  defeat  at  Kinsalo,  Avhich  completely  broke  up  their  forces,  and  loft  tho  country 
^laralysed  for  a  considerable  period. 

From  the  insurrection  of  IG  U  to  tho  Confedorato  war  and  tho  close  of  CromwoH'g 
campaign  in  1050,  the  country  was  one  constant  scene  of  tunudt  and  bloodshed,  and  the 
history  of  this  period  is  extremely  perplexing,  owing  to  tho  strange  complications  and 
multiplicity  of  parties. 

The  Williamite  struggle  was  tho  sequel  of  the  great  "Revolution  in  England.  James, 
renounced  by  his  English  subjects,  found  it  convenient  to  espouse  tho  cause  of  tho  Irish 
Catholics,  and,  with  tho  aid  of  France,  hoped,  if  not  to  regain  tho  English  throne,  to  at 
least  establish  an  independent  kingdom  in  Ireland.  Throughout  this  campaign  the 
individualities  of  the  rival  monarchs  present  a  strong  contrast,  .and  there  is  little  doubt 
that  the  great  difference  in  their  personal  characters  contributed  largely  to  the  issue  of 
this  momentous  conflict,  which  closes  the  writer's  detailed  record  of  "  Ireland's  Battles 
and  BattleiieUls,"  which  are  herewith  republished  from  tho  columns  of  tho  Evening 
Tdegrujih. 

^uiie,  issa. 


<-  ;; 


CONTENTS 


3"6 


Ths  Battles  op  Rilmasiioour,  Siilcoit,  and  paoe 
OlenMAMA— 919-1000  A.D.— First  v  sits  of  the 
Danes  to  Ireland— They  oHtabliHh  thctnHelvua 
In  DubUn  and  Waterford— The  Kattle  of  Kil- 
mashogue— Revolt  of  the  DalcassianH  against 
the  Danes— Total  defeat  of  Danes  at  Sul(:r)it— 
Assassination  of  Kini<  Mahon  by  the  Danes- 
Brian  Bora  succeeds  him,  and  makes  war  unon 
the  Danes — His  march  through  Leinster  -The 
Battle  of  Olenmama — Death  of  tho  Danish 
prince,  Harold— The  battlefield 

Thk  Battle  of  Clontarf,  1014  a.  d.— Brian  be- 
comes Kinfc  of  Ireland — Uava(;os  of  tlie  Danes- 
Brian  marches  against  them  and  lilorkadca 
Dublin — The  blockade  abandoned — Massing  of 
the  Danish  hosts  in  Dublin— IJrian  ai^ain 
marches  on  Dublin— Tho  Jiattlo  of  Clontarf — 
The  battlefield— Death  of  King  lirian,  his  son, 
and  grandson    ... 

The  Careeii  and  Battles  op  tup,  Bih;cf.s,  l.'Jls- 
1318. — Landing  of  Edw.ard  Bruce  in  Ireland^ 

-  Capture  of  Dundalk — Siege  of  Carrickfergiis 
Castle — Battle  of  Athenry — The  IJruoes  march 
on  Dublin— Vigorous  measures  of  tiie  citizens- 
Edward  Bruce  marches  to  Dundalk — Battle  of 
Fai^hart — Death  of  Bruce,  and  total  defeiit  of 
the  Scots 


7-11 


ll"li] 


The  Wars  of  Hugh  O'Neill.— The  Irish  besiege 
EnniskiUen  Castle — The  English  despatch  a 
conToy  of  provisions  to  its  relief — "The  Battle 
of  the  Biscuits  "—Capture  of  the  crmvoy  and 
surrender  of  Enniskiilen — The  i5,ittle  of  Clon- 
tibret— Encounter  between  O'Neill  ami  Sea- 
grave — Tlie  Irish  besiege  Armagh— A  convoy 
sent  to  its  relief — O'Neill  captures  tho  convoy — 
His  strategy— The  battle  before  Armagh— Sur- 
render of  the  town 

rrRRELLSPASS  AND  Drumfluicii,  1597.— Feach 
MacHugh  O' Byrne  killed — Tyrrell's  expedition 
— Tyrrellapass,  description  of— The  battle— 
Siege  of  Hallyshannon  Castle — Storming  and 
Capture  of  Portmore  by  Deputy  Borough — 
O'Neill's  unsuccessful  attack  on  Portmore — 
Conference  with  O'Neill  . . 

Bellanaboy  or  the  Vellow  Ford,  1508.— 
O'Neill's  demands  and  Queen  Elizabeth's  reply— 
O'Neill  pardoned — O'Neill  appears  before  Port- 
more— Consternation  in  Dublin— Expedition  to 
relieve  the  fort — English  massed  at  Aiinagh — 
Bagenal's  advance  on  the  Yellow  Ford — The 
battle— Death  of  Bagenal — Explosion  of  English 
powder  magazine — Bout  of  the  English — Survi- 
vors retire  to  Armagh— Surrender  of  Armagh 
andPortmore— The  battlefield 

The  Disastrous  Campaign  op  Essex,  1599.— 
Essex  appointed  viceroy— Land  sin  Dublin  with 
immense  army — Marches  for  Munster— His 
progress— "The  Rattle  of  the  Plumes"— Bar- 
nagutty— Reaches  Kilkenny— Captures  Cahir 
Castle — Defeat  of  English  under  Sir  Henry 
Harrington  near  B!>Jitinglass 


15-18 


19--22 


22-2G 


26-29 


i'iiE  Battle  of  tub   Cuulif.u  Pas.\   IAOQ.—    iaov 

iissex's  continued  march  thr<ugh  Man.ster— 
Besolve-i  to  return  home— Skirmish  at  Kinni- 
terstown— Death  of  .Sir  Henry  Norris— Essex 
reaches  Duncanuon— His  march  back  by  the 
coast — Arrives  in  Dublin— Bed  Hugh  O'Dunnell 
besiege  I  Collooney  (Jastle— English  expedition 
to  reli(!ve  it  un'ler  Sir  C.  CliflFord— Clinord  at- 
tempts to  march  from  lioyle  to  Collooney ;  ia 
attacked  in  the  Curlicu  Aiountains ;  his  annjr 
routed  and  himself  killed  -The  Governor's 
inonuineiit  and  tlie  Yellow  I'ass       . .  . .    29-31 

riiK  Downfall  of  Usskx  and  the  Campaign  of 
MoUNTJOY  AND  Cakkw,  1600.— Essex's  confer- 
ence with  O'Neill  at  Ballyclinch'— E.ssex  returns 
to  London,  is  arretted  and  executed— Confer- 
ence between  Carew  and  Owny  O'More — En- 
courit(;r  between  the  parties,  and  capture  of  Earl 
of  Oriiioude  by  Irish— The  storming  of  (ilin 
Castle  by  Kii'^'Iisli  -Surrender  of  Carrigafoyle 
(/'astle — Ueatli  of  (Jwny  O'.More  near  Jlarybioro'  32-M 
I'liE  Sii;ge  a.vd  Battle  of  Ki.nsale. —Arrival  of 
Spanish  fleet  under  Don  Juau  iitil  Aguilha  in 
Kins;ile  Harbour— Red  lIughO'Donnell'sraarch 
through  the  Slieve  Felim  Mountains— Arrival 
of  the  English  army — They  invest  Kinsale  by 
land  anil  sea— Surrender  of  Rincorran  and 
Castle-na-P.ark — Arrival  of  Hugh  O'Neill — Dis- 
sensions be'  wccn  Irish  and  Spaniards— O'Neill's 
propos.als  overruled — The  battle— Total  defeat  • 
of  the  Irish  and  Spaniard.s  . .    86-39 

The  Sack  of  Duxbdy  and  the  Retreat  of 
Ddnal  (VSullivan  Be\re,  1602-3.— Surrender 
of  the  Irish  fortresses  by  Don  Juan  Del  Agnilha 
— O'Sullivan  Beare  takes  possession  of  hia 
ancestral  Castle  of  Dunboy  and  expels  the 
Spaniards— The  English  march  on  Dunboy— The 
siege  and  stonning  of  the  Castle— The  garrison 
hanged — Description  of  present  remains  of 
castle — O'Sullivan  homeless,  retires  with  his 
people  to  the  mountains— Sets  out  fr  m  Glen- 
Larriff  for  Leitrim— His  route— Is  pursued  and 
harassed  by  his  enemies— Repulses  every  attack 
— The  survivors  reach  O'Ruarc's  castle  . .    39-42 

The  Battle  of  Bexhuub,  164G.— The  English 
asseirtbb'  in  the  north  to  march  on  Kilkenny — 
Owen  Kiie  O'Neill  resolves  to  intercept  them — 
He  encamps  on  tlie  Blackwater  at  Benburb — 
Tiie  English  general,  Munroe,  marches  to 
Armagh  and  thence  by  a  circuit'ms  route  ad- 
vances on  Benburb— Positions  of  the  English 
and  Irish  armies — The  battle — O'Neill's  tactics 
— The  Irish  attack  at  sunset — The  charge- 
Defeat  and  retreat  of  the  English- The  battle- 
lii;ld .,  ..    43-46 

The  B  vttlefields  of  Rathmines  andCulleks- 
WOOD,  1209-1649.— Old  Rathmines  the  district  of 
Cullen — CuUenswood — Bristoli.on  settlement  in 
Dublin— The  colony  annihilated  by  the 
mountain  septs  at  CuUenswood  on  Easter 
^Monday— "The  Bloody  Fields "—«anyA«r*'''' 


.-jte--aia..a..v.  ■'—■■■■ . 


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CONTENTS. 


.^**^->^ 


■*'• 


description   of   the   affray— Subsequent   sklr-    PAOR 
iniHhes  with  the  mountain  septg. 

Lord  Unnonde,  the  Viceroy.  bealegeH  Dutilin 
in  1640  and  encarapa  at  Rathinlnea— He  fortlflea 
Baggotrath  Caatle — General  Junes  HalUus  out 
from  the  city  and  8urprUe.<«  Ormonde -Tlie 
Battle  of  Bathminea— Total  defeat  of  tlie 
Boyaliat  army— Uiatorv  of  BagKotrath  Castle . .  47-61 
The  Sirge  of  Dkrhy,  lOSO.- The  ahuttinj?  of 
Derry  gates— The  Jaco1>ito8  march  on  Dorry 
—  Diaaensiuns  within  the  town  —  The  in- 
habitantM  reaolve  on  resistance— Arrival  of  tlio 
Jacohitea  under  King  Jamos — The  8it>({0  com- 
mencos— The  Battle  of  Windmill  llill-Un 
successful  attempt  of  the  Jaoobit«H  to  stonn  the 
town— Great  distreaa  of  the  inhabitanta— Gene- 
ral KIrke  arriveafrom  England  with  supplies  for 
the  gaiTison,  but  is  stopped  by  the  b(H)m—  I  he 
garrison  starving— The  Jacobites  again  attempt 
to  storm  the  fown— Cruelty  of  De  Rosen — 
The  garrison  reduced  to  dreadful  privations 
— Kirxe  forces  the  boom  and  relieves  the  gar- 
rison—The siege  raised— Departure  of  tlie 
Jacobites       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..    61-66 

The  Battle  op  the  Boyne,  1690.— William  of 
Orange  lands  at  Carriokfergus— He  marchea 
■onthward— James  retires  before  him  and  en- 
camps on  the  Boyne- William  takes  up  a 
position  on  the  opposite  bank  —Narrow  escape 
of  King  William— The  roapectivo  forcest— I'lan 
of  the  battle — Death  of  Calimotte  and  Schonberg 
— Brilliant  conduct  of  the  Irish  Cavalry- 
Forcing  of  the  Jacobite  positiona— Strntogic 
advance  of  the  Williamite  riitht  wing— llotreat 
of  the  Jacobite  army  to  Dublin  ..  ..56-69 

The  First  Siege  op  Limerick,  icoo. -William 
appears  before  the  walla  of  Limerick— Strength 
of  the  besieging  force— Tlie  Iriah  aluinduned  by 
their  I^wich  allies— William  awaits  the  arrival 


of  his  siege  train— Sarafleld  determines  to  in-  PAOR 
tercept  it— His  midnight  inaruli  by  the  Shannon 
—Ho  surprisea  the  ci>nvoy,at  Uallyneoty— Do- 
atructirin  of  the  siege  train— William  aeuda  for 
a  now  sieco  train— The  siege  commences— A 
broach  made  in  the  walls— 'i  he  storming  of  tho 
breach— The  Wlllliimitea  effect  an  entrance- 
Desperate  flghtinp— The  >Mlliaraite8  forced 
l)ac^  to  the  lireach- Kxplosion  of  the  mine— 
I'epulao  of  the  Williamites— The  siege  aban- 
doned ..  ..  ..  ..  ..    69-68 

I'liK  Two  SiEOKS  OP  Atiiixine,  1690-01.— General 
Douglas  marches  on  Athlone— The  Siege— Tho 
Defence — Douglas  retires  and  raisea  the  siege — 
(liuckel  advances  on  tho  town— Capture  of  tho 
Knglish  town— The  tight  at  the  bridge— Tho 
Knglish  repair  the  bridge- The  Irish  break  It 
down— Desperate  str  igglo— The  town  captured 
through  the  carelesaneas  of  the  garrison         . .    68--A6 

The  Battle  op  Auoiirim,  1691.— St.  Roth 
marches  to  Aughrim— Tiie  Williamites  follow — 
The  respective  forces— The  battle  —  Skilful 
manceuvring  of  St.  Rutli— Capture  of  the  Castle 
of  Aughrim— Death  of  St.  Ruth  and  defeat  of 
the  Jacobites— The  battlefield  . .    Od~71 

The  Second  Siege  of  Limerick  and  the 
Treaty,  1001.— The  Williamites  again  march 
on  Limerick— The  Siege — Tho  tight  at  the  draw- 
bridcre— The  parley— Th-  Treaty  of  Limerick- 
Capitulation  of  the  girrison— How  tho  Treaty 
was  kept  ..  ..    71-71 

Conclusion.— Revolt  of  the  American  Colonies 
— Grattan'a  Parliament— Ilia  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence— Lord  Charlemont  and  the  Volun- 
teers— Tlie  French  Revolution— The  lirest  Ar- 
mada—The  Rebellion  of  '98— landing  at  Killala 
of  the  French  under  Humbert— The  Union— 
Kmancipation  of  the  Catbolica         ..  ..    74- -70 


'n 


■  t  J  A,"  ^ 


O^i' 


^. 


•^■^ 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


THE      DANISH      WARS. 


THE   BATTLES    OP   KILMASHOGUE,    SULCOIT, 
AND  GLENMAMA. 


\ 


N  796  A.D.  the 
D  a  n  •  ■  ftrat 
viaited  Ireland. 
Thouf^h  ccm- 
monly  called 
Danes,  they  came 
Dot  only  from 
Denmark  proper, 
but  also  from 
Norway,  Swe- 
den, and  in  general  trom  the  islands  and  coasts 
•f  the  Baltic.  Finding  that  Ireland  offered  a  fair 
tleld  for  plunder  they  soon  came  in  larger 
numbers  and  organised  a  8erie4  ef  predatory 
expeditions,  chiefly  directed  against  the  wealthy 
eceleeiasfeical  establishments. 

They  contmued  these  raids,  with  few  reverses, 
ap  to  about  the  year  838,  when,  under  Turgesius, 
they  established,  themselves  in  Dublin,  where 
they  erected  a  stronghold,  probably  on  the*  hill 
now  occupied  by  the  Oastle  and  Christ  Church 
Cathedral. 

Once  established  in  Dublin  they  gradually  ex- 
•  tended  their  power,  till  in  a  few  years  a  great 
part  of  the  country  groaned  beneath  the  oppi-es- 
sion  »f  these  ruthless  barbarians. 

From  abeut  912  to  916  a  constant  succession 
of  Danish  fleets  and  expeditions  poured  into 
Waterford,  taking  possession  of  the  town,  such  as 
it  vnta  then,  during  which  time  it  is  supposed  by 
some  that  they  built  Reginald's  Tower,  still 
standing  perfect  on  the  quays.  They  then  ravaged 
all  south-eastern  Muaster,  occupying  every  har- 
bour and  fortress  of  importance,  and  compelling 
the  inhabitants  to  pay  tribute, 


In  916  they  defeated  the  King  of   Lebster  at 
Cenn  Fuat,  said    to    be  Oonfey,    near  Leixlip, 
where   fifty    Irish  chieftains    were  slain.      En- 
couraged by  these  successes,  another  great  rein  - 
forcement  shortly  afterwards  arriTed  in  Dublin 
and    encamped   in    the    neighbourhood.      Niall 
Oluniuff,  King  of  Ulster,  hearing  ef  this  fresh 
invanon,   marshalled    his  troops  and  clansmen, 
and    marched    on     Dublin      to      attack    them, 
lite      Danes     then      retired      to      the    moun- 
tains, probably  to  choose  tlieir  ground,  and  on 
Wednesday,  15th  September,  919,  the   opposing 
forces  met  at    Kilmasbogue    Mountam,     above 
Whitecburch,  abeut  six  miles  from  Dublin,  where 
an  obstinate  and  bloody  battle   was  fought,  in 
wliich  the  Irish  wore  disastrously  defeated,  brave 
King  Niall,   with  twelve  tributary   Kings  and  a 
great  number  of  the  Ulster  nobles,   being  num- 
bered among  the  slain.     From   the  strange  site 
chcisen  for  this  battle  in  the  mountains,  then  co- 
vered by  primeval  forests,  ft  is  not  onlikely  that 
the  Irish  were  entrapped  into  aa  ambuscade,  ns 
they  werA  much  less  skilled  in  such  artifices  than 
their  adversaries.      The  remains  of  a  cromlech 
within  the  grounds  of  OlenaouthweU,  on  the  side 
of  Kilmashogue    Mountain,     in    all   probability 
marks  the  spot  where  King  NiaD  or  some  of  these 
chieftains  was  buried  after  the  battle.      I  inci- 
dentally referred   to   it  in  No.  VL  of  BanibU$ 
Around  Dublin. 

A  year  after  this  reverse  the  Irish  had  ample 
revenge,  for  they  defeated  the  Danes  with  great 
slaughter  at  a  place,  unidentified,  in  the  county 
Meath,  where,  in  the  words  of  die  old  chroniclers, 
"  tli^re  escaped   not  more  than  oioa^  t*  te]l 


ifiiii?ii'iii1tti''''"'^'^~--*'--^iTTffMi^^^ 


a^jia^fcaaifc-; 


..         ;.'  ■••       •,  "■       ,  ■■■:  r    ■■>;■?.  •'. 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


what  hntl  happened;  nnd  tlioro  fell  of  the  uobleg 
of  the  Nurseinou  here  as  many  an  had  fallen  of  the 
iiublea  and  plebeians  of  the  Qaol  (Irish)  at  the 
battle  of  Ath-oliath,"  meaning  Kilmashogue. 

By  9G0  a  great  part  sf  Munster  had  fallen 
under  the  rule  of  the  Danes,  who  levied  black- 
mail and  exacted  ruinous  taxes  from  the  unfor- 
tunate inhabitants.  Two  illustrious  chiefs  of 
the  Dalcoasian  tribe,  Mahon  and  his  yuungor  bro ' 
ther  Brian  (afterwards  the  hero  of  Cloutarf),  re- 
solved to  raise  an  army  and  endeavour  to  free 
their  country  from  the  tyi-unuy  of  the  foieign 
yoke.  Accordingly,  taking  all  their  people 
and  goods  with  them,  they  crossed  the 
Shannon  westwards  from  Limerick,  and 
went  into  the  county  Cloie,  whore,  from  the 
fastnesses  of  the  woods  of  Thomond,  they  ha- 
rassed the  enemy  for  a  eonsidorablo  perio^l  by  a 
system  of  guerilla  warfnre.  At  length,  after 
protracted  disagreements  and  conferences  be- 
tween tlte  brothers,  the  tribe  decided  upon  as 
Burning  a  more  aggressive  attitude,  and  resolved 
on  open  warfai-e.  Ivar,  King  of  the  Limerick 
Danes,  however,  determined  to  forestall  this 
move.  He  at  once  proclaimel  a  war  of  exterini- 
natisn  against  tliem,  and  from  far  and  near  the 
Danes  of  Munster,  as  well  as  many  »f  the  recreant 
Irish,  flocked  to  his  battle  standard.  Meanwhile 
the  Dalcassians,  under  then'  two  chieftains,  had 
mai'ched  into  Muskerry  on  the  borders  ef  Cork 
and  Kerry,  where  they  wei-e  joined  by  a  number 
of  adherents,  an<l  thence  iii  Cauhel  of  the  Kings, 
where  they  encamped. 

Ivar  was  now  on  the  march  from 
Limerick  at  the  head  of  his  army,  and 
in  a  few  days  had  pitched  his  tents  at  Sul- 
coit,  now  SoUoghod,  about  three  miles  n^rth-west 
of  tlie  present  town  of  Tipporary  and  sixteen 
miles  from  Cashel.  When  news  «t  this  reached 
the  Dalcassians,  the  chiefs  and  officers  assembled 
together  and  held  a  council  of  war,  at  which  it 
was  unanimously  decided  to  force  the  Danes  into 
a  general  engagement  at  theii  camp  at  Sulcoit, 
which  place  was  then  covered  with  a  thick  sallow 
wood,  in  shelter  of  which  they  weie  encamiied. 
Tlie  Dalcassians  marched  to  within  about  five 
miles  of  Sulcoit,  and  next  morning  at  sunrise 
formed  in  battle  array,  seeing   which  the  Danes 


advanced  to  meet  them  in  the  open.  A  furieus 
battle  then  commenced,  no  quarter  being  given 
on  either  side;  it  raged  till  mid- day  and  resulted 
in  a  decisive  and  ruinous  defeat  of  the  Dames,  for 
they  weredriveu  from  the  battlefield,  whence  "they 
lied  to  the  ditches  aad  the  vallies,  and  the  soli- 
tudes of  that  great  sweet  flowery  plain,"  and  were 
pursued  till  next  morning  by  the  viotorious  Irish 
even  as  far  as  tlie  fortress  of  Limerick,  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles. 

In  the  dreadful  confusion  of  the  retreat 
and  pursuit  the  gates  of  Limerick  were  flung 
open  to  both  victors  and  vanquislied,  the 
Danes  beting  slaughtered  by  the  Irish  in  the 
stiects  and  in  the  houses,  and  thus  this  important 
fortress  reverted  to  its  rightful  owners.  It  is  re- 
corded that  the  prisoners  were  collected  en  the 
hillocks  of  Saingel,  now  Singland,  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Shannon,  aud  part  of  the  city  of 
Limerick,  where  everyone  that  was  fit  for  war 
was  killed,  and  everyone  that  was  fit  for  slavery 
was  enslaved.  Such  was  the  common  practice  in 
these  barbarous  times.  This  great  battle,  which 
took  place  in  the  year  968,  completely  shattered 
the  power  of  the  Danes  in  Munster,  the  Burvivors 
of  whom  now  entrenched  themselves  in  Scattery 
Island,  in  the  Shannon. 

Mahon,  now  undisputed  monarch  of  Munster, 
followed  up  the  victory  of  Sulcoit  by  breaking 
up  the  isolated  settlements  of  the  Danes  through 
the  south,  aud  compellmg  the  wavering  Irish 
chiefs  to  give  him  hostages.  But  the  wily  Danes, 
unable  to  meet  him  openly,  now  resolved  on  other 
means  for  ridding  themselves  of  him.  After 
about  six  years  Ivar  and  his  sou  organised  a  con- 
spiracy for  his  assassination,  in  which  they  were 
basely  joined,  through  motives  of  jealousy,  by 
two  powerful  Munster  chiefs — Donovan,  lord  of 
Hy  Carberry,  and  Molloy,  lord  of  Desmond,  both 
of  wliom  now  publicly  renounced  their  allegiance 
to  Mahon.  About  the  year  r76  Mahon  was  in- 
duced on  some  pretext  or  other  to  visit  Donovan 
at  his  house  at  Bruree,  county  Limerick,  having 
previously  received  the  guaiantee  of  the  local 
bioliop  and  clergy  tliat  he  would  not  be  mjured. 
Notwithstanding  this  solemn  guarantee, 
given  at  his  iustmce,  Donovan  sent  on 
Mahon  under   escort  to    meet  Molloy,  accordi»a 


v.i*-T  -:  .' 


THE  BATTLES  OF  KILMASHOOUB,   SULCOIT,  AND  OLENMABIA. 


t*  ft  preaiTanged  plan,  at  hlia  place  nelected 
for  the  murder.  Molloy  watclied  the  o^saHsma- 
tioB  from  %  iiUntance  and  waited  till  he  naw  the 
flashing;  of  the  sword  in  the  hands  of  the  murderer 
and  Mahon  fall  under  the  blow,  upon  which  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  precipitately  fled  the 
loene.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  ecclesia^i- 
tics  in  guaranteeing  Mahoa's  safety  acted  in  per- 
fectly good  faith  throughout,  hiiA  ing  been  deceived 
by  Donovan  and  Melloy. 

The  Danes  gained  nothing  by  the  murder  of 
Mahon,  for  his  brother  Brian,  a  much  more  reso- 
lute and  dangerout  foe,  now  succeeded  to  the 
throne.  He  nt  ence  commenced  a  campaign 
against  them,  and  Ivar  and  his  son  were  both 
killesl  ia  Scattery  Island,  within  a  year  after  the 


gress,  became  alarmed,  and  after  a  conference 
eflfected  a  treaty  with  him  by  which  the 
sovereignty  of  Ireland  wa«  divided  equally  be- 
tween them.  Shortly  afterwards— about  999  or 
1000  AD — the  Irish  of  Leinater  revolted  and 
joined  the  Danes  of  Dublin  in  a  war  against  Brian, 
who,  collecting  his  forces,  marched  northwards 
to  besiege  Dublin.  On  bis  way  he  en* 
camped  at  a  place  called  Glen-Mama,  or  the  Qlen  of 
the  Gap,  near  Dunlavin,  in  county  Wicklow,  and 
thirty-two  miles  south-west  of  Dublin.  Here  he 
w(M  joined  by  Malachy  at  the  head  of  his  troops. 
Meanwhile  the  Danes^  who  had  marched  from 
Dublin  to  intercept  bicn,  were  approachin<;  Dun- 
lavin, where  they  intended  to  encamp.  Their 
way  lay  through  Glenmama,  bt^t  on  entering  the 


•It      4  'V  f       »    '      ^'^^M 


HOBbKFASS  BRIDOB  ON  THB  LIKFET. 


murder.  Next  year  he  attacked  and  defeated  an 
army  under  Donovan  and  the  surviving  son  of 
Ivar,  both  of  whom  were  killed  in  the  engagement. 
Of  his  brother's  murderers  there  now  remained 
but  Molloy  to  be  dealt  with.  Brian  sent  him  a 
peremptory  challenge  by  a  special  envoy  to  meet 
liim  at  the  scene  of  the  murder,  adding  that  if  it 
were  not  accepted  within  a  fortnight  tlie  Dalcas- 
sians.  led  by  himself,  would  attack  him  in  his 
own  stronghold.  This  brought  on  the  battle  ot 
Belach  Lechta,  in  which  Molloy  and  1,200  of  his 
troops  were  killed,  and  the  murder  of  Mahon, 
finally  avenged  on  the  very  spot  where  it  was 
committed. 

Malady  ^I.,  who  had  been  king  of  Ireland  for 
eighteen  yeSM,  hearing  of  Brian's   victorious  pro- 


defile  they  found  it  blocked  by  the  allied  armies 
•»f  Brian  and  Malachy.  They  then,  it  seems, 
hastily  made  preparations  for  an  attack;  but  the 
Irish  were  too  quick  for  them,  and  in  the  terrible 
battle  which  ensued  the  Danes  were  totally  de- 
feated, with  a  loss  of  several  thousand  killed,  in- 
cluding their  Prince,  Harold,  the  Heir  Apparent 
to  their  sovereignty  in  Ireland.  Mailmora,  king 
of  Leinster,  escaped  by  concealing  himself  in  a 
yew  tree,  where  he  was  discovered  and  taken 
prisoner  by  Murrogh,  Brian's  son.  Brian  pursued 
the  fugitives  the  whole  way  to  Dublin,  which  he 
entered,  plundering  and  burning  their  fortress 
there. 

The  place  where  this  great  battle  was  fought  is 
recorded    with   minute   details  ae   being   in   tl)* 


liiS^p"  ^'^.!''.^\.-X.1^-•'.:x:^.^.if,^ 


:■>>■- 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


•.«*.• 


neighbourhood  *f  Dunlaviu,  though  th«  name 
•f  "  Qlentnama"  haa  long  since  been  forgotten  ; 
and  eTen  the  very  aputs  where  the  dead  wore 
buried  in  proiniscueua  heaps  could  be  painted 
out  till  recently  by  some  of  the  old  inhabitants. 

The  ancient  fortress  of  Dunlavin,  the  palace  ef 
the  Kings  of  Leinster,  stoed  one  mile  due  seuth 
•f  the  medern  town  of  Dunlavui.  and  higher  up 
the  hillside  which  forms  the  southern  slope  ef  the 
valley  of  Qleumama.  The  i-emahis  are  now  gene- 
rally  known  as  the  Moat  of  Tournant.  From 
thia  the  valley  runs  generally  in  a  uorth-easterly 
direction  and  terminates  about  twe  miles  from 
Dunlavin. 

After  the  first  rout  the  Danes  retreated  back 
ftlong  the  delile  and  across  the  low  hills  which 
intervene  between  it  and  the  ford  of  Lemons- 
town,  on  a  tributary  of  the  Lifiey,  where 
they  attempted  to  rally,  but  only  to  be  killed 
in  thousands.  Their  bonea  are  to  this  day 
turned  up  in  the  fields  near  this  ford,  and  several 
sepulchral  mounds  along  the  banks  of  the  stream 
are  full  ef  them.  Another  body  of  the  fugitives 
fled  to  Holly^'ood,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east- 
ward of  the  ford,  and  on  to  the  Horsepass  on  the 
Liffey,  where  they  made  a  last  but  futile  stand 
against  the  victorious  Irish.  A  reference  to  a  map 
of  the  locality  will  make  these  details  much  more 
intelligible. 

Travellers  from  Dublin  by  the  Blessicgten  and 
l^altinglass  rond,  on  approaching  Poulaphuca,  may 
Save  noticed  up  Uie  tivar,  to  the  left,  the  shattered 


and  orunbling  arches  of  a  Teuerable-looking 
bridge.  Thia  is  Horsepass  Bridge,  which  super- 
seded the  ancient  ford,  and  was  in  its  turn  super- 
seded by  the  modern  bridge  of  Poulaphuca.  At 
this  place,  as  the  name  would  indicate,  waa  in  for- 
mer times  a  deep  and  dangerous  ford,  whiob,  - 
except  when  the  river  was  very  low,  could  only 
\>e  passed  on  horseback.  The  old  road  from 
Dublin  crossed  the  Liffey  here,  and  it  can  still  be 
plainly  traced  for  some  distance  at  each  side  of 
the  ruined  bridge.  The  Danish  army  must  have 
forded  the  river  here  on  their  march  from  Dublui, 
and  the  survivors,  in  attempting  to  recross  it  on 
their  retreat,  were  killed  er  drowned  in  great 
numbers. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  laat  century,  when 
some  ef  the  wild  swamps  and  moors  around  Dun- 
lavin were  being  reclaimed,  the  workmen  came 
upon  the  pits  where  the  slain  were  buried  in 
heaps,  but  closed  them  up  again  on  seeing  what 
they  were.  About  twenty  years  ago,  when  soma 
further  excavations  were  being  made  hei-e,  one  of 
these  pits  was  again  opened,  and  was  found  tu 
contain  a  great  quantity  of  human  bones,  among 
which  was  a  Danish  sword. 

To  the  eastward  of  Glenmama  is  tlie  old  church- 
yard  of  Crehelp,  now  almost  indistinguishable 
and  unknown.  Within  it  conspicuously  standi  a 
granite  pillar  or  shaft,  about  five  feet  high.  Dim 
tradition  avers  that  beneath  this  rude  memorial, 
in  a  warrior's  gory  grave,  sleeps  the  fierce  Harold, 
SOD  of  Amlaff,  Prince  Rey »1  of  the  Norsemen  of  Erin. 


'  .^^  V -li-iutS  li/iui  ui^Vfr.  S  Iki-l^^ii^^^ 


THE  BATTLE  OF  OLONTABF. 


II.— THE  BATTLE  OF  CLONTARF. 


RIAN  BORU  'baring  defeated  th« 
Danes  and  th«  Lemster  Irish  at  Qlen< 
mamR,  adopted  a  policj  of  concilia- 
tion t«wards  them,  in  pursuance  of 
which  he  ft^ave  his  daughter  in  mar- 
riage to  Sitric,  King  of  the  Dublim 
Danes,  and  himself  married  Gorm- 
flaith,  mother  of  Sitrio,  and  sister  of  Mailmora, 
Kingof  Leinster.  This  Gormfiaith  was  a  woman  mt 
celebrated  beauty  but  questionable  antecedents, 
as  she  had  been  previously  married  to  and  repu- 
diated in  turn  by '  Amlaff,  the  Dane,  and  King 
Malaohy  II.  She  appears  to  have  been  of  a  deep 
and  vengeful  disposition,  and  centinually  hatching 
mischief.  Having  forMcd  this  confederacy  with 
his  vanquished  foes,  Brian  returned  to  his  palace 
at  Kincora,  near  KiUalee,  whither  he  was  accom- 
panied by  Germflaith.  Here  .  he  held  his  court, 
and  received  the  homage  of  many  priuces  and 
chiefs.  But  the  -  great  victery  of  Glen  mama 
seems  to  have  awakened  in  his  mind  the  ambi- 
tion to  make  himself  ruler  of  all  Ireland,  and 
accordingly,  with  this  object,  he  organised  a  con- 
spiracy in  violation  of  his  treaty  with  Malachy  to 
depose  him  front  the  throne.  After  some  trifling 
engagements  between  them,  Malachy  reluctantly 
gave  his  informal  conseat  to  an  arrangement  by 
which  he  became  a  vassal  of  Brian's  mih  the 
nominal  title  of  King  of  Meatb,  and  then  Brian 
became  sole  King  ef  Ireland. 

Meanwhile  Germflaith  was  plotting  aa  usual, 
and  this  time  against  Brian,  her  husband.  Mail- 
mora one  day  arrived  at  Kincora,  bringing  aa  a 
present  to  Brian  three  pine  maats  which  had  been 
out  in  the  forest  of  Figile  near  Clonsaat,  five 
miles  north-east  of  Portarliugton.  In  conveying 
the  trees  fiom  that  place  Mailmora  {.ersoaally 
assisted  in  lifting  one  of  them  for  a  few  momeats. 
He  wore  a*  tunic  of  silk  with  silver  buttons,  a 
present  from  Brian,  and  in  the  exertion  one  of 
tko  buttons  got  torn  off,  which,  on  his  arrival  at 
Kincora,  he  asked  his  sister,  Gormfiaith,  to  re- 
place. She  took  the  tunic,  but,  to  his  surpiise, 
threw  it  into  the  fire,  reproaching  him  bitterly 


for  his  meanness  in  submitting  as  vassal  to  any 
man,  adding  that  his  father  or  grandfather  would 
never  have  been  guilty  of  such. 
This  iueidenbgreatly  excited  Mailmora,  and  before 
long  another  incident  occurred  which  precipitated 
the  inevitable  result.  Brian's  sod,  Murrogh,  wu 
playing  a  game  of  cheas  with  his  cousin,  when 
Mailmora,  looking  on,  suggested  a  move  by  which 
Murrogh  lost  the  game.  Murrogh,  annoyed  at 
.this,  said,  "  That  w«a  like  the  advice  you  gave 
the  Danes,  which  lost  them  the  battle  of  Glen- 
mama,"  to  which  Mailmora  replied,  "  I  will  give 
them  advice  again,  and  they  shall  not  be  de- 
feated." Murrogh  answered  bitterly,  "  Then  you 
had  Wetter  remind  them  to  prepare  a  yew  tree  for 
your  reception,"  alluding  to  hia  having  taken 
refuge  in  a  yew  tree  after  Glenaama.  Mailmora 
was  so  much  exasperated  by  this  reply  that  he 
left  Kincora  abruptly  next  memieg,  and  set  out 
for  Leinster,  vowing  vengeance  against  Brian  and 
hia  allies.  On  hia  arrival  he  lost  no  time  in 
rousing  his  tribe  to  revolt,  in  which  Uiey  were 
soon  joined  by  the  Dublin  Danes. 

In  1013  they  made  an  expedition  into  Malachy '■ 
kingdom,  ravaging  it,  murdering  the  inhabitants, 
and  plundering  the  churches,  whereupoa  Malachy 
sent  messengers  to  Brian  to  demand  the  proteo 
tion  to  which  he  was  entitled  aa  a  vassal.  Brian 
collected  his  Dalcassian  troops,  with  their  allies, 
and  marched  into  Leinster,  ravaging  the  hoetile 
districts  with  fire  and  sword.  His  son,  Murrogh, 
in  command  of  an  auxiliary  force,  proceeded  by  a 
different  route  and  devastated  the  whole  district 
from  Glendalough  to  Kilmainham.  As  the  coun- 
try lying  directly  between  these  two  places  is  even 
now  little  more  than  a  desert,  it  nuy  be  safely  pre- 
sumed that  his  line  of  march  lay  along  the  coast. 
The  two  armies,  under  King  Brian  and  his  son,  met 
at  Dublin,  the  walls  of  which  they  surrouaded, 
forming  a  blockade.  There  they  remained  from 
9th  September  till  Christmas  without  a  move 
being  made  by  either  party,  the  Irish  resting  in 
their  camp  and  the  Danes  keeping  close  within 
their  walls.     Then,  as  events   began   to  prove,  i' 


»«SiifS?:.-<>A'Sas.';> :  ■..: 


-  u-.',i.ir^ii.i'-7»i.«A»i...ii»-,  i*'s:x.  s»s^-.>.  >  - . 


■  •^'v'  - 


y 


:\^'':'- 


ft 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


WM  ()h«  b«a{egers  who  were  renUy  blockaded,  for 
their  proviBiona  became  oxJiaustod  long  before 
those  of  til*  besieged,  ami  bu  Brian  wan  obligod, 
much  to  his  disappointment,  t<»  raise  tlm  siege 
»nd  return  to  his  headquarters  in  Munstt-r. 

But  the  Danes  well  knew  that  ho  wius  not  a  Jnan 
to  be  easily  dirertfid  from  his  purpose,  and  accord- 
ingly news  soon  ))egan  to  reach  tliem  <•!  prf  parationa 
for  a  second  and  greater  expedition.  Thoroughly 
alarned,  for  they  had  not  forgotten  Olenmama, 
and  greatly  distrusting  t)ieir  own  strength  to  cope 
with  him,  they  sent  ambassadors  to  their  various 
allies  abroad,  to  raise  t)ie  standard  of  war  and 
inyoke  assistance  for  a  final  contest  with  this  for- 
midable foe.  All  Scandinavian  Europe  now 
brstled  with  preparations  for  the  coming  struggle, 
and  every  armoury  in  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Den- 
mark resounded  with  din  and  clangour.  In  the 
following  spring  detachments  began  to  arrive, 
and  fleet  after  fleet  poured  into  Dublin  mighty 
cohorts  of  mailed  and  armed  warriors  in  corselets 
of  gleaming  brass  or  glittering  steel.  And  thrro 
came  nobles  and  chieftains  •i  mighty  renown 
from  Saxon-land,  from  the  far  isles  of  Orkney, 
and  from  the  bleak  Northern  coasts.  But  Brian 
unawed  by  those  pi-eparations,  strove  night  and 
day  to  perfect  his  plans  te  crush  "  the  proud  in- 
Tader."  He  again  marched  intc  Leinstcr, 
burning  Howth  and  ringall.  And  whoa  the  Danes 
from  the  buttlcmeuts  of  Dublin  saw  afar  tiie 
blaze  and  glow  from  tlie  plains  <»f  Fingall,  they 
knew  that  he  was  on  the  march,  And  tliey  sallied 
forth  to  attack  him  on  the  "  Plain  of  the  Bird 
Flocks,"  which  extended  from  Tallaght  to  Howth. 
Brian  was  new -encamped  on  the  Green  of  Dublin, 
probably  at  the  norckern  side  of  the  LifFey,  On 
the  eve  ef  Holy  Thursday,  hearing  that  the  Danes 
were  determined  to  fight  next  day,  he  held  a 
council  of  war  with  his  nobles,  and,  after  leng- 
thened deliberations,  it  wait  decided  to  prepare 
for  battle,  though  they  were  very  unwilling  to 
fight  on  a  day  hallswed  by  such  sacred  associa- 
tions. When  Good  Friday,  23rd  April,  1014, 
dawned  the  two  armies  stood  face  to  face,  de- 
ployed in  battle  line,  waiting  for  the  signal  to  be- 
f^n,  the  Danish  fleet  lay  moored  al*ng  the 
northern  side  of  the  bay,  and  a  small  portion  of 
Mieir  army  garrisoned  the  fortress  of  Dublin. 


The  weight  of  evidence  would  seem  bo  indicate 
that  the  battle  was  mainly  fought  south  of  the 
Tolka,  instead  of  north  of  it.  as  has  been  generally 
iwsunied;  in  othur  words,  that  the  battlefield  was 
not  Clontarf,  but  the  ground  now  covered  by  the 
north  side  of  t  he  city. 

In-proof  of  tluH  it  is  recorded  that  the  progresi 
of  the  battle  was  anxiously  watched  from  the  bat- 
tlements of  Dublin  by  Sitric  and  the  Danish  gar- 
rison, who,  it  is  stated,  could  distinguish  friends 
from  foes.  Those  battlements  must  have  been 
Bomewhcrc  on  the  hill  at  present  occupied  by  the 
Ciistle.  Now,  assuming  that  all  north  of  che 
LiGfey  was  then  open  country,  and  without  taking 
into  account  the  inequalities  and  undulations  of 
tlio  ground,  it  may  be  bafely  asserted  that  the 
range  i»f  distinct  vision  could  not  extend  beyond 
the  Tolka,  two  miles  distant. 

The  fact  that  the  battle  is  now  known  aa 
"Tho  Battle  of  Clontarf  "  does  not  aflford  much 
clue  to  the  site,  for  in  the  contemperary 
Scandinavian  records  it  is  called  "  Brian's  Battle" 
and  in  the  Iiish  records,"  the  Battle  of  the  Fish- 
ing-weir of  Clontarf,"  and  there  is  good  reason  to 
believe  that  this  weir  stood  hot  at  Ballybough- 
bridge,  aa  has  been  supposed,  but  higher  up  the 
Tolka,  near  Clonlifife,  wliich  was  more  likely  tlie 
mouth  at  that  time. 

In  1763,  when  opening  some  new  ground  at 
Cavendish-row  and  Gran  by -row.a  great  quantity  ml 
kuman  bones,  accompanied  by  the  remains  of 
arms  and  armour,  were  discovei-ed  in  trenches- 
relics,  no  doubt,  of  this  great  battle. 

The  Irish  account  of  the  battle  (Wars  of  the 
Gaedhil  xcith  the  Gaill)  states  that  a  few  days  be- 
fftre  the  engagement,  part  of  the  Danish  army 
sailed  in  their  fleet  to  Howth,  probably  to  attack 
the  Irish  there,  but,  returning,  eSected  a  junction 
with  the  main  body  wf  the  Danes  and  the  Leinster 
Irish  under  Mailmora,  upon  which  the  battle  com 
menced  immediately. 

From  the  foregoing  facts,  it  may  he  reason- 
ably concluded  (1),  that  during  the  comhat  the 
Danish  fleet  was  moored  along  the  coast  imme- 
diately north  of  the  Liflfey,  and  that  the  Danish 
army  formed  on  the  shore  with  their 
backs  to  the  sea  ;  (2),  that  King  Brian 
having      chosen      his      ground      so     that     th« . 


-  -r:j.,....*f -'-i,    I  ,' 


I ; '  -  -•  ■  ■- it'1^''fin;'ii.*^iyiVifiittWii-ifi 


W>'' 


-r  -  '■<"'':  %*^^*sr^/-';r  -^ 


THB  BATTLE  07  OLONTASF. 


l^lStj  Intftrpoaed  batwem  tha  battleGeld  and  the 
fortrew  of  Dublin,  the  Daaea  were  forced  to 
ftbaodon  Dublin  as  a  baae  of  refuge  and -to  de- 
pend solely  ou  their  fleet  in  caee  of  retreat,  and 
(8)  that  the  bulk  nf  tlie  fif^htinp;  t<;ok  place,  as  I 
have  stated,  between  the  Tolka  and  Mie  Lifiey. 

The  waters  of  Dublin  Bay  then  flowed  very 
much  farther  inland  than  now,  and  tlie  Bea>-hore 
epitended  from  about  Gratian  Bridge  by  Abbey 
street,  O'Cenuell  (or  Sackville  street),  and  thence 
somewhat  etuitward  of  Mountjny  square  eut  to 
the  Tolka  between  Ballybough  and  Drumcoudra. 


Bonally  engage  in  it,  rode  along  in  froafc  of  hie 
army,  and  buIdiuK  aloft  the  cross,  th«  emblem  ti 
tlieir  proscribed  and  persecuterl  religion,  reminded 
them  of  the  great  sai:ritice  of  tliat  day,  and 
exhorted  them  to  fight  valiantly  for  their  faith 
and  fatherland.  They  then  advanced  to  the 
combat,  the  details  of  which  are  given  in  extra- 
vagant and  bombastic  language  by  the  old 
histiiriann. 

The  battle  raged  from  early  morning  till  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  eveuing,  when,  nearly  all  the 
DanLih  leaders  of   note  having  fallen,  tlie  Iriah 


Drumcorvdifto,  Or 


0  ^  ^<^  o    ^f- 


CastleWO] 


...(?-v.-::::r--;-:^ J 


fV/" 


The  position  then  of  the  twe  armies  in  acti<m 
would  lie,  roughly  speaking,  in  a  line  from  the 
Four  Courts  to  Drumcondra.  Of  course  Dublin 
was  then  only  a  small  town  south  of  the  Lififey, 
of  which  tliA  LDanish)  Castle  was  the  centre  or 
citadel. 

Just  before  the  battle  commenced,  King  Brian, 
who    on  account  of  his  great  age  did  not  i^er- 


i\.\i\j*«c  to  have  made  a  concentrated  attack  upon 
their  centre,  whereupon  tho  Danes  having  no  one 
to  rally  them  fell  back  in  disorder.  The  confu- 
sion now  l)ecame  general,  and  they  fled  on  every 
side;  one  portion  attempted  to  reach  their  cf>m» 
rades  in  Dublin  by  crossing  the  Liffey  at  Duff- 
gall's  Bridge,  supposed  to  have  been  near  the 
present  Queen's-street  Bridge,   but   the  Irish  had 


ft'tc'"- 


^».^-.i-j  A.v........  ^.,i.v    -toiMiMiJiiiai&i 


^_g^ 


j*^  A  5'*.-»t»; 


*    .f^ 


.  •^»-i'J^-'»:Tj  , 


.T;'7'A*^S?'<-.''^'  -w 


Pt 


10 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


antioIp»t«d  them  there,  and,  cutting  uff  their 
retreat,  net  a  man  esoaped.  Another  large  body 
fled  back  te  the  strand  to  res:aiu  their  ships, 
hut  when  they  reached  the  shore  th«y  found 
^at  it  was  high  water,  and  they  were  thus  cut  off 
from  all  refuge  in  that  quarter.  In  dosptiir  mnny 
threw  themselves  into  the  sea,  and  oiideav<)ur- 
ing  to  swim  out  to  the  ships  were  drowned  in 
great  number.",  A  wood  called  Tomar's  Wood 
then  fringed  the  northern  shores  of  Dublin  Bay, 
and  in  this  vroed  some  of  the  Irish  took  up  a 
position,  killing  many  of  the  fugitives  who  came 
that  way. 

The  Danes,  now  hemmed  in  between  the  Tolka 
on  the  nerth  and  the  Liffey  on  the  south,  with 
tlie  Irish  on  their  west  side  and  the  sea  on  the 
eaat,  made  a  desperate  rush  to  force  a  passage 
across  the  Tolka,  then  swollen  by  the  returning 
tide;  here  the  greatest  slaughter  took  place,  the 
river  bed  being  in  places  choked  up  with  the 
bodies.  A  considerable  number,  however,  suc- 
ceeded in  escaping  across  it  and  over  to 
the  ''  northern  shore  of  the  bay,  and, 
being  pursued,  a  running  fight  was  kept  up 
along  the  Strand  from  Clontarf  out  to  Howth. 
The  recollection  »i  this  may  have  originated  t)ie 
local  tradition  that  the  battle  was  fought  at  Clon- 
tarf, though  probably  very  little  •f  Uie  actual 
fighting  took  place  there.  It  is  likely,  however, 
that  the  district  of  Clontarf  was  then  more  ex- 
tensive, and  reached  inland  as  far  as  Druncondra 
and  southward  as  far  as  the  Tolka.  Another  tra  ■ 
dition  states  that  a  party  of  Danes  who  were  pur- 
sued out  to  Howth  took  refuge  on  the  Bailey 
promontory,  on  which  a  ruined  fertress  stood,  and 
there  defended  themselves  against  desperate  odds 
till  tlieir  ships  took  them  off  in  safety. 

The  battle  was  all  open  fighting,  the  nature  of 
the  greund  admitting  of  no  ambuscades  and  little 
strategy.  The  combatants  fought  man  to  man 
and  breast  te  breaat,  and  the  victory  was  gained 
by  dint  of  sheer  physical  strength  and  personal 
valour.  No  mention  is  made  of  any  cavalry 
having  been  used  in  the  engagement,  though 
there  are  evidences  of  the  existence  of  Danish 
cavalry  in  Ireland  before  this  period. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  conflict,  when  King 
Ijfjan  waa    praying  in   his  tent,    bis  attendant 


noticed  a  imall  party  ef  Dmim  approaohbig,  and 
directed  hia  attention  to  them.  They  were  about 
to  pasa  him  by,  when  one  of  them  recognised  him 
as  the  Irish  King.  Thereupon  Bredar,  the  oom- 
mander  of  the  fleet,  who  was  one  of  the  party, 
raised  his  i^Ieaming  battle-axe  and  attacked  him. 
Brian  drew  his  sword,  and  with  one  furious  blew 
cut  off  his  leg  at  the  knee,  but  the  fieree  Viking 
before  falling  had  time  to  cleave  the  King's  head 
with  his  axe.  So  fell  the  mighty  Brian  Boru,  th« 
one  Irish  sovereign  who  rose  superior  to  tho 
petty  jealousies  and  tribal  disputes  of  his  time, 
and  united  his  country  in  a  supreme  and  suceesa- 
ful  effort  to  free  it  from  the  Danes,  who  at  that 
time  and  for  long  afterwards  held  undisputed 
sovereignty  in  England. 

Brian's  son  Murrogh  also  fell  in  the  battle.  Ha 
engaged  in  combat  a  Danish  chieftain,  but  hii 
hand  was  so  disabled  that  he  had  ta  drop  hia 
sword;  he  then  seized  his  adversary  by  the  hel- 
met with  his  left  hand,  and  tearing  off  his  armour 
threw  him  te  the  ground.  Murrogh  then  being 
uppermost,  seized  the  foreigner's  sword  and 
stabbed  him  thrice  with  it,  but  notwithstanding 
this  the  dying  chieftain  drew  hia  long  knife  and 
gave  Murrogh  a  deadly  wound  of  which  he  expired 
next  morning.  Brian's  grandson  Turlough,  only 
1 5  years  of  age,  the  sou  of  Murrogh,  was  found 
drowned  at  the  fishing- weir  after  the  battle  with 
his  hands  entangled  in  the  long  hair  of  a  Dane 
whom  he  had  pursued  into  the  river. 

Among  others  that  fell  in  the  battle  were  the 
traitor  Mail  mora  and  Brian's  nephew  who  played 
the  celebrated  game  of  chess  at  Kinuora.  They 
fell  in  combat  with  each  other. 

Thus  at  a  blew  the  reigning  family  became  ex 
tinct,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the 
dynastic  wars  which  followed,  bringing  Ireland 
to  the  verge  of  social  and  national  dissolutioa, 
ultimately  paved  the  way  for  the  invasion  of 
Strongbow  and  the  Anglo-Kormaus. 

Among  the  incidents  of  the  battle  it  ia  recorded 
that  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  day,  while  the  isaue 
waa  yet  doubtful,  Sitric,  who  was  on  the  hattla- 
nients  of  his  watch  tower  in  Dublin,  said,  "  Well 
do  the  foreigners  reap  the  field;  many  is  the  sheaf 
they  cut  down,"  to  which  his  wife  (Brian's 
daughter)  replied,  "That  will  be  seen  at  the  end  of 


m^'^-T^z^^-'c^-^'^i^:^. 


*W^.w^ ''  r'y^,  '^ ■'^'^"j£:^'i- 


THE  BATTLE  OP  OLONTAEP. 


11 


tha  dny.**  But  when  it  mm  ereuing,  and  the 
Danes  were  im  full  retreat  towards  the 
■ea,  she  said  to  him,  in  bitter  ironj, 
"The  foreigners  are  gomg  into  the  sea,  their 
natural  inheritance.  I  wonder  is  it  to  ceol  tbeoi- 
aelvesf '  Whereupon  he  became  so  angered  that  he 
struck  her  a  blow  in  the  mouth  which  knocked  out 
one  of  her  teeth  I 

Sitric  was  the  son  of  Anlaif,  and  brether  ef 
Hareld  who  fell  at  Olenmama,  so  that  it  may  be 
naturally  suppesed  that  he  felt  great  enmity  to- 
wards the  Irish.  His  marriage  with  King  Brian's 
daughter,  which  took  place  soon  after  Gleamama, 
was  a  diplematic  alliance  for  which  Brian  him- 
self was  mainly  responsible. 


There  is  curious  oerroberatlTe  evidenee  to 
show  that  the  writer  ef  the  Irish  account  of  the 
-battle  must  have  been  an  eye-witness  or  got  his 
details  from  ena  wbe  was.  It  is  stated  that  oa 
the  day  ef  the  battle  (23rd  April,  1014)  full  tide 
coincided  with  sunrise,  and  that  the  full  tide  again 
in  tlie  evening  cut  eff  the  Danes  from  their  ships. 
This  has  since  Ween  proved  te  be  true  by  Dr 
HaughtoB,  T  G  D,  who,  without  a  knowledge  of 
the  Irish  account  of  the  battle,  by  a  difficult 
and  abstruse  calculation  found  that  on  that 
particular  day  it  was  high  water  at  5  30  o'clock 
in  the  morning  and  again  at  i  55  o'clock  in  Hm 
evening. 


THE    CAREER    AND    BATTLES    OF    THE    BRUCE& 


ROM  the  tiaie  ef  the  Anglo- 
Norman  invasions  the  history 
of  Ireland  is  occupied  by  a 
tedious  succession  of  aimless 
civil  wars  without  any  battles 
of  note  till  the  era  of  the  Braces  in  1315. 

Tlie  Battle  of  Bannockburn  placed  Robert  Bruce 
on  the  thrcme  ef  Scotland,  but  in  the  wars  with 
the  English,  his  brother  Edward  had  shown  such 
vigour  and  ability  that  it  became  desirable  to 
find  some  fitting  position  fer  him.  Ireland  seemed 
to  offer  a  likely  field,  and  accordingly,  an  arrange- 
ment having  bees  concluded  with  some  ef  the 


Irish  chieftains,  on  26th  Hay,  1315,  Edward 
Bruce  landed  near  Carrickfergus  with  an  army  of 
6,000  men  and  a  number  ef  Scottish  efficers  of 
distinction.  They  then  sent  hotae  their  ships 
determined,  like  the  Dedaanane  ef  old,  to  leave  no 
means  of  retreat.  The  colonists  of  eastern  Ulster, 
under  the  great  De  Burgh,  known  as  the  Red  Earl, 
encountni  ed  Bruce  shortly  after  landing,  bnt  were 
utterly  defeated  by  him  at  a  place  called  Connor, 
uear  Ballymenit,  upon  which  a  party  of  them  re- 
treated to  Carrickfergus  aad  shut  themselves  up 
in  til*  strong  castle  there.  Bruce  now  marched 
on  and  took  possession  of  Carrickfergus,  at  that 
time  an  important  town  and  especially  valuable 
to  him  on  account  of  its  proximity  te  Scotland. 
Itagreat  castle,  however  held  onty  and  as  he  had 
no  adequate  means  of  attacking  it,  he  left  a  por- 
tion of  his  army  there  te  maintain  a  blockade. 
He  was  by  this  time  sorely  in  want  ef  previsions, 
and,  marching  southwards,  he  drew  up  his  army  in 
array  before  Dundalk,  which  was  garrisoned  by  a 
powerful  English  force.  A  reconnoitring  party 
sent  out  from  the  town  returned  with  the  cheer- 
icg  news  that  the  Scots  would  be  but  "  half  a 
dinner  to  them."  But  the  Scotch  attack  was  so 
vigerous  that  the  place  was  captured  in  one  as- 
sault, and  Bruce's  army  triumphantly  entered  the 
tewn,  where  they  found  abundance  »f  storea  and 
proTisions. 


'A-M-.riS^-:''V'  U:Vi,,-Jr.. 


.^i-.rHi^k^siAL^ 


:T*™.7f'l,*-#;5S.  -■'■5  '. 


IS 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


After  tliia  great  victory  Bruce  wm  crowaed 
King  of  Ireland  on  the  Hill  ef  Knock- 
namelin,  near  Dundalk.  Hearing  now  that  the. 
Viceroy  was  «n  the  march  against  hin  witli  an 
army  of  20,000  mmi,  he  left  Dumlalk,  and.  mov- 
ing  westward,  reached  a  great  forest  which  then 
lay  south  of  Lough  Ross  in  Monaghan.  Here  he 
remained  in  concealment  for  a  month  with  hia 
army,  awaiting  tlie  coming  of  various  Irish  chief- 
tains who  had  promised  him  assistance.  While 
sheltering  in  this  forest  his  scouts  saw  a  large 
army  movmg  past  in  command  ef  the  Red  Earl. 
Bruce,  hewever,  did  not  show  himself,  as 
his  army  was  greatly  inferior  in  num- 
bers,      but       retreated      slowly       northwards 


Neil  Fleming,  »  brave  old  warrior  who  had  won 
his  spurs  en  many  a  bloody  field.  He,  seeing  how 
matters  stned,  resolved  t*  sacrifice  himself  and 
his  party  in  engaging  the  assailants,  so  as  to  give 
the  Scots  time  t«  get  ready.  Having  sent  a  mes* 
senger  to  Bruce  he  rushed  forward,  sword  in 
hand,  shouting,  "  Now  they  shall  see  how  we  can 
die  for  eur  king."  He  received  a  mertal  wound 
in  the  combat,  and  nearly  all  his  men  were  killed, 
but  his  heroic  conduct  cheeked  the  onset  of  the 
English.  Mandeville,  temporarily  victerious, 
now  marched  in  triumph  through  the  streets  •£ 
Carrickfergus  till  he  was  met  by  Bruce  and  his 
men.  Gilbert  Harper,  a  renowned  Scottish  officer 
of    gigantic    stature    and    strength,  recognising 


CAR  HICK  FERGUS  AND  CASTLE. 


and  renewed  the  siege  of  Carrickfergus 
Castle.  After  about  two  months,  the  garrison 
showing  no  signs  of  surrender,  he  wju»  again 
obliged  in  December  to  8Ui«pend  active  operations 
till  the  following  spring  on  account  of  the  severity 
•f  the  weather. 

On  10th  April,  1316,  Lord  Thomas  Mande- 
ville, in  command  of  a  strong  body  ef 
troops,  marched  to  the  assistance  of  the  Castle, 
and  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  entrance  after  a 
struggle  with  the  besiegers.  Early  next  morning 
at  daybreak  he  made  a  suddfn  and  des[>crate 
sortie  on  the  Scots,  who  were  lying  in  camp 
utterly  unprepared  for  the  attack.  They  .had 
only  sixty  men  on   guard,    commanded    by    one 


Mandeville  by  the  richness  of  his  armour,  singled 
him  out,  and  felled  him  to  the  ground  with  a  blow 
of  his  battle-axe,  where  he  was  immediately  de- 
spatched by  Bruce  with  a  dagger.  The  English, 
disheartened  by  the  death  of  their  leader,  turned 
and  fled  back  to  the  Castle,  whither  they  were  so 
closely  pursued  by  the  Scots  that  the  garrison 
had  to  laise  the  diawbridge  and  abandon  thoir 
comrades  to  the  mercy  of  their  ruthless  enemies. 

Bruce  now  closely  invested  the  Castle,  knowing 
tliat  their  provisions  were  nearly   exhausted,    and 
about  this  time  his  brother  Robert  arrived    from* 
Scotland  with  reinforcements,  and  assisted  in  the 
siege. 

The  garrison,  now  seeing  thoir  hopeless  plight, 


THE  CAREER  AND  BATTLES  OF  THE  BRUGES, 


18 


offered  to  lurrender  on  Slsfc  May,  uuless  relieved 
in  the  meantime.  This  was  agreed  to  by  the 
Scots,  and,  when  that  time  arrived,  Bruce  sent  30 
•f  hia  men  to  the  Castle  to  demand  surrender. 
They  were  admitted,  but  immediately  made 
prisoners  by  the  garrison,  who  then  raised  the 
drawbridge  and  announced  their  intention  to 
hold  out  to  the  last.  Bruce  accordingly  kept  up 
the  blockade,  and  oy  the  end  of  August  the  be- 
sieged were  reduced  to  such  desperate  straits  for 
provisions  that  they  ate  their  shoes,  boots,  and 
horses,  and  ended,  as  the  annalists  (^Cox,  Stany- 
hurst,  etc)  gravely  inform  us,  by  eating  the  30 
Scottish  prisoners,  after  which  they  were  good 
enough  to  surrender  unconditionally. 

Having  left  a  strong  garrison  in  the  Cattle, 
Bruce  now  proceeded  southwards,  and  took  up  his 
quarters  at  Lough  Sewdy,  uow  Lough  Sunderlin, 
at  Bally  more,  in  Westmeath;  thence  he  marched 
iuUi  the  heart  of  the  Pale  by  Hathangan,  Eildare, 
Athy,  and  Naas,  where  he  was  joined  by  a  number 
of  the  wild  clans  from  the  fastnesses  of  the  Wick- 
low  mountains. 

Meanwhile  Felim  O'Conor,  a  powerful  Con- 
naught  chieftain,  who  had  been  fighting  on  the 
side  of  the  English,  seceded  from  his  alliance  with 
De  Burgh,  and  openly  declaa-ed  for  Bruce.  Having 
secured  the  assistance  of  the  chief  tribes  of  the 
West  he  mustered  an  immense  army  in  Cunnaught 
and  marched  onAthenry,  then  the  fortified  strong - 
^Id  of  the  De  Burghs  and  De  Berminghams.  On 
10th  Aug,  1317,  was  fought  the  battle  of  Athenry, 
said  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  bloody 
and  decisive  ever  fought  on  Irish  soil.  It  was  con- 
tested with  heroic  obstinacy,  but  tlie  armour-clad 
Norman  hosts  under  William  De  Burgh  and 
Richard  De  Bermingham  ultimately  prevailed 
over  the  linen  coated  clansmen  of  the  West. 
10,000  of  whom  were  left  dead  uijou  the  field. 
Tlie  trained  English  archers  contributed  largely 
to  the  issue  of  this  battle,  the  Irish  being  no  more 
able  to  stand  against  them  than  the  French  were 
in  after  years  at  Crecy  and  Poictiers.  It  was  a 
sad  and  disastrous  day  for  the  Irish  arms,  and" 
almost  extinguished  the  hopes  of  the  Bruces  in 
the  South.  A  great  number  mi  the  Irish  nobility 
fell,  asd  tradition  states  that,  like  the  Fabran 
family  of  old,   the     nee    powerful  sept  of  the 


O'Conors  were  all  but  exterminated,  Felim  ■ 
brother  atone  survivmg.  De  Bermingham  after 
tliis  was  made  Baron  of  Athenry. 

llie  English,  emboldened  by  this  success,  now 
adopted  more  vigorous  measures.  The  Mayor  of 
Dublin,  in  command  of  a  band  ef  citizens,  went  to 
Mary's  Abbey,  then  outside  ih»  city,  and  after  a 
conflict,  arrested  the  Red  Earl  on  a  charge  of 
complicity  with  Bruce,  to  whom  he  was  closely 
related  by  marriage.  The  Braces  were  now 
marching  on  Dublin,  and  took  Castleknock,  where 
they  encamped.  That  night  the  citizens  of 
Dublin,  frantic  with  terror,  burnt  the  western 
suburbs  of  the  city,  and  adopted  such  other  de- 
fensive tneasures  as  deterred  the  Scots  from  at- 
tacking the  place.  The  Bruces,  now  foiled,  marched 
along  the  green  banks  of  the  Lififey  till  they 
reached  the  pleasantly-situated  waterfall  at 
Leixlip  (Salmon  Leap),  where  they  rested  for 
four  days.  They  now  commenced  a  career  of 
plunder  and  destruction,  and  paaaiu^  on  to  Naas 
reduced  the  ancient  town  to  ashes.  They  next  plun- 
dered Castledermet  Friary,  and  marched  on  to 
Kilkenny,  devastating  and  burning  ibm  whole 
country  through  which  they  passed.  Their  course 
could  l'>e  tracked  by  the  fire  and  smoke  ef  burn- 
ing towns  and  houses,  and  the  unfortunate  in- 
habitants were  reduced  to  such  distress  that  great 
numbers  died  by  starvation. 

The  closing  act  in  tlie  career  of  this  unhappy 
prince  was  now  fast  approaching.  Robert  had 
returned  to  Scotland  to  look  after  his  own  king- 
dom, and  Edward,  apprehensive  of  an  attack 
from  Mortimer  (Earl  of  March)  again  retired 
northwards.  John  De  Bermingham  had  assem- 
bled an  immense  army  in  the  Pale,  whence  he 
was  advancing  on  Dundalk,  whera  Bruce  was 
encamped.  Notvdthstanding  tho  great  numerical 
inferiority  of  his  army,  Bruce  resolve*!  to  risk  the 
issue  of  battle,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  all  his 
officers,  who  wished  him  te  wait  for  reinforcements 
hourly  expected  from  Scotland. 

It  is  Slated  that  before  the  battle  the  English 
commander  De  Bermingham,  who  was  anxious  to 
see  Bru.e  so  as  to  identify  him  afterward-!,  dis- 
guished  himself  as  a  meudicant  friar  and  obtained 
admission  iuto  the  Scottish  camp,  where  Mus  wan 
being  celebrated-     He  made  h\    nay   te  Bruce, 


■  ^  ^vy^j^:i  T-  •^wi':'.'  ;-.,>,'   't^<tT 


"•gu  ^  ?  ■  '^  ■ "  V^*  V  V^- -'T^.'^'^^^sr-*^^  *^^?-^^ 


u 


IREIJ^ND'S  battles  Aiy)  BATTLEFIELDS. 


who  WM  on  bis  knees  prayinpr,  and  never  ceased 
asking  him  for  alms  till  the  King  looked  ■>?  fi'om 
hut  miaaal  and  ordered  his  attendants  to  give 
something  to  the  troublesome  mendicant.  But 
Bruce  discovered  the  identity  of  this  strange 
visitor  after  his  departure,  and  nt  onoe  divining 
the  object  of  the  viait,  ke  obangnd  clothes  with 
Gilbert  Harper. 

On  Sunday,  14th  October,  1318,  the  two 
armies  met  on  the  grassy  slopes  of  the 
Hill  of  Faughart,  near  Dundalk.  Sir  John 
De     Bermingham      commanded     the     English 


one  John  Mapns,  who  struck  him  down  with  « 
leaden  plummet  er  slung-shot,  and  after  the  battle 
his  body  was  found  lying  across  that  of  Bruce. 
It  is  said  by  some  that  Mapas  had  previously 
made  himself  acquainted  with  the  King's 
appearance,  and,  knowing  that  the  fortunes 
•f  the  day  depeadad  on  it,  determined  tm 
kill  him  in  battle,  even  at  the  cost  of  hi>  own 
life. 

Faughart  Hill  is  situated  about  tw*  milM  from 
Dundalk,  and  on  its  summit  are  the  ruins  of  St 
Brigid's  churoh  and  churchyard,  about  a  quarter 


FAUGHART  HILL  AND  EUINS. 


and  Lord  Alan  Stewart  the  Scotch.  Bruce, 
auxioua  to  personally  secure  the  credit  of  the 
expected  victory,  prematurely  ordered  a  charge, 
which  was  repulsed  with  considerable  loss. 
The  English  then  made  a  rapid  charge 
upon  the  Scots,  portiuu  of  whom  stood 
firm,  but  were  quickly  hewn  down;  the  remain- 
der fled  back  to  the  Irish  contingent.  De  Ber- 
mingham, notwithstanding  his  having  seen  Bruce, 
mistook  Stewart  for  him,  and  slew  him  in  single 
combat*  on  which  the  Scots  fled  in  disorder. 
Bmee  was,  however,  subsequently  recognised  by 


•f  a  mile  to  the  left  ef  the  old  road  from  Dun£ntfi| 
to  Newry.  The  churchyard  is  still  used  as  a 
burial-ground.  About  four  yards  from  the 
western  corner,  in  a  neglected  grave,  lie  the  muti- 
lated remains  of  the  unfortunate  and  chivalrous 
Edward  Bruce.  His  head  was  sent  te  England,  a 
ghastly  present  for  the  King.  At  the  western 
end  »f  his  grave  is  sua  uninseribed,  er  at  least 
illegible,  tombs  tene,  nearly  horizontal,  of  which 
but  little  now  remains  above  the  soil.  The  hollow 
Bpa:e  known  as  Carrickbroad,  between  Faughart 
Hill  and   the  Moiry  Pass,  is  still  pointed  out  ■■ 


^t^rt^f. 


THE  WARS  OF  HUGH  0  NEILL. 


15 


the  spot   where  Bruce,  haying  gone  eut  from  his 
oamp  unguarded,  was  killed  by  Mapas. 

TakiBg  a  brief  retrospective  view  ef  Bruce's 
career,  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  it  could  have 
ended  otherwise,  and,  except  for  the  nu  mber  of 
Irishmen  who  fell  in  his  caur^/,  it  is  hard  to 
regret  his  discomfiture.  Though  chivalrous 
and  brave,  his  hasty  and  impetuous  dis- 
position pre-eminently  unfitted  him  for  a  posi' 
tion  of  authority,  and  his  horrible  sacrileges, 
wanton  cruelties,  and  inexplicable  spirit  of 
destruction  alienated  the  sympathies  of  those  he 
undertook  to  emancipate.  He  possessed  but  few  of 


those  great  qualities   which  mado  his  iDnstrieua 
brother  the  victor  «f  Bannockbum. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  Faughart  Hill  was 
the  scene  of  another  great  battle  in  far  earlier 
times — 732  a.d. — between  Hugh  Allan,  King  •{ 
Ireland,  and  Hugh  Roiii,  King  of  Ulidia,  er 
Eastern  Ulster.  The  King  of  Ulidia  wan  defeated, 
and  beheaded  on  a  stone  called  in  Irish  ' '  The 
Stone  of  Decapitation,"  which  is  still  pointed 
out  by  tradition  in  the  doorway  of  St  Brigid's 
church  on  the  summit  ef  the  hilL  The  cause  of 
this  battle  was  the  profanation  of  Kilcoonsy 
church,  in  county  Tyrone,  by  King  Roin. 


THE    WARS    OF    HUGH    O'NEILL. 


i 


I.— THE  FORD  OF 


HILE  Hugh  O'NeiU,  Earl  of 
Tyrone,  was  wavering  in  his  aUe- 
giance  to  tlie  English,  but  had  not 
yet  openly  declared  for  the  Irish,  a 
great  partof  the  North  was  in  rebellion.  In  1594  the 
Lord  Deputy  ef  Ireland  marched  from  Dublin  with 
ft  large  force  and  besieged  EnniskiUen,  capturing 
tlie  castle  there,  and  having  placed  a  strong  gar- 
rison in  it  he  returned  to  Dublin.  When  Hugh 
Maguire,  one  of  the  rebel  chieftains,  heard  of  the 
Deputy's  departure  he  despatched  messengers  to 
Red  Hugh  O'Dunnell  requesting  his  assistance  to 
besiege  and  re-capture  the  town.  Toung  O'Dun- 
nell, who  had  only  just  escaped  from  his  prison  m 
Dublin  Castle,  gladly  responded  to  this  demand, 
and,  marching  to  his  assistance,  they  both  laid 
siege  to  the  castle  from  the  beghining  of  June 
till  the  middle  of  August,  when  O'Donnell  left  to 
meet  some  Scottish  allies  who  had  just  landed  in 
tiie  Forth.  The  garrison  contrived  to  send  word 
to  Dublin  that  they  were  reduced  to  great  ez- 


THE  BISCUITS. 

tremities  for  want  of  provisions,  on  which  the 
Deputy  ordered  two  expeditions,  from  Lelnster 
and  Connaught  respectively,  to  march  to  Cavan, 
then  an  English  stroagkeld,  where  they  were  to 
unite  and  obtain  supplies,  and  thence  to  preceed 
by  forced   marches  to  the  relief  ef  EnniskiUen.      ' 

The  town  of  EnniskiUen  is  situated  on  an 
island  in  the  centre  of  a  deep  and  winding 
strait  connecting  upper  and  lower  Lough  Erne, 
embayed  on  all  sides  by  mountains,  to  th« 
left  ef  which  lay  the  English  line  of  mftrcfa.  Ma- 
guire having  heard  of  this  expedition  and  its  ob- 
ject, relinquished  the  blockade  of  the  oastle,  and 
setting  out  with  his  own  forces  and  some  of 
O'DonneU's,  took  up  his  position  at  a  ford  on  the 
river  Arney,  now  spanned  by  Drumane  Bridge, 
about  five  miles  south  of  EnniskiUen,  across  which 
he  knew  the  English  must  pass.  In  a  few  days 
the  expedition  arrived  and  halted  near  the  ford, 
where  they  were  unexpectedly  assailed  after  night- 
faU  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Irish,  which  was 
maintained  at  intervals  throughout  the  night. 
Next  morning  the  English  advanced  en  the  ford 
in  three  lines,  between  which  were  the  baggage 
and  provisions,  the  flanks  being  supported  by 
cavalry  and  musketeers. 

As  they  approached  the  river  they  were  fiercely 
attacked  by  the  Irish  musketeers  and  pikemen, 
but  they  fought  stubbornly  ea,  cut  their  way 
through  thelrisli,  and  crossed  the  ford.     But  now 


iArjf-i.  .<ri.  '.^kHu-k^i. . :  '':  ■ 


16 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


tliia  body  of  tlie  Irish,  cut  in  two  and  driven  to 
the  sides,  attacked  and  forced  the  English  flanhs 
iu  upon  their  centre,  and,  pouring  in  a  destructive 
fir«,  threw  them  into  confusion,  on  which  they  were 
charged  in  front  by  the  Irish  pikemen,  which  in- 
creaeed  tlie  disorder.  The  three  lines  becane 
hepelessly  entangled  in  the  baggage  between  thetu, 
and  becoming  commingled,  the  whole  ferce  was 
broken  up,  and  fled  back  across  tke  ford  in  tumul- 
tuous confusion,  leaving  all  their  previsions  and 
baggage  along  the  river  banks.  A  great  slaugh- 
ter was  made,  and  many  steeds,  weapons,  and  other 


valuable  spoils  were  left  behind  ky  the  English, 
besides  the  cenvoys  of  previsions  which  were  in- 
tended for  tke  Tictnalling  ef  the  fortress  of  En- 
niskiUen. 

When  the  garrison  ef  Enniskillen  Caatle  heard 
of  the  defeat  of  the  relifving  force,  they  sur* 
rendered  en  condition  of  their  lives  being  spared, 
which  was  agreed  to  ky  Maguire,  and  they  accord- 
ingly departed  i«  safety.  On  account  of  the 
quantity  of  provisions  left  behind  by  the  Eaglisk, 
Maguire  called  this  ford  BaUinabriska,  or  "The 
Ford  of  the  Biscuits." 


II.~CLONTIBRET. 


In  1595  both  Armagh  and  Monaghan, 
held  by  English  garrisons,  were  closely  in- 
vested by  the  Irish  under  Hugh  O'Neill, 
who  had  now  thrown  off  all  disguise  and  was  in 
open  war  with  the  Government.  General  Norris, 
who  was  commanded  by  the  Deputy  to  march  to 
the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  garrisons,  attempted 
to  victual  Armagh,  but  was  repulsed  after  a 
severe  stiuggle,  in  which  he  was  wounded.  Soon 
afterward*,  however,  he  succeeded  in  throwing 
provisions  into  Monaghan  over  the  walls  of  a 
monastery  in  which  the  English  had  fortified 
themselves.  O'Neill  hearing  of  this,  resolved  to 
intercept  Norris  on  his  return  march,  and 
choosmg  his  ground  at  Cloutibret,  a  small  village 
six  miles  south-eivst  of  Monagkan,  he  drew  up  bis 
troops  in  battle  array  on  the  left  bank  of  a  small 
stream  which  runs  northward  through  a  valley 
enclosed  by  low  hills.  Here  he  awaited  the 
approach  of  tlie  English. 

When  Norris  arrived  he  attempted  to  force  a 
passage,  but  wa^  driven  back.  Again  and  again 
he  tried,  but  was  as  often  beaten  back,  each  time 
he  himself  bravely  charging  at  tlie  head  of  his 
man,  and  being  the  last  to  re  tiro.  Both  he  Jand 
his  brother,  Sir  Thomas  Norris,  were  now 
wounded,  and    the   day  seemed  appaiently  won 


by  the  Irish,  when  a  body  of  English  cavalry, 
led  by  a  gigantic  Meathian  officer  named  Seagrave, 
dashed  across  the  stream  and  fiercely  charged  the 
Irish  horsemen  led  by  O'Neill  in  person.  Sea- 
grave  singled  out  O'Neill,  and  rushing  to  meet 
him,  those  two  doughty  warriors  shivered  tli«ir 
lances  on  each  other's  corselets.  The  single 
combat  became  so  exciting  that  the  opposing 
troops  on  either  side,  as  by  common  accord, 
grounded  arms  and  awaited  the  result  in  silence. 
Seagrave  now  attompted  to  drag  O'Neill  from  his 
horse  by  main  force,  and  O'Neill  grappling  with 
his  gigantic  adversary  the  two  rolled  on  the 
ground  together  in  deadly  struggle.  Hie  Irish 
chieftain,  though  the  smaller,  wm  much  the  more 
active  oi  the  two,  and  drawing  his  sword  he 
buried  it  deep  in  Seagrave's  body,  beneath  hia 
armour.  Boundmg  up  victorious,  O'Neill  now 
quickly  remounted  his  horse,  and  leading  his 
cavalry  to  the  charge,  swept  like  a  whirlwind 
down  upon  tl;e  English,  who  turned  and  fled 
headlong  acrosfi  the  stream,  leaving  tkeir  standard 
and  700  dead  behind  them.  Norris  hastily  re- 
treated to  Newry,  whence  a  detachment  of  the 
English,  who  had  learned  of  the  disaster,  came  to 
meet  him,  and  iu  a  few  days  Monaghan  waa 
surrendered  to  the  victorious  Irish  arms. 


In     1596    Armagh     waa    stiU   held 
English.      The  garrison   was  strong,      and    waa 
nrutected  by   an  army  under   Norris,    which   lay 


III.— ARMAGH, 
by     the  encamped  at  EiUoter,  in  the  neighbourhood.  The 

town  being  an  important  one,  O'Neill  was  anxious 
to  expel  the  Engliah  from  it ;  bnt  not  having  tke 


THE  WAKS  OF  HUGH   O'NEILL. 


17 


mstarialB  for  %  ,Biege,  he  attacked  Norria  and 
drove  him  frem  his  encampment  till  he  toek  re- 
fuge in  the  town.  Here  I^orris  left 
500  men  to  reinforce  the  garrison,  retiring 
with  the  remainder  of  his  army  to  Diindalk. 
O'Neill  did  net  seek  to  molest  him,  but  when  he 
was  gone,  sat  down  before  Armagh  and  inter- 
cepted all  the  supplies  for  the  garrison,  so  that 
famine  ensued.  The  English  in  Dundalk  hearing 
of  the  sore  distress  of  their  comrades,  sent  a  con- 
voy of  provisions  to  their  relief  under  escort  of 
three  companies  of  infantry  and  a  troop  of  horse. 
O'NeiU,  tired  of  the  monotony  of  the  blockade, 
now  bethought  him  of  a  stratagem  by  which  he 
might  capture  the  U)wn  at  once.      Hearing  of  the 


and  iring,  rushed  to  their  battlensonts,  from 
which  they  saw  what  appeared  to  be  a  detachment 
*>f  their  countrymen  in  full  march  to  relieve  them 
wich  provisions;  then  they  saw  the  Irish  make  an 
onslaught  on  them,  and  a  furious  battle 
seemed  to  proceed.  Both  parties  kept  up  a  tre- 
mendous fire  with  their  muskets  loaded  with 
powder  only,  and  the  quasi-combataots  fell  on 
every  side  according  to  instructioas.  After  a 
while  the  English  seemed  to  be  over-matched; 
the  Irish  were  pressing  fiercely  upon  them,  pour- 
in?  in  a  terrible  fire, brandishing  their  battle-axes, 
and  shoutmg  ferociously  the  while.  This  was 
more  than  the  hungry  garrison  could  Lear.  Staf- 
ford, the  commander,  gave  orders  that   half  of 


ARMAGH. 


approach  of  the  convoy,  he  made  preparations  to 
meet  it  on  the  way,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  it, 
and  makmg  prisoners  of  the  escort.  He  now 
ordered  a  number  of  his  men  to  strip  the  English 
prisoners  of  their  uniform  and  attire  themselves 
in  them,  and  at  daybreak  marched  them  towards 
Armagh  with  English  colours  flying,  as  if  corring 
to  the  relief  of  the  place.  The  previous  night  he 
had  btationed  an  ambuscade  in  a  ruined  monastery 
«  little  to  the  south-east  of  the  town.  O'Neill 
now  pursued  the  supposed  English  up  to  near  the 
ruin,  upon  which  commenced  a  fieice  sham  battle 
between  them,  the  party  in  the  ruin  remaining 
hidden  all  the  time. 

The  garriseu  of  Armagh,  aroused  by  the  tumult 


them  should  take  up  arms  and  advance  rapidly  to 
the  relief  of  their  countrymen  on  che  battlefield. 

Wk«n  they  arrived  they  found  to  their  amaze- 
ment that  both  English  and  Irish  united  in  at- 
tacking them — nay,  even  the  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  battlefield  marvellously  revived  and  as- 
sisted in  the  attack.  So  dumbfoundered  were  they 
by  these  extraordinary  pr«>ceedings  that  they  had 
scarcely  the  strength  to  defend  themselves.  After 
a  brief  though  gallant  struggle  they  were  worsted 
and  attempted  to  return  to  Armagh.  But  now 
the  party  in  the  monastery,  s&Uying  forth  from 
their  ambuscade,  cut  oflf  their  retreat,  and  thus, 
surrounded  ou  all  sides,  they  were  SDPedily  killed 
or  taken   prisoners.      StafiTord,    who  commanded 

C 


18 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


de  remainder  of  the  garrison  in  Armagh,  seeing 
the  futility  of  further  resistance,  surrendered  to 
O'Neill,  and  was  permitted  by  him  to  retire  with 
th«  surviTors  to  Dundalk.  The  Irish  then  entered 
Armagh  in  triumph  ;  but  O'Neill,  whe  preferred 
•fiiensire  to  defensive  measures,  and  was  unwilling 
to  garrisoB  it,  dismantled  the  fortificatiens  and 
evacuated  the  town. 

Soon  afterwards  the  English,  under  the  Deputy^ 
again  entering  the  town,  restored  the  fortifica- 
tions and  held  them  till  -tlie  Battle  of  the  Yellow 
Ford. 

The  monastery  in  which  the  ambuscade  was 
stationed,  though  a  very  extensive  ruin  in  the  16th 
century,  has  since  been  gradually  dilapidated  and 
removed  for  building  pui'pn;es,  and  but  little  of  it 
now  remains. 


THE  TAKING  Od'  AEMAGH,  1596. 

Twas  fast  hy  grey  Killoter  we  made  the  Saxons  run  ; 
We  hewed  them  with  the  claymore  and  smote  them 

with  the  gun. 
"  Armagh !  Armagh  !'-  cried  Norris,  as  wild  he  sparred 

•way. 
And  sore  beset  and  scattered  they  leached  its  walls 

that  day. 

Aias,  we  had  no  cannon  to  batter  down  the  gate. 
To  level  fosse  and  rampart ;  so  we  were  forced  to  wait. 
And  leaguer  late  and  early  that  place  of  old  renown. 
By  dint  of  plague  and  famine  to  bring  the  f oeman  down. 


VTe  camped  amid  the  valleys  and  bonnie  woods  about. 
Bat  spite  of  all  our  watching  one  gallant  wight  got  our. 
Till  far  Dondalk  he  entered,  by  spurring  day  and  night. 
And  told  them  of  oar  'leaguer,  and  all  their  wofui  plight. 


Twas  on  a  stormy  twilight,  when  wildly  roared  the  blast, 
Up  to  our  prince's  standard  a  scout  came  spurring  fast, 
And  told  him  how  that  convoy— four  hundred  stalwart 

men- 
Had  pitched  their  camp  at  sunset  by  Oartan's  woody 

glen. 


We  swept  npon  their  vanguard,  we  rushed  on  rear  and 

flank ; 
Like  corn  before  the  sickle,  we  mowed  them  rank  on 

rank. 
And  ere  the  ghostly  midniiflit  we'd  slain  them  every  one— 
I  trow  they  slept  far  soimder  before  the  morrow's  dawn. 


"  Now  don  the  convoy's  garmenta,  and  tak«  their  aUiK 

dard,  too—" 
Twas  thus  at  break  of  meminc  out  spake  our  gallaafe 

Hagh; 
"  And  march  ye  toward  the  city,  with  baggage,  arms» 

and  all. 
With  all  their  promised  sneooor,  and  see  what  shall 

befall.' 

We  donned  their  blood-red  garmenta,  and  shook  their 

banner  free. 
We  marched  us  towards  the  city,  a  gallant  sight  to  see  < 
Upon  their  drums  we  rattled  the  Saxon  point  of  war. 
And  soon  the  f oemen  heard  us,  and  answered  from  afa& 

•  •  •  •  •  •  • 

With  all  his  rushing  troopers,  out  from  the  wood  he 

sped. 
Their  matchlocks  filled  with  powder — they  did  not  want 

the  lead— 
And  well  they  feigned  the  onset,  with  shot  and  sabre 

stroke. 
And  deftly,  too,  we  met  them  with  olouds  of  harmless 

smoko. 

Some  tossed  them  from  their  saddles,  to  imitate  tho 

slain; 
Whole  ranks  fell  at  each  volley,  along  the  bloodies* 

plain; 
And  groans  and  hollow  murmurs  of  well-feigned  woe 

and  fear 
From  that  strange  fight  rang  moumf ally  upon  the  foe* 

man's  ear. 

Up  heaved  the  huge  portcallis,  round  swang  the  pon- 
derous gate. 

Out  rushed  the  foe  to  rescue  or  share  their  comrades* 
fate; 

And  fiercely  waved  their  banners,  and  bright  their  lancea 
shone, 

And  "  George  for  Merrie  England !"  they  cried  as  they 
fell  on. 

Saint  Columb  1  the  storm  of  laughter  that  from  our  ranks 

arose. 
As  up  the  corpses  started  and  fell  upon  our  foes; 
As  we,  the  routed  convoy,  closed  up  our  thick  ranka 

well. 
And  met  the  foe  with  claymore,  red  pike,  and  petronel  I 

Yet  stout  retired  the  Saxon,  though  be  was  sore  dis- 
trait. 

Till,  with  his  ranks  commingled,  in  burst  we  through 
the  gate; 

nien  soon  the  Bed  Hand  fluttered  upon  their  highest 
towers. 

And  wild  we  raised  our  triumph  shoot,  for  old  Armagh 
was  ours  1" 

Robert  Dwyke  Joycs. 


THE  WABS  OF  HUGH  O'NEILL. 


Vd 


IV.— TYRRELLSPASS  AND  DRUMFLXnCH. 


M  r'N  1597,  after  the  capture  ^f  Armftgh, 
1  11  Red  Hugh  O'DonHell  and  a  number  of 
^''C  Irish  cbieftauis  entered  Connaught 
with  their  troops,  raTaging  and  burning 
the  hostile  towns.  In  Leinster,  the  great  Wick- 
low  chief,  Feagh  MaeHugh  O'Byrne,  was  be- 
trayed inte  the  hands  of  the  English  by  seme 
ef  hia  kinsmen,  and  killed  in  the  wilds  ef  Bal- 
linacor,  near  Rathdrum.  Lord  Thomas  Borou^ 
was  appointed  Deputy  this  year,  and  one  of  his 
first  acts  was  to  deprire  Sir  Thomas  Nerris  of  his 
eommand,  and  send  him  to  gorern  Muneter  with 
his  brother.  Borough  was  a  much  more  able  and 
determined  man  than  his  predecessor  Russell,  and 
had  orders  to  presecute  the  war  yigoiously  against 
the  Irish. 

After  some  fruitless  attempts  at  a  confert,nce 
between  the  belligerents,  a  truce  of  one  month 
was  agreed  to,  though  the  object  in  view  by  both 
parties  was  to  rest  and  ceUect  their  forces.  The 
month  having  expired,  the  Deputy  set  eut  for 
Ulster  in  cemmand  ef  a  powerful  army,  and 
directed  his  ceurse  towards  Armagh,  while  Sir 
Cenyers  Cli£ford,  geremor.  of  Connaught,  simul- 
taneously adranced  with  his  troops  to  Boyle,  and 
thence  marching  by  the  western  shares  of  Leugh 
Erne  he  was  to  effect  a  junction  with  the  Deputy 
in  the  North. 

The  Anglo-Irish  of  Mea'..h,  being  anxious 
to  distinguish  themselves  in  service 
against  O'Neill,  aasembled  at  Mullingar  to  the 
number  ef  1,000  men,  also  te  join  the  Depu^  in 
the  North.  They  were  oemmanded  by  young 
Barnewell,  a  sen  ef  Lord  Trimblestoa.  O'Neill, 
in  Ulster,  hearing  of  all  these  preparations  against 
him,  saw  that  something  should  be  done  at  once 
t*  create  a  diversion  and  check  the  flow  ef  troops 
to  the  North.   For  this  purpose  he  chose  an  officer 


in  his  army  named  Richard  Tyrrell,  Lord  ef  Fer. 
tuUagh,  in  Meatk,  an  Englishman  by  desoent,  and 
one  ef  his  own  personal  friends  and  ablest  eom- 
manders.  His  capabilities  for  sustaining  fattigue 
and  peculiar  talents  eminently  fitted  him  to  com- 
mand a  flying  expedition,  for  there  waa  not  a 
mountain  pass,  bog,  or  wood  in  aU  the 
eeuntry-side  with  which  he  was  net 
thoroughly  acquainted.  O'Neill  aecordinghr 
despatched  him  with  400  light  infantry  to  march 
by  a  circuitous  route  through  Leinfeter  and  get 
the  assistance  of  the  Wicklow  clans.  Tyrrell 
marched  through  the  whole  of  Heath  without 
meeting  an  enemy,  and  now,  having  reached 
Fertuilagh,  his  own  territory,  lying  south  of  Mul- 
Ungar,  he  rested  a  while.  While  reposing  hia 
little  army  here  in  the  woods  around  the  beau- 
tiful Lough  Ennel,  news  reached  Mullingar  of  his 
whereabouts,  on  which  young  Barnewell,  confi- 
dent of  success  from  his  superiority  of  numbers, 
sallied  out  to  attack  him.  Tyrrell  then  retired  to 
Tyrrellspass. 

Tyrrellspass  is  a  village  prettily  situated  in  a 
softly  rolling  country,  about  twelve  miles  south 
of  Hullingar.  There  is  no  "  pass"  here  in  the 
ordinary  signification  ef  the  word,  but  at  that 
time  there  were  impassable  bogs  at  each  side  of 
the  narrow  road,  and  at  the  western  extremity  of 
the  village  the  castle  of  the  TyrreUs  guarded  the 
only  road  to  Achlone.  Its  crumbling  ruins  are 
still  to  be  seen  be->ide  the  road. 

Immediately  westward  ef  Tyrrellspaas  is 
the  small  hamlet  of  Killavalley,  meaning  "  the 
church  of  the  way  or  pass,"  so  that  it  is  evident 
that  the  pass  extended  from  the  old  caatle  along 
by  the  site  ef  this  village. 

The  name  ef  Tyrrellepass  is  merely  a  transla- 
tion of  the  original  name — "  Ballagh-an-treely," 
meaning  "  the  road  or  way  of  the  family  of 
Tyrrell,"  and  se  called  because  they  owned  the 
castle  that  commanded  the  passage  of  the  ad- 
jacent road.  Most  writers  unacquainted  with  the 
locality,  in  describing  this  battle,  have  eonsc> 
quently  fallen  into  the  very  natural  error  of  sup* 
posing  that  it  was  fought  in  a  mountain  paas.  The 
"paas,"  however,  must  have  been  then  a  very 


20 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


awkwRrd  place  U  be  okught  in  ambu«o«d«,  fer 
titere  wm  uo  uoape  at  the  aide*,  one  ahould 
either  adTatii e  ur  retreat. 

When  Tyrrell,  who  waa  aome  diataao*  aorth  of 
C'hia,  beoaiiin  aware  ef  fiarnewell'a  approach  he 
fell  baek  till  lie  gained  kite  pau,  whiek  he  aade 
still  nore  dangeroua  by  placing  felled  treea  and 
otli«r  obttruokiona  along  the  aidea  of  the  road. 
He  tliaa  at  dawn  secreted  half  his  little  aroay,  un- 
der Owuy  0'C«inner.  in  some  brushwood  near  tlie 
tuiirance  to  the  ''piua,"  while  he  hiaaelf  boldly 
marched  forward  aa  if  to  meet  the  eaemy.  When 
lite  Kogliah  oatiia  in  aight  he  appeared  «o  heaitate, 
(liuu  ilowly  retreated,  ae  aa  te  draw  them  after 
liim  iutu  the  paaa.  They  followed  impetuously, 
I  toping  to  aanihilaie  hia  little  band, 
hut  tlie  menent  they  had  all  deiiled 
pHat  the  ambuscade  the  ahrill  notes  of 
the  pipes  from  O'Ouunor'a  party  resounded 
through  the  morning  air  to  the  tune  of  "  The 
Tyrrell's  March."  This  being  tlie  preeoaoerted 
bigaal,  Tyrrell  turned  about,  faced  hia  puraners, 
and  aa«ailed  tliam  in  front,  while  Oway  O'Gouuor 
and  his  man  atepped  forth  from  their  hidiag-plaoe 
and  attacked  theca  in  the  rear. 

The  English,  eatircly  hemmed  ia  aad  unable 
to  deploy,  oa  account  of  the  boga  aad  obatructiena 
at  the  aidaa,  fought  with  the  energy  of  deapair, 
hut  were  completely  defeated  and  aanihilated. 
Voung  BaruewsU  wae  the  only  prisoner,  aad  of 
the  theuaand  who  had  set  out  from  MuUiagar 
l>ut  three  d»ys  before,  oaly  ene  ether  eseaped  by 
piuugmg  up  to  hia  aeek  in  a  quagHire,  where  he 
lay  ooacealed  by  the  reeda  and  aedge  till  night. 
He  brought  news  of  the  disaater  to  MuUingar. 

U'Oonuor  fought  with  such  fury  that  day  that  hia 
htuid  swelled  within  the  fcuard  of  his  sword,  and 
I'lid  to  be  released  after  the  battle  by  the  aid  of 
a  tile. 


XYRRELI.SPASS.  a.D.  1507. 

By  Ri-aelRl  DWYBK  JurcE. 

Uy  the  flowery  baaka  of  iniiy  the  burninc  suuaet  fell. 
In  many  a  stream  and  golden  gleaia,  en  hlU,  and  mead. 

Mod  dell. 
And  frtnn   thy  shorefl,  bright   Ennel,    to   the   ita-oft 

mountain  crest. 
O'er  plain  and  leafy  wildwood  there  was  peace  and  quist 

rest. 


Ob!  sunset  is  the  sweetest  of  all  the  hours  that  be 
For  muslnf  lone,  or  tale  of  lore,  by  glen  or  forest  tree; 
But  its  radianoe  bringeth  saddening  tlioughts  to  him 

whoae  good  right  hand 
Must  guard  his  life  in  the  eoming  strife  'gainst  tlie  foe 

of  hia  fatherland; 
For  he  knows,  when  thinking  lonely  by  hia  Hniall  tent 

on  the  plain, 
Ihe  glories  of  the  kinking  sun  ho  ne'er  may  hbo  affaln. 

Brave  Tyrrell  xat  that  summer  eve  amid  the  fure»t  liilli. 
With  hold  O'Connor  at  his  side,    by  Inny's  founiuin 

rilla- 
Bravo  Tyrrell  of  the  flying  camps,  and  Owen  Oxe  of 

Cong— 
And  round  them  lay  thuir  warriors  wild  the  forest  t(lade 

along. 
Four  hundred  men  of  proof  they  were,  thene  warriors 

free  and  bold; 
In  many  a  group  they  sat  around  the  green  skirts  of  the 

wold ; 
Some  telling  of  their  early  loves,  and  soaie  of  mighty 

deeds. 
In  regions  wide   by   Shannon   side,  in  (Jalien  of  the 

steeds — 
Somo  cursing  the  Invader's  steps,  and  wishing  for  the 

fray, 
That  they  might  sate  their  burning  hate  ere  the  close  of 

that  bright  day. 


Now  up   the   woody  mountain-side   the   battle   rolls 

along ; 
Nuw  down  into  the  valley's  womb  the  tugging  warriors 

throng ; 
As  hounds  around  a  hunted  wolf  some  forest  rock  be- 
neath, 
Whence  comes  no  sound  save  the  mortal  rush  and  the 

gnash  of  many  teeth. 
Their  charging  shouts  liave  died  away — no  sound  rolls 

upward  sare 
The  volley  of  the  murderous  gun  and  the  crash  of  axe 

and  glaive  I 
Oh  I  life,  it  ia  a  precious  gem,  yet  many  there  will 

throw 
The  gem  uway  in  the  mortal  fray  for  vengeance  on  the 

fue. 
And  thus  they  tug  more  silent  still,  till  the  glen  ia 

covered  wide 
With  war-steed  strong,  and  sabred  corse,  and  many  a 

gory  tid& 

Hurrah  !  that  about  it  roUeth  up  with  cadence  wild  and 

stern; 
'lis  the  triumph  rpar  of  the  gallowglass  and  the  sharp 

yell  of  the  kern  1 
Hie  f oeman  flii-a  before  their  steel— not  far,  not  far  he 

files; 
In  the  gorge's  month,  in  the  valley's  womb,  by  the 

mountMn  foot  he  dies; 
Where'er  he  speeds,  death  follows  him  like  a  shadow  ia 

his  traoka— 


THE  WARS  OP  HUGH  O'NEILL. 


n 


He  meet*  the  uleam  of   the  fMrfnl  pike  and  the  sharp 

aad  gorjr  axe  I 
llirir  leader  of  the  boasting  words,  joang  Trimbleston, 

was  ta'en, 
And  his  rbamplons  all,  save  one  weak  man.  In  that  bloody 

fforge  were  tlain : 
He  sped  him  on,  unchased  by  kern,  nnsmote  by  gallow- 

Rlnm, 
Tliat  he  miRlit  tell  how  bis  comrades  fell  that  mom  In 

TyirnirHPass. 


Meanwhile  Sir  Coayers  Clifford  had  marched 
friSin  Bojle  to  Sligo,  and  thence  to  the  Erne,  which 
he  croBied  after  a  serere  struggle  at  the  Ford  of 
Ath-Cooloeii,  half  a  mile  west  of  Belleek.  In  this 
eugageofieut  lie  lost  one  ef  hin  principal  officers, 
Murregh  O'Brien,  Baron  of  Inchiquin,  who  was 
•hot  when  midway  across  tke  ford.  Clifford 
having  been  sent  some  cannon  hj  sea  from  Qal- 
way,  next  laid  siege  to  Ballyshannou  Castle,  which 
WM  defended  with  great  oliatiaacy  by  the  Irish 
and  Spanish  garrison.  After  the  cannon  had 
been  playing  on  the  castle  for  three  days  without 
any  satisfactory  result,  the  Knglish  under  eerer  of 
a  testude  mads  a  determined  effort  to  sap  the 
foundations,  but  the  garrison  hurled  such  a 
tremendous  shower  ef  rocks  and  missiles  of  every 
description  on  them  as  broke  the  testudo,  and 
forced  them  te  retire,  leaving  some  dead  be- 
hind them.  Next  morning  Red  Hui^fa 
O'Duunell  unexpectedly  arrived  with  a  large 
force,  and  besieged  the  English  in  their  own  camp. 
Clifford,  now  overmatched,  resolved  to  retire,  and 
accordingly,  in  the  grey  dawa  ef  meraing,  he 
silently  and  stealthily  recrossed  the  Erne  at  a 
dangerous  ford  immediately  above  th«  eataraot 
of  Assaroe,  over  which  several  et  his  men  were 
washed  by  tho  swiftness  ef  the  current.  O'Doa- 
BeU,  annoyed  that  they  had  so  easily  escaped 
him,  pursued  them  across  the  river,  but  the  pow- 
der of  the  Irish  having  got  wet,  they  had  to  aban* 
don  the  pursuit  and  the  English  reached  Sligo  in 
safety. 

Berough,  the  Deputy,  having  reached  Ulster 
in  safety  with  all  his  forces,  took  pes«essiou  of 
Armagh,  which  had  been  abaadeued  by  O'Neill 
ftfter  he  had  destroyed  the  fortifications.  A  few 
miles  aerthward  wns  Portmore,  a  fort  erected  by 
the  English  oa  the  banks  ef  the  Blackwater,  com- 
manding  the   ford  across   which   lay  the  road  te      J 


Dunganaon,  O'Neill's  stroagkold.  The  modern 
BlackwatertewB  is  supposed  to  be  aear  the  site  of 
Portmore.  After  the  capture  ef  Armagh  the  Irish 
took  this  fort  aad  expelled  the  small  garrisoa 
from  it,  and  now  Borough  was  marehroir  ea  it 
with  1,500  men,  te  place  it  onee  aiere  in  the 
haads  ef  the  English.  He  met  with  some  slight 
resistance  ea  the  way,  but  ultimately  forced  a  pae- 
sage  acress  the  river  and  teek  the  fort  by  sterm, 
the  Irish  garrisen,  hewever,  nunbering  enly  forty 
naca.  The  official  despatehes  on  the  subject  neo- 
tion  that  the  rampart  was  so  high,  the  diteh  ee 
deep,  and  the  hedge  befere  both  so  plashed  (in- 
terwoven) that  the  1,000  English  had  enough  to 
do,  without  tvsistance  of  any  enemy,  te  break 
threugh  the  one  and  scramble  up  the  other.  It 
is  also  mentioned  that  the  embrasures  of  tlte  fort 
were  so  badly  constructed  that  the  cannon  could 
only  sweep  the  slopes  ef  the  oppoeite  hill,  while 
the  ford  waa  left  unguarded  except  by  mus- 
'  keteers. 

While  they  wore  engaged  in  prayws  and  thanka- 
givings  fer  this  success,  the  Eugliah  were  iater- 
rupted  by  the  reappearance  ef  the  Irish  in  an 
unexpected  quarter,  oemmanded  by  O'Neill  in 
person.  Tlie  Deputy  ordered  an  advance  against 
then,  but  it  was  repulsed  by  the  masterly  t*ctics 
of  O'Neill,  who  had  divided  his  foroe  inte  two 
parties  sufieiently  aear  te  assist  each  other. 
When  the  attack  was  made  the  two  divisions 
cealesced  te  meet  it,  and  in  the  engagement  which 
earned  the  Deputy  was  severely  wounded.  He 
died  at  Newry  shortly  afterwards,  it  is  supposed, 
»f  his  injuries.  The  Earl  ef  Kildare  waa  also  <Un> 
gereusly  wouaded,  and  twice  threwa  from  hia 
horse  in  the  heat  of  battle.  Hie  two  feeter- 
brothers,  in  attempting  to  lift  him  on  his  hcn» 
agaia,  were  slain  by  bis  side,  and  he  died  in  a  few 
days  afterwards,  whether  of  grief  <»■  ef  hie  woanda 
it  is  aot  certain. 

Among  the  slain  were  Sir  Francis  Vaughaa, 
the  Deputy's  brother-m-law,  Themas  Waller, 
Robert  Turner,  and  uiany  other  efficers  td  dia- 
tiactien. 

This  battle  waa  fought  at  »  plaoe  caUed  Dram- 
fliaeh,  between  Blackwatertewn  and  and  Beabarfa. 
After  this  reverse  the  English  built  aome  addi- 
tions te  the  fort,  in  which  they  placed  a  garriaon 


22 


Ireland's  battles  and  battlefields. 


of  300  men  under  »  bnv*  ofBeer  aanad  WillUmi. 
They  then  reireatedl  to  Newry,  wh*no«  they 
marched  ■outhward  into  the  Pale,  leaving  Port- 
mere  and  its  Kftrrison  to  defend  themaelvei  single- 
handed  against  Uie  Irish.  No  seoner  had  the 
English  retired  than  O'Neill  attacked  the  fort 
with  a  storming  party  and  scaling  ladders  whieh, 
hoyrever,  pruTed  toe  short,  but  the  heroic  garrison 
met  his  assaults  with  such  detemiuatieB  and 
bravery  that  84  ef  his  men  wei-e  left  dead  in  the 
ditch,  and  O'Neill  had  to  give  up  all  hope  ef 
takmg  the  place  by  foroe. 


On  the  death  of  Lord  Borough,  the  Qovernment 
appeinted  Arohbiahop  Lef tus  and  Sir  Robert  QbX' 
diner  Lords  Justices,  and  made  Lord  Ormomde 
oommander-in-ohiefef  the  army.  About  ObristMM 
the  Earls  of  Ormonde  and  Thomond,  having  beoB 
authorised  by  the  Queen  to  treat  with  O'Neill, 
proeeeded  to  the  north  and  remained  for  three  day* 
in  eonferenoe  with  him  and  O'Donnell,  endeavour- 
ing to  come  to  tersBS  with  them.  In  oonsequcnc* 
of  an  arrangement  then  made,  a  truce  was  to  be 
observed  for  eight  weeks,  while  the  Qovernment 
communicated  hia  demands  to  Queen  Elizabetii. 


v.— BFTJJNABOY,  OR  THE  YELLOW   FORD.* 


C*       si  PS  -^         ^'^^    Hugh 

O'Neill,  Earl 
of  Tyrone, 
after  which 
his  demands 
were  submit- 
ted to  Queen 
Elizabeth. 
About  the 
middle  ef  the 
following 
March  her  an- 
awer  was  received,  and  another  •eaference 
waa  held  to  communicate  it  to  him.  Her 
Majesty  was  willing  te  pardon  him  upon 
eertaiu  specified  conditions,  some  of  which 
went  fair  enough,  but  others  were  entirely 
unreasonable,  and  these  latter  he  objected 
to.  An  arrangement  of  some  kind  seems  to  have 
been  concluded,  for  the  pardon  waa  actually 
drawn  up,  bearing  date  11th  April,  1598,  and 
■aaled  virith  the  Great  Seal  of  Irel&ud.  O'Neill, 
however,  now  refused   to  accept  it,  whether  in 


THB  O'NBILL  arms — "  THX 
BLOODT  HAND." 


oonsequenee  of  any  further  disagreement  it  is 
diffieult  to  say,  but  it  is  certain  that  he  never 
acknowledged  it. 

On  the  7th  June  the  last  truce  expired,  and 
two  days  afterwards  O'Neill  appeared  with  an 
army  before  the  fort  of  Portmore  "swearing  by  his 
barbarous  hand  that  he  would  not  depart  till  he  had 
carried  it."  The  brave  Williams  and  his  men  in- 
side the  fort  were  by  this  time  nearly  famished 
with  hunger;  they  bad  eaten  all  their  horses, 
every  blade  of  grass,  aud  every  bit  of  weed  and 
herbage  that  grew  upon  the  walls;  and  each  morn- 
ing they  anxiously  strained  their  eyes  over  Uie 
southern  hills,  hoping  to  see  the  English  flag  flut 
toring  in  the  breeze  or  their  spears  glinting  in  tho 
morning  sun. 

They  still  managed  to  subsist  a  while  by  making 
sallies  out  of  the  fort  aud  capturing  some  of  th« 
Irish  troop  horses;  but  even  that  forlorn  hope  was 
now  cut  off,  for  O'Neill  surrounded  the  fort 
with  immense  trenches  more  than  a  mile  in 
length,  sevoial  feet  deep,  with  a  great  thorny 
hedge  over  it.  Every  approach  to  that  unhappy 
fort  waa  "  plashed  "  (rendered  impassable  with 
felled  trees  and  interwoven  boughs),  and  tho  Irish 
army  were  so  scientifically  distributed  that  it  waa 
impossible  for  a  relieving  force  to  approach  &om 
any  quarter  without  fighting  a  battle  under  avery 
disadvantage. 


*  In  writing  the  account  of  this  famous  battle,  I  have  used  the  followinc  authorities  :— 

State  Papers  of  Queen  Elizabeth  on  "The  Jomey  of  the  Blackwater,"  published  in  Kilkenny  Archaeological  Joomal 

for  1866-7  ;  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters  ;  Harerty's  History  of  Ireland ;  Moryson's  History  of  Ireland ;  Facsimiles  ol 

Kational  MSS.,  edited  by  John  T.  Gilbert,  Esq.,  M.R.I.A. 


THE  WAES  OP  HUGH  O'NEILL. 


When  mesMBgert  brought  thu  newi  to  Dublin 
it  oaused  grMt  anxiety  ;  frequent  and  prelonged 
meeting!  of  tho  Oounoil  were  held  in  the  Cutle, 
and  opinion*  were  dirided  u  to  the  coune  to  bo 
punued.  Some  would  hare  Williami  make  tho 
best  terms  he  could  and  surrender  tho  fort,  but 
thui  proposal  waa  OTorruled  by  tho  military 
olemont.  Marshal  Bagenal  urged  that  an  ex- 
pedition should  at  once  start  for  tho  relief  of 
Portmore  under  his  own  command,  and  ultimately 
this  sup;geBtion  waa  adopted.  New,  it  happened 
that  O'Neill  and  Bagenal  were  bitter  personal 
enemies,  for  Tyrone  had  married  tho  Marshal's 
sister  much  against  her  brother's  wishes,  and  out 
of  this  grew  a  deadly  feud  between  them  ;  no  that 
the  Qovernmont  thought  no  fitter  man  could  be 
chosen  to  crush  this  proud  northern  rebel  than 
his  brother-in-law  and  mortal  enemy,  Marshal  Sir 
Harry  Bagenal. 


UN   THK   BbACKWATEU. 

Accordingly,  early  in  August  the  exped?tioo, 
consisting  ef  4,000  foot,  400  horse,  and  some  field 
artillery,  started  from  Dublin  in  command  of  tho 
Marshal  and  Sir  Thomas  Wingfield,  bringing  with 
them  supplies  and  ammunition  for  Portmore. 
The  OoTernment  had  nearly  double  that  number 
of  troops  aTailable,  but  by  an  unaccountable  act  of 
stupidity,insteadof  despatching  their  whole  forces 
«gaiust  O'Neill,  they  diyided  them,  sending  half 
under  Ormonde  against  the  Cavenaghs  of  Leinster. 
Bagenal  and  his  army  marched  by  Drogheda, 
Dundalk,  and  Newry,  to  Armagh,  where  they 
pitched  their  camp  immediately  outside  tho  city 
walls.     From  here  tkey  could  see  O'Neill  with  his 


army  preparing  to  eentest  thoir  paosagoMroos  tho 
Callan  rirer,  which  they  must  cross  on  thoir  war 
to  Portmore,  five  miles  distant. 

On  Monday,  14th  August,  1598,  tho  Englifeh 
marched  from  Armagh  with  bands  playing  aixi 
colours  flyins;.  They  advaaeed  in  nx  rogiMont* 
formed  into  three  divisions,  about  half  a  miie 
distant  ftom  each  other,  tho  Tan  being  eom 
manded  by  Colonel  Cosby,  the  middle  or  maiu 
body  by  Sir  Thomas  Wfaigield,  and  tho  reor  by 
Colonel  Cunie.  Marshal  Bagoaal  rode  in  the  Tan. 
The  horse  waa  diTided  into  two  bodiea,  and  oom- 
manded  by  Sir  Calistkenes  Brooke.  When  they 
had  marched  about  half  a  mile  from  Armagh, 
their  course  lay  between  a  bog  on  tho  one  side 
and  a  wood  at  tho  other,  and  here  tho  Irish 
sharpshooters,  who  had  concealed  thomselToo  m 
the  brushwood  at  tho  sides,  opened  a  hoary  fira 
upun  them,  which  was  maintained  tho  whole  way 
to  tho  trench.  This  trench  was  a  formidable  ob- 
stacle; it  was  fire  feet  wide,  four  feet  deep,  and 
plashed  with  thorn  bushes.  The  ranguard  bad  a 
large  field-piece,  which  stuck  fast  in  tho  )>ogg>- 
ground  as  they  approached  tho  trench;  but,  boii^ 
exposed  to  a  heavy  fire,  they  had  to  leave  it  be- 
hind them.  They  then  charged  tho  Irioh,  and 
forced  their  way  across  tho  treneh.  Hm  main 
body,  under  Sir  Thomas  Wingfield,  next  eomii^ 
up,  endeavoured  to  extricate  tho  gun,  bat  tlM 
Irish  crowding  around  them,  killed  tho  oxen  ttet 
drew  it,  and  one  of  tlio  wheels  breaking,  tho  nmin 
body  had  likewise  to  abandon  it.  Hie  drspatchri 
say  that  it  caused  serious  obotruetioa  to  the 
troops  from  lying  right  in  tho  line  of  naardi. 
Meanwhile  tho  vanguard,  having  p^aod  tho 
trench,  were  advancing,  and,  having  crosaed  oomo 
rising  ground,  were  lost  to  view  from  tho  i«aain- 
der  ot  the  army.  The  main  body  haTii^  been 
considerably  delayed  by  tho  fioid-pioco,  ICankal 
Bagenal  sent  a  message  to  the  ranguard  to  rotnm 
and  wait  for  tho  rest.  All  tliis  time  heavy  firing 
was  heard  from  tho  rear,  and  tho  Marshal,  foarirg 
that  tho  last  division  waa  hard  boaot,  sent  Wing- 
field to  its  assistance,  while  he  himself  w«nt  for- 
ward to  the  van.  Just  then  Wingfield  aaw  tba 
rear  coming  up,  and  spurred  forward  to  tell  tho 
Marshal,  who  raised  his  vizor  to  look.  At  (ha* 
same  instant  a  bullet  from  an  unknown 


24 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


man  pierced  hia  brain,  and  ttie  brave  Bageual 
I'ell  dead  at  Winfc  field's  feet. 

When  the  Tanguard,  already  nearly  ererpowered 
by  the  Iriah,  received  the  order  to  retura,  it  ap 
peara  t<>  have  alarmed  them  considerably,  for  they 
wheeled  abouc  in  su  disorderly  a  faahiou  that  the 
Irish  instantly  fell  upon  them,  broke  their  ranks, 
.-^nd  drove  them  back  in  a  eonfuded  body  to  the 
''  trench,  where  they  were  aearly  all  slain,  and  their 
colours  captured.  The  aurvivors,  retreating,  wildly 
rushed  into  the  ranks  of  the  advancing  main 
body,  causing  considerable  confusion.  At  the 
same  time  a  soldier,  carelessly  replenishing  his 
pouch,  let  fall  a  spark  iuto  one  of  the  barrels  ef 
powder,  exploding  it  and  several  others  beside  it. 
The  explosion  was  tremendous,  and  the  surround- 
ing hilly  ground  was  enveloped  in  a  dense  smoke 
for  the  rest  of  the  day.  By  this  accident  many 
of  the  English  were  killed  and  another  of  their 
pieces  disabled  ;  and  before  they  could  recover 
from  their  confusion  they  were  charged  by  the 
Irish  eavalry,  led  by  O'Neill  in  person.  The 
result  waa  utter  rout  and  slaughter — the  English 
retreating  in  a  disorderly  mass  to  Armagh,  pur- 
sued by  the  Irish  the  whole  way,  "  in  couples,  in 
scores,  in  thirties,  and  in  hundreds."  The  English 
loss  was  about  2,000,  and  the  Irish  about  400. 

The  survivors  retreated  to  Armagh  and  shut 
themselves  up  in  the  town.  They  found,  how- 
ever, on  taking  count  of  the  provisions,  that  they 
Ixad  not  more  than  would  suffice  for  ten  days  at  the 
utmost,  and  that  there  was  no  provender  at  all  tor 
the  horses.  It  was  therefore  proposed  by  some  that 
thoy  should  retreat  to  Newry.  But  aa  Newry  was 
twenty  milea  off,  and  the  road  lay  through  a 
broken  and  difficult  country,  the  chances  were 
that,  pursued  and  harassed  by  the  enemy  the 
whole  way,  few  would  ever  reach  the  friendly 
shelter  of  ita  walls.  In  this  perplexity  the  officers 
conferred  long  together  and  decided  that  the  best 
plan  was  for  Captain  Montague,  in  command  of 
the  horse,  to  attempt  to  cut  his  way  that  very 
night  through  the  cordon  of  Irish  that  environed 
the  walls,  and  then  ride  with  all  possible  speed  to 
Newry  and  southwards  to  alarm  the  Pale  and 
bring  relief.  Captain  Montague  aaaented  to  this 
arrangement,  atating  that  he  waa  willing  to  risk 
his  life  in  so  good  a  cause,  and   he   and  his  party 


succeeded  that  night  in  escaping  with  trifliHg  loss, 
though  he  was  pursued  for  aeveial  miles  towards 
Newry. 

Meanwhile  the  Iriah  continued  to  besiege 
Armagh,  and  both  partiea  kept  up  a  fire  at  each 
other  for  three  daya,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  the  English  ceased  hoatilities  and  sent  mes- 
sengers to  the  Iriah  to  say  that  Pertmore  would 
be  surrendered  if  its  garrison  were  permitted  to 
come  to  Armagh  anMolested,  after  which  they 
engaged  to  surrender  Armagh  itself  if  given 
quarter  and  escorted  to  their  own  territory. 
The  Irish  then  held  a  council  to  con- 
aider  this  offer  ;  some  were  for  putting  all 
the  garrison  to  the  aword,  but  they  finally 
agreed  to  the  conditiona  proposed,  and  sent 
a  message  back  to  that  effect.  A  number  of 
Irish  and  English  officers  then  proceeded  to 
Portmore,  and,  on  their  telling  the  garrison  how 
the  case  stood,  Williams  surrendered  the  fort, 
and  he  and  his  famished  companiona  came  to 
Armagh  to  join  the  rest.  They  were  then  all 
escorted  into  English  territory. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  it  was  not  a  usual 
proceeding  in  those  days  to  allow  a  garrison  to 
surrender  on  such  easy  terms — in  fact  it  was  the 
almost  universal  practice  of  English  commandera 
to  put  them  all  to  the  sword,  so  that  this  act  of 
O'Neill  shows  that  he  was  a  man  of  humane  and 
generous  disposition. 

The  Battle  of  the  Yellow  Ford  was  undoubtedly 
the  greatest  defeat  ever  received  by  the  English 
upon  Irish  soil — it  was  the  climax  of  a  long  serie» 
of  successes  achieved  by  O'Neill,  and  nearly 
severed  the  slender  connectioa  between  the  two 
countries.  Camden  says  of  it  —  "  Tyrone 
triumphed  to  his  heart's  desire  over  his  adver- 
sary, and  obtained  a  remarkable  victory  over  the 
English  ;  and  doubtleas,  since  the  time  tliey  first' 
aet  foot  in  Ireland,  they  never  received  a  greater 
overthrow^thirteen  atout  captains  being  slain 
and  1,500  of  the  tommoa  soldiers,  who,  being 
scattered  by  a  shameful  flight  all  the  fields  over, 
were  alain  and  vanqukhed  by  the  enemy.  Thi» 
was  a  glorious  victory  for  the  rebels,  and  of 
special  advantage,  for  hereby  thoy  got  both  arma 
and  provisions,  and  Tyrone's  name  waa  cried  up 
all  over  Ireland  as  the  author  of  tkeir  liberty." 


THE  WAKS  OF  HUGH   O'NEILL. 


25 


Why,  it  may  be  aeked,  did  Dot  O'Neill  follow 
up  the  victory  by  marching  on  Dublin  !  Why 
did  ke  permit  the  garriaou  ef  Armagh  to  march 
■oubhwards  and  swell  tlie  ranks  •£  the  attenuated 
army  of  the  Pale  ?  There  waa  then,  apj^areutly, 
no  garrisen  in  Dublin,  and  a  thouaand  men 
would  .have  captured  the  Castle  without  difficulty 
^indeed,  its  terror-stricken  warders  would  pro- 
bably have  surrendered  it  without  a  struggle. 
The  only  explanation  of  this  apparent  remissness 
is  that  O'Neill  prvbably  knew  that  even  if  he 
secured  possession  of  the  capital  he  could  not  hope 
to  bold  it  long  against  the  myriads  that  would  be 
despatched  against  him ,  so  that  in  thib  respect 
he  perhaps  only  showed  his  sound  judgment. 


THB  FORT  OF  PORTMORK,  1598  (200  PACKS  LONO). 

(From  a  contemporary  drawing.) 

The  battle  was  essentially  a  scientific  one — a 
game  of  skill  between  two  brave  commanders 
and  consummate  tacticians,  and  is  most  interestmg 
to  analyse  in  detail.  Both  sides  fought  with 
great  valeur,  and  there  has  been  no  accusation  ef 
cowardice  made  by  either.  Briefly  summarised, 
the  prezimate  cause3  of  the  defeat  may  be 
■aid  to  be — (1)  The  superior  generalship  of 
O'Neill,  who  completely  out-naauoeuvred  his 
tdversary.  (2)  The  excessive  distance  which 
intervened  between  the  English  vanguard,  main 
body,  and  rear  guard  respectively,  whereby  each 
of  these  divisions  was  cut  to  pieces  before 
tho  others  could  coma  to  its  assistance;  and  (3)  the 
disastrous  explosion  of  the  powder  magazine, 
which  disranked  and  disorganised  the  English 
linos,  BO  that  they  fell  easy  victims  to  the  im- 
petuous charge  of  the  Irish  cavalry. 

Two    miles    due    north  of   Armagh,    not  far 
from  the    CaDan    river,     is    a     small    well-de- 


fined marsh  or  bog,  which  still  retains  tlao 
historic  nasso  of  "  Bellanaboy."  The  thickest  ml 
the  fight  took  place  upon  this  spot;  and  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  north  of  it  stands  a  whitethorn  baah 
called  "  Qreat  Man's  Thorn  Tree,"  under  whidi. 
according  to  tradition,  sleeps  the  brave  MarahnI 
Sir  Harry  Bagenal,  who  fell  as  befitted  % 
soldier.  Near  the  battlefield  is  "tbo 
Yellow  Ford"  across  the  Callan  Rivw.  On  tke 
6-inch  Ordnance  Survey  map  of  tho  district  tho 
battlefield  is  marked  by  crossed  swords  above  tbo 
words  "  Beale-atha-buidhe.  1598." 

A  strange  variety  of  weapons  were  used  in  this 
battle — guns,  matchlocks,  crosa-bows,  long  bows, 
battle-axes,  swords,  spears,  and  lances.  Tho 
English  wore  armour,  but  the  Irish  fought  am 
usual  in  their  linen  tunica. 

The  lengthy  despatches  and  State  correspon- 
dence on  "The  Jorney  of  tbo  Blackwater,"  ao 
this  campaign  was  called,  leave  no  doubt  that  the 
blockade  of  Portmore  and  the  subsequent  defeat 
of  tho  relieving  force  inspired  the  Government 
with  the  greatest  terror.  One  of  tho  letters  (whidi, 
however,  was  never  delivered)  is  trom  tho  Lords 
Justices  to  Tyrone,  begging  of  him  to  spare  the 
survivors  of  tho  army  cooped  up  in  Armagh  and 
Portmore,  lest  he  sltould  further  incenao  her 
Majesty.  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  seems  to  have 
bad  mare  courage  than  aU  her  Irish  cuuneillora, 
was  furious  when  she  read  this  communication, 
and  wrote  back  a  scathing  letter  to  the  Lorda 
Justices  reproaching  them  for  their  moauness  and 
cowardice.  The  letters  from  tho  Lords  Justice* 
to  the  English  Privy  Council  are  couched  in  tho 
most  abject  and  suppliant  language,  prayiqg 
for  assistance  to  save  them  from  tho  Irish 
"rebbeUs." 

The  following  spirited  lines  by  Drennan  aiv 
perhaps  the  best  on  the  subject : — 

By  O'Neill  close  beleaguered,  the  spirits  might  droop 
Of  the  Saxon  three  hundred  shut  up  in  the  coop. 
Till  Bagnal  drew  forth  his  Toledo,  and  swore 
On  the  sword  of  a  soldier  to  succour  Portmore. 

His  veteran  troops  in  the  foreign  wars  tried. 

Their  features  how  bronz'd,  and  how  haughty  thMr 

stride, 
Stepped  steadily  on;  it  was  thrilling  to  see 
That  thunder-cloud  broodinc  o'er  Beal-an-a-bni ! 

D 


■26 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


The  flash  of  their  nrmonr,  iciaid  with  fine  gold, 
Oleaming  matchlocks  and  cannons  that  mutterincly 

roUed. 
With  the  tramp  and  the  clank  of  those  stern  cnirassiera, 
Dyed  in  blood  of  the  Flemish  and  French  cavaliers. 

.  •  •  .  f  • 

Lnnd  of  Owen  Aboo  I  and  the  Irish  mshed  on  : 
Hie  foe  flr'd  but  one  Tolley — their  gunners  are  gone. 
Before  the  bare  bosoms  the  steel  coats  have  fled, 
Or  despite  casque  or  corselet,  lie  dying  or  dead. 

And  braTe  Harry  Bagnal,  he  fell  while  he  fought, 
'With  many  gay  gallants  :  they  slept  as  men  ought. 


Their  faces  to  Heaven :  there  were  others,  alack : 
By  pikes  overtaken,  and  taken  aback. 

And  the  Irish  got  clothing,  coin,  eoloun,  great  store, 

Arms,  forage,  and  provender — plunder  galore. 

niey  munched  the  white  maachets,  they  champed  tbe 

brown  chine, 
Fnliluab  for  that  day,  how  the  natives  did  dine  1 

The  chifcf  tain  looked  on,  when  O'Shanaghan  rose. 
And  cried:  "Hearken,  O'Neill,  I've  a  health  to  propose- 
To  our  Sassenach  hosts,"  and  all  quaffed  in  huge  gleo. 
With  Cead  mUle/ailthe  go !  Beal-aN-A'-boi  t 


THE    DISASTROUS    CAMPAIGN    OF    ESSEX. 


AOENAL'S  death  and  tho  sigaal 
disaater  at  tho  Tellow  Ford 
caused  great  consteniacioD  in 
England.  The  military  prowess 
of  O'Neill,  great  aa  it  waa,  was 
exaggerated,  and  Moryson  saya 
of  him  —  "  Tho  generall  Toyee 
was  of  Tyrone  amongst  tho  English  after  the 
defeat  of  Blackwater,  aa  of  Hannibal  among  tho 
Romans  after  the  defeat  of  Cannae." 

Elizabeth  was  greatly  exasperated  at  the  catas- 
trophe and  wrote  indignant  letters  to  tho  Irish 
4}oTemmemt,  upbraiding  thorn  for  dividmg  and 
wasting  their  forces  in  petty  contentions  with  tho 
Tobels  of  Leinster.  To  replace  Bagenal,  who  waa 
aa  honourable  man,  she  sent  Sir  Richard  Bingham, 
an  officer  who  had  distinguished  himself  by  the 
most  savage  acta  of  brutal  butchery  in  Con- 
naught.  He  died,  however,  almost  immediately 
ou  landing  in  Dublin,  so  that  he  had  not  time  to 
repeat  his  exploits.  Sir  Samuel  Bagenal,  brother 
-of  tho  late  Marshal,  waa  then  sent  to  Ireland  with 
iS,000  men  to  replace  the  losses  at  tho  Yellow  Ford. 
England's  best  generals — De  Burgh,  Eildare, 
Norris,  and  Bagenal — had  now  been  successively 
hurled  bnck  in  ignominious  defeat  trom  tho  fron- 
tiers of  Ulster,  and  Elizabeth  felt  that  if  Ireland 
were  to  bo  retained  at  all  it  would  be  only  by  a 
supreme  effort  of  all  the  powers  of  the  empire. 
By  some  strange  infatuation  she  appointed  as  Lord 
Lieutenant  her  Court  favourite,  Robert  Devereux, 
Earlof  Essex,  a  young  man  only  22  years  of  age, 
with  little  experience  and  absolutely  devoid  of 
prudence  and  judgment.      She  invested  him  with 


plenary  powers — almost  those  of  a  king — and  en- 
trusted to  his  eonmand  a  vast  army  of  20,000 
foot  and  2,000  horse,  one  of  the  largest  ever  sent 
into  Ireland.  His  instructions  were  to  neglect  all 
the  insurgents  of  lesser  note,  and  on  landing  te 
march  at  once  with  all  his  forces  to  reduce  rebel- 
lious Ulster.  With  this  splendid  army  he  landed 
in  Dublin  on  the  15tii  April,  1599,  and  was  sworn 
in  the  same  day. 

But  now  his  ineptitude  became  manifest.  In 
direct  violation  of  his  instructions  he  divided  hia 
army,  sending  3,500  men,  under  Sir  Henry  Har- 
rington,  to  Wicklow  to  check  the  O'Byrnes  and 
O'Tooles,  3,000  more  to  Sir  Conyers  Cli£Ford  in 
Coanaught,  and  ho  also  seat  garrisons  to  Dun- 
dalk,  Drogheda,  and  Naaa.  Thus  his  fine  army 
was  soon  scattered  all  over  the  country,  and  he 
had  now  but  7,000  left.  With  these  he  marched 
against  the  Munstor  Geraldiues,  instead  ef  pro- 
ceeding against  O'Neill,  as  he  had  Ween  ordered. 
Having  reached  Athy  he  seized  a  fortified  bridge 
across  the  Barrow,  by  which  he  advanced  with 
his  force  into  the  Queen's  County.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded  by  the  Caatle  of  Rheban  on  to  the  English 
fortress  ef  Maryborough,  vrhich  he  victualled,  and 
next  encamped  on  the  slopes  ef  a  high  hill  called 
Crosby  Duff,  abouk  three  miles  farther  south- 
ward. From  the  summit  of  this  hill,  which  com- 
manded an  extonsive  view,  he  surveyed  the  sur- 
rounding coimtry,  and  directed  his  march  accord- 
ingly. But  he  waa  not  unobserved.  Owny 
O'More  hung  on  his  flank,  and,  with  his  scouts 
securely  postod  on  the  Dyaart  hills,  waa  kept 
apprised  of  every  movement. 


THE  DISASTROUS  CAMPAIGN  OP  ESSEX. 


«7 


At  Crosby  Dull^  Essax  marshalled  his  ranlcs  and 
tidTanc«d  by  tha  Ballyknockam  cross-roads  to- 
wards Ballyroan,  knowing  that  th«  eneny  wer* 
Mmewhere  in  that  diractton.  His  course  lay 
thratifk  almost  impenetrable  woods,  which 
afforded  secure  corer  for  the  Irish,  and  enabled 
them  to  form  an  ambuscade.  The  road  here  tra- 
versed a  narrow  winding  defile,  and  this  place 
Owny  O'More  selected  for'  the  attack.  The  en- 
gagement which  ensued  has  been  minutely  de- 
scribed by  Sir  John  Harringten,  an  English  officer 
whe  fought  on  the  occasion.  His  account  is  pub* 
lishcd  in  "  Tractt  Relative  to  Ireland,"  VoL  II. 

The  road  passed  for  a  mile  through  a  dense 
weed,  and  was  plashed  at  the  sides  with  trees 
•nd  boughs,  behind  which  the  Irish  main- 
tained an  intermittent  fire,  and  at  one  place 
they  had  dug  a  deep  trench  across  the  road  to 
delay  the  passage  ef  the  English.  Adjoining 
the  woed  were  bogs,  quite  safe  te  the  lightly- 
equipped  Irish,  but  which  the  English  dared  not 
attempt,  and  in  a  small  village  between  the  wood 
and  the  bog  the  Irish  were  massed  in  consider- 
able numbers. 

To  force  a  passage  through  this  dangerous  de§Ie 
Essex  divided  his  army  into  three  divisions. 
Before  the  vanguard  marched  the  forlorn  hope, 
consisting  of  "forty  shot  and  twenty  short 
weapons,"  and  they  were  ordered  not  to  discharge 
them  "  until  they  presented  them  at  the  rebels ' 
kreaats  in  the  trenches, "  and  were  te  suddenly 
enter  the  trench  at  either  side  of  the  vanguard. 
The  baggage  and  part  of  the  horse  preceded  the 
Main  body,  and  in  front  ef  the  last  division  were 
placed  the  remainder  of  the  horse,  except  thirty, 
who  in  command  of  an  officer  cempleted  the  rear. 

The  Irish  apparently  allowed  the  first  division 
to  pass  unmolested  and  then  fiercely  attacked  the 
middle  and  rear,  throwing  them  into  partial  con- 
fusion, Meanwhile  the  vanguard  had  hurried  en 
till  they  emerged  from  the  pass  into  the  open 
plain,  where  they  halted  for  the  rest  to  cone  up. 
The  English  of  eeurse  greatly  outnumbered  their 
assailants,  and  would  have  easily  defeated  them 
in  the  open,  but,  being  unable  to  fight  to  advan- 
tage in  the  pass,  the  battle  partook  ot  the  nature 
of  a  running  attack  by  the  Irish  and  a  hurried 
inarch  by  the  English  te  gain  the  open  country. 


About  fifty  years  ago,  when  the  foundations  of 
an  eld  building  near  Ballykneckan  Houee  were 
being  excavated,  cartloads  of  human  remains  ware 
exhumed  and  removed  by  the  workmen.  Consi- 
derable quantities  ef  these  remains  also  lie  in  the 
high  gravelly  ground  between  Ballyknoekan  cross- 
roads and  the  Castle.  The  tradition  of  a  great 
battle  haring  been  fought  here  is  still  quite  vivid 
amenf  the  peasantry  ef  the  neighheurhood,  wIm 
■ay  that  the  ight  raged  fer  about  half  a  mile 
along  this  road,  which  was  strewn  with  dead 
bodies.  The  battle  terminated  at  a  bog  eaOed 
'  Monecn-na-fulla,"  meaning  "  the  little  bog  of  the 
blood  "  in  which  skulls,  human  remains,  and  arms 
have  been  found  from  time  to  time. 

On  account  of  the  great  number  of  plumed  hel- 
mets found  in  the  pasa  after  the  battle  it  got  tbe 
name  ef  Bamaglitty  er  "  The  Pass  of  the 
Plumes."  This  name  is,  however,  now  obeelete 
and  forgotten. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  site  ef  this 
battle  was  unknown  until  it  wassatisfaeterily  iden- 
tiled  and  all  controversy  set  at  rest  by  the  invee- 
tigatiens  ef  the  Rev  John  Canon  O'Hanlea, 
M  K  I  A,  te  wkese  paper  on  the  aubjact  in  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  I  am  in- 
debted fer  my  local  details. 

This  was  the  first  reverse  experienced  by  Kaeex, 
and  from  the  letters  he  wrote  to  the  Privy 
Council  subsequently  it  seems  to  have  impraeeed 
him  vTith  a  greater  respect  for  the  fighting  powetB 
ef  the  Irish  than  he  previously  had. 

After  this  engagement  Essex  marched  te  Bally- 
ragget,  and  thence  te  Kilkenny,  "  a  cytty  when 
the  Earl  of  Ormend  is  resident."  Here  he  was  re- 
ceived with  great  demonstrations  by  the  Kt^^^ill^ 
inhabitants.  He  next  preceeded  by  Clenmel  to 
Cahir,  where  "  in  the  midst  ef  the  ry  ver  Snyre 
lyeth  an  Hand,  the  same  a  naturaU  rocke,  and 
upon  yt  a  castle  which,  although  it  may  be  nei 
built  with  any  great  arte,  yet  is  the  scite  aneh  by 
nature  that  yt  may  be  said  te  be  inexpugnable. " 
{"Tracts  Relative  to  Ireland.")  When  he 
reached  the  castle  he  sent  officers  to 
parley  with  the  garrison,  but  failing  to  induce 
them  to  surrender  he  made  preparations  for  • 
siege.  Accordingly  he  planted  cannon  in  poaitkm, 
and,  having  sent  SOf  men  te  take  possesaiaa  cf 


28 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


the  bawn  who  expelled  "  feheae  beastes,"  aa  the 
Irish  are  hert  elegantly  dtsignated,  he  com- 
menced a  vigorous  cannonade  which  s«*n  breached 
the  walls.  Hearing  that  some  reiBforcements 
were  advancing  fr«m  Mitchelat«wn  to  the  relief  of 
the  castle,  he  ssnt  Sir  Christopher  St.  Lawrence, 
with  300  w«n,  to  break  d«wn  a  bridge  over  wliich 
the  relieving  force  would  have  t*  pass. 

The  garrison,  seeing  themselves  tbutii  cut  off  from 
this  expected  relief,  endeavoured  to  leave  the 
castle  under  cover  of  the  night,  but  they  were  dis- 
covered by  tlie  English,  who  feU  upon  them, 
and  killed  about  eighty  .  of  thena.  The 
English  tiien  took  possession  of  the  castle  and 
placed  a  strong  garrison  in  it,  and  Essex  advanced 
to  Limerick,  leaving  the  wounded  at  Clonmel. 


CAHIR   CASTLE. 

While  the  English  were  storming  Cahir  Castle, 
Sir  Thomas  Norris,  Governor  of  Munster,  came  to 
Kilmallock  to  meet  Essex,  as  he  knew  he  weuld 
pass  that  way.  He  had  been  nearly  a  fortnight  in 
the  town  before  the  Earl  arrived,  and  in  the 
interval  was  in  the  habit  of  daily  sceuring  the 
■tirrounding  roeuBtains  accompanied  by  his 
soldiers  t.o  try  if  he  could  not  capture  or  kill  some 
of  the  "  Irish  rebbels."  He  happened  ene  day  te 
meet  a  well-known  rebel,  one  ef  the  Burkes  of 
CaatleeoBnell,  with  d,bout  100  Irish  soldiers;  a 
sharp  conflict  ensued   in   which  some   20  of  the 


Irish  were  killed,  but  Norris  received  his  death 
wound,  and  was  carried  to  Kilmallock  where  h» 
died   six   weeks  later. 

Meanwhile  bad  news  began  to  arrive  from  other 
parts  of  the  country,  and  ill  luck  appeared  te  at- 
tend all  the  expaditiens.  Sir  Henry  Harrington 
sustained  ascriens  reverse  at  Ranelagh,  near  Bal- 
tinglass,  in  couBty  Wicklow,  ef  which  a  most  de- 
tailed account  is  given  by  himself.  According 
to  this  naiTative  he  set  eut  with  his  troops 
from  Wicklow  anil  marched  to  Ranelagh,  but 
ascertaining  that  the  Irish  were  massed  in 
great  force  in  the  neighbourhood  he  attempted 
to  return  next  day.  The  Irish  followed  and  soon 
overtook  him,  keeping  up  a  running  fight  fer  some 
miles.  Another  party  of  the  Irish  teok  a  short 
cut  to  a  ford,  across  which  the  English  were  to 
pass,  and  intercepted  their  van.  Tlie  main  body 
of  the  English  were  seme  distance  behind,  and  be- 
fore they  could  come  up  the  vanguard  fired  off 
their  pieces  recklessly,  and  thnu,  throwing  Ihem 
away,  turned  and  fled.  One  of  tlie  officers  who 
had  charge  of  the  colours  also  rau  away,  aud  a 
large  number  of  pikemen  in  the  main  body  broke 
from  the  ranks  and  followed  his  example,  throw- 
ing away  their  arms,  and  even  stripping  them- 
selves of  their  clothes  !  Harrington  writes — 
"All  that  I  or  tiieir  captains  could  do  could  never 
make  one  of  them  eBce  to  turn  his  face  tewards 
the  rebels." 

Another  officer.  Captain  Ather  ton  writes,  "When 
we  came  to  the  rear  we  found  some  of  the  rebels 
killiBg  our  men,  they  making  no  resistance,  nor 
once  turning  their  faces  towards  their  enemies" 
— "  never  offered  to  turn  or  speak,  but  as  men 
without  sense  or  feeling,  ran  one  upon  another's 
baek,  it  being  not  possible  to  break,  by  reason  of 
the  captains,  who  endeavoured  by  all  meaas  to 
stay  them,  but  in  vain." 

Essex,  on  hearing  of  this  disgraceful  defeat, 
hastened  to  Dublin,  and  held  a  courtmartial  on 
those  responsible,  and  the  lieutenant,  who  had 
charge  of  the  colours,  with  one  out  of  every  ten 
seldiers,  were  executed.  Sir  Henry  Harrington 
was  also  suspended  for  a  time,  thcugh  he  was  net 
te  blame  in  the  matter. 


THE  DISASTBOIJS  CAMPAIQN  OF  ESSEX. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  CURLIEU  PASS. 


N  Juue,  1599,  Essex  left  Limerick  oity, 
and  preceeded  t*  Adare.  Next  day  as 
he  marched  westward,  he  was  met  by 
the  Earl  of  Desmond  and  his  *rmij, 
who  contested  his  progress  the  whole 
of  that  day,  killing  a  number  ef  bis  men 
and  delaying  him  so  that  he  wa«  only  able  to 
reach  Askeaton  that  evening.  The  following  day 
Ess*x  and  Ormeade,  after  consultation,  decided 
to  leave  part  of  their  ammunition  and  stores  in 
the  Castle  of  Aakeatoa,  and  not  to  proceed  fur- 
ther westward  into  Munster  on  account  of  the 
menacine  attitude  of  the  Irish  chiefs.  Ob  their 
return  eastwards  next  day  they  were  again 
attacked  by  the  Geraldines  under  Desmond 
at  a  place  called  Fiuniterstown,  in  the 
parish  of  Adare,  ten  miles  south-west 
of  Limerick.  Here,  by  the  wooded  banks  of  the 
Maigue,  m  the  vale  of  "  Sweet  Adare,"  a  san- 
guinary conflict  ensued,  and  the  sylvan  solitudes 
were  rudely  disturbed  by  the  crash  and  roar  ef 
musketry  from  the  thickets  adjoining  the  road, 
where  the  Irish  had  concealed  themselves  in  am- 
buseade.  In  this  actiem  Sir  Henry  Norris  re- 
ceived a  bullet  wound,  of  wkicb  ke  died  about 
two  moBtha  after;  he  wa«  the  third  ef  the 
brothers  Norris  that  fell  in  these  fruitless  Irish 
wars.  Essex  then  proceeded  to  Kilmallock,  and 
having  rested  his  army  there  for  three  dajs,  he 
directed  his  course  southward  through  the  pass 
of  Barna  Derg;  thence,  by  Conna  aad  Mogeely,  he 
journeyed  to  Fermoy,  where  he  crossed  the 
Blackwater  by  a  ford,  and  marched  to  Lismore  in 
Waterford. 

During  all  this  marchimg  and  ec  untermareh- 
ing  through  the  country,  the  Irish  never  ceased 
Uieir  attacks.     Inferior  in  numbers,  discipline, 


and  equipment  to  the  Eagliah,  thoy  winly 
avoided  general  eagagements,  but  hung  on  thur 
flanks  and  rear,  dogged  their  footsteps,  cut  off 
stragglers,  and  greatly  impeded  thoir  mov*- 
ments. 

From  Lismore  Essex  marched  to  Dangarvan 
and  Waterford,  still  followed  by  the  Qoraldiuee  ; 
but  at  Waterford  they  left  hina  and  returned  to 
their  own  ceuatry.  He  remained  for  aome  days 
in  Waterford  examining  the  forts  and  harboTurt; 
he  also  inspected  the  fort  of  Duncannoa  in  the 
eounty  Wexford,  which  was  built  to  eommand  the 
passage  to  Waterford  harbour.  This  fcn-t  waa 
unanimously  condemned  by  the  military  officers 
aa  useless,  "  for  the  scite  ii  so  overtopped  by  an 
emynent  height  not  distant  from  it  more  thui 
150  paees,  that  no  aian  can  stand  secure  in  tho 
piazza  of  tho  forte"  {Traett  Rel.  to  Ireland.  Vol  IJ. 
Dymmek).  The  modem  Duncannoa  is  a  prettily 
situated  fishing  village,  nearly  opposite  Passage, 
on  "  Tho  lovely  green  banks  of  tho  Suir."  From 
tho  many  other  defects  of  this  so-called  fort,  eau- 
morated  in  detail  by  Dymmok,  a  bombardaMat 
of  passing  ships  most  have  been  a  comparatively 
harmless  amusement  to  all  parties  concerned. 

From  Waterford  Essex  marehed  to  Enais- 
corthy,  aai  along  tho  coast  by  Arklow,  Wicklow, 
and  Newcastle,  in  each  of  which  places  was  a 
castle  held  by  an  English  garrison.  fie  roaehod 
Dublin  at  last  with  tho  shattered  remnants  af  his 
army,  worn  out  with  sickness  and  fatigue  aft<jr 
their  disastrous  march,  for  tliey  were  foUowod 
tho  whole  way  from  Waterford  by  kho  Leiustcr 
Irish,  who  contested  every  mile  of  their  progress, 
and  thinned  their  ranks  in  innumerable  skirmishes 
and  ambuscades. 

In  aH  this  expedition  Essex  failed  to  exact  the 
submission  of  even  one  of  the  rebol  chiefs,  and  tho 
only  success  he  could  boast  of  wa«  the  capture  of 
Cahir  Castle.  No  wonder  indeed  that  Elizabeth 
was  at  last  beginning  to  lose  patience  with  him. 

When  he  had  sufficiently  rested  his  army 
in  Dublin  he  set  out  oa  another  ezpodiuun, 
marching  through  Philipstown  ia  King's  County, 
or     Ofblgr,      as     it    was     then      called,      and 


80 


Ireland's  battles  and  battlefields. 


from  that  t*  Ballycowan,  near  Tullamore,  where 
he  waa  joined,  according  to  arrangement,  by  Sir 
Cunyere  Clifford,  Qorernor  of  Connaught,  and  his 
army.  Clifford,  in  his  mareh  from  Qalvray,  was 
sore  beset  by  the  Irish  at  a  place  called  FircaU, 
where  a  number  of  his  men  were  killed  in  the 
fastnesses  ef  a  dense  forest  through  which  they 
passed.  Haring  civen  detailed  instructions  to 
Clifferd,  Essex  ence  more  returned  to  Dublin,  and 
Clifford  hastened  to  Qalway  to  make  pi-eparations 
for  a  campaign  against  the  Irish. 

O'CoBor  Slige,  an  Irish  chieftain  who  was  in 
alliaace  with  the  English,  had  accoMpanied  Essex 
during  part  of  his  march  through  Munster,  after 
which  he  proceeded  to  Galway  to  confer  with  Sir 
Conyers  Clifford.  He  then  retired  to  his  castle  at 
CoUooney — an  almost  impregnable  stronghold — 
and  shut  himself  up  there.  Red  Hugh  O'Donnell, 
hearing  of  his  return,  resolved  to  besiege  him  in 
his  fortress,  and,  marching  with  his  army,  sur- 
rouBded  the  place  on  all  sides,  keepmg  guards  to 
watch  night  and  day  lest  anyone  should  escape 
from  oi  into  the  castle. 

Meanwhile  O'Conor  had  contrived  to  send  news 
of  his  distressed  condition  to  Dublin,  upon  which 
Essex  summoned  Clifford  to  meet  him  at  Fir- 
call,  near  Tullamore,  where  they  arranged  that 
supplies  for  the  castle  should  be  sent  by  sea  from 
Galway  to  Collooney  in  charge  of  Theobald -na- 
long,  while  Clifford  himself,  ia  command  of  tho 
army  of  Connaught,  was  to  proceed  by  land,  and 
raise  the  blockade.  The  fleet  duly  arrived  in 
Sligo  Bay,  where  tiiey  awaited  Clifford,  as  they 
were  unable  to  approach  the  castle  on  account  of 
O'Donnell's  forces.  Clifford  had  meanwhile 
marched  to  Roscommon,  and  thenee  to  Boyle, 
where  his  army  remained  in  the  Abbey  while 
arrangements  were  being  completed  for  tho  mareh. 

When  O'Donnell  learned  of  Clifford's  movements 
he  left  a  sufficient  besieging  party  at  the  castle 
under  Nial  Garv  O'Donnell,  while  he,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  his  forces,  marched  southwards,  and 
took  up  a  strong  position  on  a  pass  through  tho 
Curlieu  Mountains,  about  three  miles  north  of 
Boyle.  Through  this  pass  of  Ballaghhoy  lay  the 
only  road  from  Boyle  to  Collooney,  as  a  glance  at 
the  map  will  show.  From  the  time  of  his  arrival 
O'Donnell  had  kept  scouts  constantly  posted  en 


the  summits  of  tho  mountains  overlooking  Boyle,, 
so  that  tho  English  could  not  leave  tho  town  un- 
noticed. In  the  early  dawn  of  15th  August  those 
scouts  noticed  an  unusual  commotion  in  Boyle 
Abbey — raising  of  standards,  blowing  of  trum- 
pets, and  massing  of  troops — and  presently  th» 
army  slowly  de£lod  out  of  tho  town.  With  all 
possible  speed  they  ran  down  the  mountain  and 
brought  the  news  to  O'Doniiell,  who  at  once  sent 
forward  a  party  of  sharpshooters  in  advance  of  tho^ 
main  body,  to  delay  and  disorganise  the  English 
before  they  should  reach  tho  difficult  part  of  th*^ 
pass,  where  the  Irish  were  massed  in  force.  He 
then  dismounted  his  cavalry,  and  placed  them  to- 
fight  among  the  infantry  on  account  of  the  broken 
nature  of  tho  ground. 

The  English  were  now  approching  the  pass;: 
their  vanguard  was  commanded  by  Sir  Alexander 
Ratcliff,  tho  main  body  by  Lord  Olanricarde's  son, 
and  the  rear  by  Sir  Arthur  Savage.  The  eavalry 
were  posted  half  way  between  Boyle  and  the  en- 
trance  to  the  pass,  and  were  to  remain  there  till 
tho  infantry  had  effected  a  passage.  About  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  entrance  the  Irish  had' 
erected  a  barricade,  from  behind  which  soma  400 
of  them  opened  fire  on  tho  English  as  they  ad- 
vanced. The  English,  however,  stormed  and. 
forced  this  barricade,  driving  the  Irish  out  of  it,, 
after  which  the  vanguard,  followed  by  the  rest  of 
tho  army,  proceeded  by  a  narrow  path  to  a  bog,, 
where  a  large  body  of  the  Irish  had 
taken  up  a  position.  Sir  Alexander  Ratcliff,. 
at  the  head  of  his  men,  marclierl  across 
tlie  bog  to  attaek  them,  but  before 
he  had  advanced  very  far  he  received  a  shot  in 
the  face  which  wounded  him  severely.  Un- 
daunted, however,  he  persisted,  till  another  shot 
in  the  leg  quite  disabled  him,  upon  which  two  of 
his  officeis  attempted  to  carry  him  to  the  rear, 
but  one  of  them  was  killed  while  so  assisting  him, 
and  Ratcliff  himself  waa  shot  dead  immediatelj 
after. 

Captain  Cosby,  who  was  next  in  command, 
appears  to  have  acted  with  considerable  cowardice 
and  indecision,  for,  after  the  death  of  Ratcliff, 
instead  of  attempting  to  rally  his  men,  he  hesi- 
tated as  if  to  retreat,  which  so  discouraged  them 
that  they  fled  hi  eomplote  rout. 


THE  DISASTROUS  CAMPAIGN  OF  ESSEX. 


Th«  Ttnguard  in  retreat  to  alarmed  the  maa 
body  that  thsy  turned  likewia*  and  fled,  aad  tk« 
rearguard  followed  their  example.  Thus  in  a 
•kort  space  of  time  the  whole  army  was  broken  up 
and  confused,  although  the  main  body  of  the 
Irish  had  not  yet  made  tkeir  appearaace. 
Abeut  this  time  aaother  Irish  chief, 
named  O'Rourke,  arrived  on  the  field  with 
a  large  body  ef  infantry,  and  assisted  in  the 
attack. 

Sir  Conyers  Clifford  rainly  oadearoured  te 
stem  the  ebbing  tide  ef  battle,  but  being  seyercly 
wounded,  twe  ef  his  lieutenants  seized  him  and 
ferced  him  to  retire  with  them.  But  when  he 
saw  kis  army  in  utter  rout,  bursting  from  theat 
im  a  fury,  swerd  in  hand,  he  rushed  into  the  midst 
of  his  pursuei*s  and  bravely  fell,  overpowered  by 
numbers. 

The  whole  army  in  a  disorderly  mass  now  made 
for  Beyle,  whither  they  were  hotly  pursued  by 
the  Irish,  who  slew  great  numbers  ef  them.  They 
would  probably  have  been  all  killed  but  for  the 
courageous  conduct  of  Sir  Griffin  Markham, 
#ovemer  of  Beyle,  whe,  when  he  saw  his  country- 
men Ux  retreat,  sallied  out  with  his  troops  and 
charged  the  Irish  so  fiercely  that  they  wei-e  forced 
te  abandon  the  pursuit. 

Glifford's  tragic  death  was  greatly  regretted  by 
the  Irish,  for  he  was  a  wise  and  just  governor, 
and  was  much  respected  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Cennaught.  His  body  was  interred  with  solemn 
ceremonial  in  the  monastery  ef  the  Sacred 
Trinity  en  an  island  in  Lough  Key,  while  his 
head  was  sent  te  Collooney  as  proof  of  the  victory. 
When  O'Conor,  in  Cellooney  Castle,  was  told  ef 
the  defeat  ef  the  English  he  would  not  believe  it 
till  Clifford's  head  was  shown  to  hina,  upon  which 
he  surrendered  unconditionally,  and  was  pardoned 


by  CDonnell,  who  Bagnaaimoiuly  rest«red  t» 
him  his  estates  and  property. 

The  celebrated  pass  through  the  Curlien  Moon- 
tains  in    wkieh   this  battle  took  place  is  eaQed 


Bealach-Buidhe.  meaning  "The  TeUow 
It  gives  name  te  the  townland  of  BaDaftfa- 
boy,  in  the  pariah  et  Aughanagh,  barouy  ef 
Tirerrill,  and  county  of  Sliga 

The  ancient  road  which  travenM  the  peas  is 
now  generally  known  as  Boher-Bwee  (tha  TaDow- 
road),  and  sometimes  Boher-an-Irla-Roe,  ie — ^TIm 
Rtsd  Earl's-road  (Red  Hugh  O'DenneU).  It 
branches  to  the  left  from  the  read  leading  nerth- 
wards  by  the  Fair  Green  from  Bridge-street, 
Boyle,  and  was  Lu  former  times  the  main  road  W 
Sligo  ;  it  is  stiU  traceable,  and  in  many  plaoea 
passable  along  its  course. 

Two  miles  north  of  Beyle,  in  the  townlaad  ef 
Gkrroo,  and  about  150  yards  te  the  right  •£  thia 
ancient  road,  is  a  standing  stone,  called  "  The 
Governor's  Monument,"  which  according  te  tradi- 
tion marks  the  spot  where  Clifford,  disdaininf^ 
flight,  bravely  died  facing  his  fees.  Long  after- 
wards one  ef  the  Kingsten  (Lorton)  family  erected 
to  his  memory  a  monument,  originally  in  thr» 
form  of  an  octagonal  pillar  about  S  feet  high,  built 
ef  chiselled  limestone.  Four  feet  of  this  octagon 
was  standing  until  about  1817,  when  the  stenea 
were  removed  by  seme  local  barbarian,  who  used 
them  in  bailding  a  house,  where  they  may  atiU  be 
seen.  Lord  Lorton's  agent  thereupon  caused  th* 
present  stone  to  be  set  up  in  its  place. 

The  name  "  Ourlieu  "  as  applied  to  those  moun- 
tains is  apt  to  mislead  ;  it  may  therefore  be  ne4 
amiss  ts  mention  that  it  is  an  Anglioised  form  of 
"Gorsliabh,"  the  original  name,  which  inf  ns 
"  rugged  hill."  They  are  consequently  in  no  way 
indebted  te  the  curlew  bird  for  their  BomeBclatark. 


33 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


THE     DOWNFALL    OF    ESSEX    AND    THE     CAMPAIGN    OF 

MOUNTJOY    AND    CAREW. 


FTER  the  Battle  of  the  Cur- 
lieus,  Essex  wrotd  to  England 
for  further  rein  forcemeats; 
biit  by  this  time  Elizab«th 
had  lost  all  confideace  in 
hint,  and  her  patience  waa 
well-nigh  exhausted.  She 
sent  hire  more  troops,  how- 
/ever,  and  with  these  he 
marched  northwards  into 
Louth,  where  O'Neill  wa«  eacamped,  O'Neill 
«ent  messengers  to  request  a  conference 
with  him,  and  on  the  8th  September,  1599, 
these  two  commanders  met  at  the  ford  ^f 
Ballaclinch,  now  spanned  by  Anaghclart  Bridge 
♦cross  the  Lagan,  where  it  forms  the  toundnry 
between  the  counties  Loutk  and  Monaghan.  Haring 
posted  small  bedies  of  their  respective  troops  on 
the  risiag  ground  at  either  side,  they  advanced 
to  meet,  and  O'Neill,  riding  into  the  middle  ef 
the  river,  where  he  remained  during  the  whole 
interview,  saluted  tho  Viceroy  with  great  re- 
spect. 

The  interview  lasted  for  over  aa  hour,  without 
witnesses,  and  historians  have  variously  conjec- 
tured what  transpired,  each,  of  course,  deducing 
conclusions  favourable  to  his  owa  views;  but  it 
has  beea  supposed  by  some  that  the  subject  was 
•f  a  more  startling  nature  ihan  generally 
believed,  involving  the  deposition  of  the  Queen 
and  the  usurpation  of  tho  throne  by  Essex. 

The  ]irincipal  officars  frem  each  side  were  then 
summoned  and  a  formal  parley  held,  at  which  a 
truce  was  agreed  te,  lasting  till  May,  1600,  ter- 
minable, however,  at  a  fortnight's  notice  from 
either  party. 

Whatever  may  have  been  tho  trutk  aa  to  this 
conference,  it  excited  deep  suspicions  at  tho 
English  Court,  particularly  in  the  mind  of  Eliza- 
bet'n.  Essex  left  Ireland  suddenly  and  without 
permission  to  explain  matters,  but  on  pre«enting 
himself  be  fere  the  Queea  she  at  once  ordered 
him   to  be   arrested   and  coafiaed  in  the  Tower. 


Ha  waa  shortly  afterwards  reloaaed,  but  then,  in- 
stead ef  ^jearing  himself  with  caution,  he  began 
to  inveigh  openly  ngainst  the  Queen,  statiag  that 
"  she  grew  old  and  cankered,  and  that  her  mind 
was  become  aa  crooked  aa  her  carcaae."  Hia 
enemies,  who  thea  prevailed  at  Court,  on  hearing 
of  this,  summoned  him  to  the  Council,  but  he  re-  . 
fused  to  attend,  and  armed  some  of  his  followers 
to  resiat.  After  an  insane  attempt  at  insurrec- 
tion and  soma  slight  bloodshed,  this  unhappy 
young  nobleman  waa  arrested,  and  subsequently, 
on  25th  February,  1601,  beheaded  in  the  Tower. 

In  December,  1699,  O'Neill  gave  notice  that  he 
would  renew  hostilities  in  a  fortnight,  and  accord- 
ingly in  January  he  set  out  with  an  army  ef  3,000 
men.  He  marched  through  Westmeath,  Roscrea, 
and  Tullamore  to  the  Abbey  of  the  Holy  Cross,  in 
Tipperary,  where  he  paid  homage  to  the  sacred 
relies  there.  At  Caahel  he  waa  joined  by  tho 
Earl  of  Desmond,  and  the  allied  forces  marched 
to  Limerick  and  thence  to  Cork  by  the  kistorie 
pass  of  Barna  Derg,  where  in  earlier  times  tko 
good  King  Mahon  waa  murdered.  They  then  en- 
camped at  Inishcarra,  on  tho  river  Lee,  about  six 
miles  above  Cork. 

It  happened  one  day  that  Sir  Warham  St  Leger 
and  Sir  Henry  Power,  two  of  tho  Queen's  Com- 
missioners in  Munster,  were  nding  out  for  recrea- 
tion a  few  miles  from  Cork,  when  they  unex- 
pectedly met  Hugh  Maguire  ("  Ford  of  the  Bis- 
cuits"), accompanied  by  a  few  Irish  soldiers. 
Maguire,  levelling  his  lance,  fiercely  charged  St 
Leger,  who  at  the  same  instant  fired  a  pistol  at 
and  mortally  wounded  his  assailant.  St  Leger 
survived  the  combat  only  a  few  days,  and 
Maguire,  with  his  life's-blood  faat  ebbing  away, 
rode  into  canp,  where  he  expired  almost  imiae- 
diately  after  receivmg  tho  last  sacraments.  Tho 
deaths  ef  these  two  distinguished  oficers  caused 
great  regret  in  their  respective  camps. 

Meanwhile  Lord  Mountjoy  had  been  appointed 
Deputy  of  Ireland  and  Sir  George  Carew  Presi- 
dent of  Munster.     On  7th  April,    1600,  Carew  set 


DOWNFALL  OF  ESSEX  ANDCAMPAIGN  OF    MOUNTJOY  AND  CAREW. 


33 


«ut  for  MuQBter  with  a  BMall  armj  of  about  1,000 
men,  beia^  aocompanied  by  th«  Deputy  aa  far  as 
ChapeUzo«L  O'Neill,  hearing  that  the  new  Presi- 
dent was  on  the  march  against  him,  resolved  to 
retire  at  once  to  his  own  territory  in  Ulster,  which 
he  succeeded  in  reaching  in  safety,  although 
Mountjoy  had  marched  to  Mullingar  with  a  cob- 
«iderable  force  to  intercept  him. 
Early  i»  April  Carew  reached  Kilkenny,  where  ho 
was  requested  by  tho  Earl  of  Ormonde,  Com  mander- 
in-Chief,  to  accompany  him  to  Ballyragget,  a  few 
miles  distant,  to  hold  a  conference  with  Owny 
O'More  ("Pass  of  tho  Plumes").  The  meeting  place 
was  a  low  boggy  ground  on  tho  banks  of  a  stream 
«urrouBde«l  by  shrubs  and  thickets,  and  there  the 
Irish  chieftain  made  his  appearance,  accompanied 
by  a  strong  force  of  pikemen  and  cavalry. 

After  about  an  hour  had  been  spent  in  fruitless 
negotiations,  Ormonde's  companions  endeavoured 
to  persuade  him  to  depart,  but  he  was  unwillmg 
to  «lo  BO  until  he  had  spoken  with  a  Jesuit  named 
Archer,  a  leading  spirit  and  adviser  of  the  Irish. 
When  became  forward  the  two  fell  into  argument, 
in  the  course  of  which  Ormonde  called  Archer 
a  traitor  and  a  rebel,  and  reproached  hiu  for  in- 
citing tho  Irish  to  rebellion.  Archer  becauo  so 
excited  and  irritated  by  this  ofifensive  language 
that  he  raised  his  cane  as  if  to  strike  Ormoxde, 
upon  which  there  was  a  general  rush  by  both 
sides,  each  to  protect  their  own  spokesman. 
In  tho  scuffle  which  ensued  one  of 
tlie  O'Mores  seized  tho  reins  of  Ormonde's 
horse,  while  others  of  the  Irish  puUod  tho  Earl 
from  his  saddle.  If  we  are  to  believe  "  Pacata 
Hihernia"  (letter  of  Carew  and  Thomond)  the  Irish 
by  distributing  themselves  among  tho  shrubs 
during  the  interval,  had  quietly  encircled  the 
small  company  of  English,  so  that  when  the  rup- 
ture took  place  tho  latter  were  instantly  sur- 
rounded. Carew  and  Thomond,  with  more  pru- 
dence than  valour,  put  spurs  to  their  horses,  and, 
followed  by  their  companions,  precipitately  fled 
the  scene,  escaping  in  safety  to  Kilkenny,  while 
Ormonde  remained  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  tho 
Irish.  Only  one  man  was  killed  oa  each  side  in 
this  affray. 

The  capture  by  tho  Irish  of  so  important  a  per- 
fionage  as  the  Earl  of  Ormonde  caused  much  ex- 


citement in  Ireland  and  greatly  distresood  hit 
family.  According  to  the  English  de«patclM«, 
however,  he  was  well  treated,  though  detainod  » 
clot>e  prisoner.  He  waa  ultimately  liberatod  m 
the  following  June  on  payment  of  a  ransom  of 
£3,000  and  giving  hostages  not  to  seek  rotali*- 
tion. 

Though  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  his  captura 
was  preconcerted  or  not,  there  is  no  dsabt 
that  Ormoxde  showed  little  prudence  or 
discretion,  first  in  attending  a  mooting  in  no  ooa- 
picious  a  place;  and  secondly,  in  so  far  forgefcfeing 
himself  as  to  use  such  unseemly  language  at  tko 
conference. 

Immediately  after  this  Carew  and  Thonsoad 
marched  from  Kilkenny  to  Waterford,  and  theaoa 
to  Youghal  and  Cork.  In  July,  1600,  tboy  set 
out  from  Limerick,  and,  marchine  into  the  county 
Clare  by  the  northern  bank  of  the  Shannon,  tkoy 
recrossed  the  river  and  laid  siege  to  tho  Castle  of 
Glin,  on  its  banks,  near  the  borders  of  Limerit^ 
and  Kerry.  The  cannon  were  brought  by  river 
from  Limerick  in  one  of  Lord  Thomond's  veaaois. 
The  English  planted  their  artillery  in  pueitioo 
without  any  resistance  from  tho  garrison,  after 
which  tho  Knight  of  the  Valley,  tho  owner  of  tk* 
castle,  requested  an  interview  with  Carew.  Thia 
being  granted,  they  held  a  parley  for  some  time^ 
but,  failing  to  arrive  at  any  satisfactory  terms,  tfa* 
Knight  left  the  camp  and  the  bombardmont  ctua- 
naenced. 

After  about  three  hours'  firing  a  breach  wao 
made  in  the  waU  under  the  great  entrance  hall  of 
the  castle,  and  one  of  the  English  captains  was 
commanded  to  enter  with  some  companiea  of 
soldiers.  They  succeeded  in  forcing  an  entrance^ 
though  stoutly  resisted  by  the  garriicm, 
who  then  took  possession  of  one  of  tho  adjoining 
towers,  from  which  they  kept  up  a  fire  on  tho 
English.  The  storming  party  then  ascended  • 
stairs,  leading  from  the  entrance  hall  to  two 
turrets,  which  they  captured  and  occupied,  loeii^ 
one  officer  and  several  men  in  tho  encounter. 

As  it  was  now  over  night,  the  storming  partj 
fortified  themselves  in  the  portions  they  had  taken, 
and  deferred  further  operations  till  the  foUowtoi; 
morning.  The  constable  of  the  castle,  seeing  no 
possibility  of  success  and  little  hope  ni  mercy. 


34 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


made  an  attempt  with  some  of  his  h«b  to 
escape  in  the  darkHess  of  the  night,  but  they 
were  perceired  by  the  English,  whe  put  them 
to  the  iword  and  fixed  the  constable's  head  on  a 
■take  to  intimidate  the  rest.   Early  next  morning 


whieh  the  besieglDg  party  burned,  causing  such  • 
smeke  that  for  a  ceuple  ef  hours  there  was  no 
going  near  the  place.  At  the  end  ef  that  time  one 
et  the  Irish  came  down  the  stairs  and  ofiPered  on 
behalf  of  the  rest  te  surrender.     His  offer  waa  re- 


e 


THE  STORMING  OF  GUN  CASTLE.     (From  Pacata  Hibemia), 


the  remainder  ef  the  garrison  established  tham- 
■elves  in  the  upper  part  of  tire  principal  tower  of 
the  castle,  to  which  the  only  approach  was  an  ex- 
tremely steep  and  narrow  stairs.  At  the  batten 
•f  this  stairs   was  a   massive   wooden   doorway. 


fused  and  he  himself  waa  kiUed,  upon  wliich  the 
garrison  retired,  te  the  battlements  determined 
to  fight  to  the  last. 

The   English  now  ascended  the  stairs   without 
resistance  until  they  reached  a  deor  at  the  top  lead- 


DOWNFALL  OF  ESSEX  AND  CAMPAIGN  OF  MOUNTJOY  AND  CAREW. 


35 


ing  out  upon  the  roof;  as  they  entered  at  thia  door 
a  dreadful  struggle  commenced,  the  Irish  fighting 
with  the  oiergy  ef  despair,  but  in  vain,  they  were 
ultimately  overcome  by  the  superior  numbers  of 
their  assailants,  and  the  whole  garrisen,  soma  80 
in  number,  were  slain.  The  English  accounts 
{Pacata  Hib.  and  Cox)  say  that  11  of  their  men 
were  killed  and  21  wounded  at  this  siege.  The  Irish 
had  no  cannon  whatever,  se  that  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  they  were  wersted. 

Carew  remained  here  for  five  days  repairing  the 
caatle,  after  which,  leaving  a  garrison  in  it,  he 
marched  on  Carrigafoyle  Csujtle,  about  twelve 
miles  westward  on  the  Shannon,  opposite  Scattery 
Island,  which  was  surrendered  to  him  without 
resistance  by  the  owner,  0' Conor  Kerry.  He  also 
took  or  obtained  possession  of  several  other 
castles  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  whole  popu- 
lation of  the  surrounding  country,  seeing  the 
English  .prevailing  against  them,  abandoned 
their  houses  and  fied  to  the  mountains  and 
forests. 

Meanwhile  the  English  Government  resolved  to 
concentrate  all  their  eflforts  towards  reducing 
O'Neill,  and  with  this  object  despatched  a  fleet  to 
Lough  Foyle,  conveying  a  powerful  army  and 
munitions  ef  war,  in  command  of  Sir  Henry 
Docwra,  who,  after  some  trifling  skirmishes, 
marched  on  and  occupied  Londonderry.  Red 
Hugh  O'Donnell  advanced  to  besiege  him,  on 
which  Docwra  made  a  vigorous  sortie  eut  of  the 
town,  but  was  repulsed  with  some  loss,  he  himself 
being  dangerously  wounded  in  personal  combat 
with  O'Donnell. 

Lord  Mountjoy,  the  Viceroy,  was  during  thia 
time  carrying  on  the  war  against  the  "rebels"  of 
Leix,  who,  under  their  chieftain,  Owny  O'More, 
had  recovered  all  their  original  possessions  from 
the  English  except  PortLeix  (Maryborough).  But 
this  famous  guerilla  chief,  having  incautiously 
exposed  himself  in  one  of  the  border  skirmishes, 
fell  pierced  by  a  musket  ball  on  17th  August, 
1600.  His  death  so  discouraged  his  followers 
that  the  whole  district  of  Leix  soon  afterwards 
reverted  to  the  possession  of  the  English. 

Morysou  says  of  this  incident: — "  But  the  best 
service  at  that  time  was  the  killing  of  Owny  Mac 


Rery,  a  bloody  and  bold  young  man,  wh*  lately 
had  taken  the  Earl  of  Ormond  prisoner,  and  had 
made  great  stirs  in  Munster.  He  was  the  chief  of 
the  O'Mores'  Sept  in  Leix,  and  by  his  death  tbey 
were  so  discouraged  that  they  never  after  held  up 
their  heads." 

"  Our  captains,  and  by  their  example  (for  it  mm 
otherwise  painful)  the  common  soldiers,  did  cat 
down  with  their  swords  all  the  rebels'  eom,  to 
the  value  of  £10,000  and  upward,  the  only 
means  by  which  they  were  to  live  and  to  keep 
their  Bonnaghts  (or  hired  soldiers).  It  seemed 
incredible  that,  by  so  barbarous  inhabitants,  the 
ground  should  be  so  manured,  tte  fields  so  orderly 
fenced,  the  towns  so  frequently  mhabited,  and  the 
highways  and  paths  so  well  beaten  as  the  Lord 
Deputy  here  found  them.  The  reason  whereof 
was  that  the  Queen's  forces  during  theee  wars 
never  tiU  then  came  among  them  "(!) 

Early  in  1601,  after  repeated  attempts.  Mount- 
joy  forced  the  passage  of  the  dangerous  Moyry 
Pass,  immediately  north  of  Dundalk,  and  erected 
a  castle  on  the  northern  approach  to  it.  He  then 
crossed  the  Blackwater  and  marched  on  the  castle 
of  Benburb,  but  the  resistance  he  encountered  on 
the  way  was  such  that  he  deemed  it  advisable  to 
return  to  Dublin  after  having  relieved  the  several 
garrisons  along  his  route. 

When  he  reached  Dublin  he  issued  proclama- 
tions offering  £2,000  for  the  capture  of  O'Neill 
alive  and  £1, 000  for  his  head,  but  even  these 
tempting  ofifers  failed  to  effect  any  result.  In  all 
directions,  however,  disasters  began  to  fall  thickly 
upon  the  Irish.  Nial  Garv  O'Donnell,  who  had 
fought  with  distinction  against  the  English,  now 
went  over  to  them  and  was  sent  by  Docwra  with 
500  troops  to  occupy  the  monastery  of  Donegal, 
where  he  was  besieged  by  his  kinsman  and  former 
comrade.  Red  Hugh  O'DonnelL  After  a  desperate 
midnight  struggle,  in  which  the  building  took  fire, 
exploding  the  powder  magazine,  Nial  Garv  re- 
treated to  the  monastery  of  Magherabeg,  which 
he  occupied  instead.  There  he  was  again  closely 
besieged  till  tidings  came  that  a  Spanish  fleet 
had  arrived  in  Kinsale  to  assist  the  Irish  who 
were  at  war,  upon  which  Red  Hugh  broke  up 
camp  and  marched  southward  to  Munster. 


8( 


IBELAMD'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


THE  SIEGE  AND  BATTLE  OF  KINSALE. 


N  th«  evening  of  20th  Septem- 
ber, 1601,  a  fiiherman  BtAnd- 
ing  on  the  old  Head  of  Einsale, 
saw  far  out  at  sea  a  great  fleet 
in  full  sail,  bearing  for  Cork 
harbour.  The  shipe,  forty-five 
in  number,  passed  close  to  the 
fiead  on  their  way,  but  as  they  were  near- 
ing  the  harbour  a  contrary  wind  ares* 
which  blew  so  hard  that  they  were  forced 
t*  tack  abouli,  and  make  for  Kinsale  in- 
stead. On  23rd  September  they  entered  the 
harbour  of  Kinsale  with  Spanish  oeloura  flying, 
and  landed  all  their  forces  in  the  town.  The  long- 
promised  aid  from  Spain  had  indeed  come  at  last. 
The  small  English  garrison  evacuatad  the  town 
without  attempting  resistance,  and  retired  to 
Cork,  while  the  Irish  received  the  new-comers 
with  great  demonstrations  of  joy.  The  Spaniards, 
some  3,000  strong,  were  commanded  by  an  officer 
named  Don  Juan  Del  Aguilha,  who,  on  entering, 
•t  once  proceeded  to  fortify  the  place  and  garri- 
son the  forts  ef  Rincorran  and  Castle-na-park, 
at  the  eastern  and  western  points  of  the  harbour 
respectively. 

Lord  Mountjoy,  the  Deputy,  was  at  Kilkenny 
when  he  heard  of  the  invasion,  and  with  Sir  George 
Carew,  President  of  Munster,  hastened  to  recon- 
noitre the  enemy's  camp. 

Kinsale  is  a  seaport  town  situated  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Bandou,  in  County  Cork,  in  a  position 
extremely  difficult  to  defend  except  against  an 
attack  by  sea.  It  is  hard  te  account  for  so  unfor- 
tunate a  choice  by  the  Spaniards,  unless  indeed 
that  they  were  driven  into  it  by  stress  of  weather, 
and  even  if  such  were  t)ie  case  there  was  nothing 
to  prevent  tkem  leaving  it  when  tlie  weather  had 
calmed.  Both  O'Neill  and  O'Donnell  had  be- 
sought the  Spanish  King  to  send  hia  aid  t«  Ulster, 
80  a«  to  efifect  a  junction  with  the  Irish  forces 
there,  but,  now  so  far  distant  from  them 
as  Kinsale,  the  Spaniards  were  almost  ^i- 
tirely  unsupported.  On  landing,  however,  they 
lost  no  tioie  in  despatchuig  messengers  to  the 
north  to  apprise  the  Irish  chieftains  of  their  ar- 


rival, upon  which  Red  Hugh  O'Donaell,  accom- 
panied by  many  of  the  nobility  of  the  North,  at 
onoe  set  out  on  the  march.  Carew,  with  a  superior 
force,  marched  from  Kinsale  and  endeavoured  to 
intercept  him  near  Cashel,  while  St  Lawrence, 
with  the  Army  of  the  Pale,  pursued  him  in  the 
rare.  But  notwithstanding  these  formidable  pre- 
parations for  his  destruction,  O'Donnell  succeeded 
in  esoaping  by  taking  a  circuitous  route  west- 
ward over  tlie  Slieve  Felim  Mountains  in  Tip- 
perary  and  Limerick,  accomplishing  a  journey  of 
40  English  miles  in  a  day  with  an  army  encum- 
bered by  baggage,  a  feat  almost  unprecedented 
in  military  history  !  Carew,  after  a  frantic  effort, 
abandoned  the  pursuit,  despairing  ef  overtaking 
so  swift-footed  a  commander. 

On  17th  October  the  English  army,  number- 
ing about  12,000  men,  afterwards  increased  to 
15,000,  aat  down  before  Kinsale,  and  encamped 
at  a  hill  called  Knock  Robin,  a  mile  and  a-half 
north-east  of  the  town.  Towards  the  close  ef  the 
month  they  sent  a  party  to  attack  the  fort  of 
Rincorran,  which  the  Spaniards  attempted  to 
relieve  by  sea,  but  were  repulsed  by  the  English 
ships  in  the  harbour.  The  English  cannon  con- 
tinued te  play  night  and  day  upon  the  fort,  and 
the  Spaniards  made  another  unsuccessful  attempt 
to  relieve  it  by  land,  inflicting,  bowevw,  consider- 
able loss  on  the  besiegers.  On  1st  November, 
after  a  prolonged  parley,  the  garrison,  eighty  in 
number,  surrendered,  and,  with  their  com- 
mander, were  sent  prisoners  to  Cork. 

About  the  middle  of  November  the  English 
vessels  commenced  a  bombardment  of  the  fort  of 
Castle-na-park,  at  the  other  side  of  the  harbour, 
but  failed  to  effect  anything  further  than 
damaging  the  battlements.  They  then  sent 
ashore  a  storming  party  ef  400  men  to  sap  the 
foundations,  but  the  garrison  met  them  with 
such  a  tremendous'  volley  of  musketry  and 
missiles  of  every  description  that  they  were 
forced  to  abandon  the  attempt  with  the  loss 
•f  several  of  their  number.  On  20th  Novem- 
ber, after  a  heroic  defence  ap;ainst  hopeless  odds, 
the  small  garrison  (seventeen)  of   this  fort  also 


DOWNFALL  OF  ESSEX  AND  CAMPAIGN  OF  MOUNTJOY  AND  CABEW. 


37 


surrendered  on  condition  of  their  Utm  being 
spared,  and  were  sent  prisoners  after  their  com- 
rades to  Cork,  and  thence  t*  England. 

All  this  time  the  English  ordnance,  about 
twenty  in  number,  were  eonatantly  playing  on 
the  town,  while  the  Spaniards  hail  enly  three  er 
four  pieces  to  return  the  fire,  the  vessels  ceavey- 
ing  their  artillery  having  put  back  to  Spain 
owing  to  stress  of  weather. 

At  the  end  of  November  the  English  sent  a 
trumpeter  to  formally  summon  the  garrison  to 
surrender,  but  he  returned  with  the  answer  that— 


attempt  was  made  after  this  to  enter  th«  t«wn, 
but  the  eannen  continued  to  play,  reducing  it  m 
p»rtB  to  ruins. 

Oa  3rd  December  the  aissing  portion  of  th* 
Spanirii  fleet  sailed  into  Castlehaven,  about  80 
miles  westward,  and  lauded  some  troops  there, 
part  of  whom  garrisoned  the  castles  of  Baltimore, 
Dunboy,  and  Castlehaven,  and  the  remainder 
joined  Red  Hugh  O'Donnell's  army,  and  marched 
with  them  on  Kinsale.  These  vessels  also  brought 
a  quantity  of  artillery  and  ammunition,  which 
they  landed  and  placed  along  the  harbour  for  its 


^^id^^S^^Mm 


KINSALE  HABBOITB. 


"  Don  Juan  held  that  town,  first  for  Christ,  and 
then  for  the  King  of  Spain,  and  so  would  defend 
it  against  all  their  enemies."  Again  the  English 
artillery  thundered  against  the  devoted  town, 
and  by  the  1st  of  December  the  besiegers  were 
rewarded  by  the  sight  of  the  first  breach  in  the 
walls.  At  once  a  party  of  2,000  were  seat  forward 
to  enter,  protected  by  an  incessant  cannonade; 
but  the  garrison,  sallying  out,  met  them  with 
such  gallantry  that,  after  an  hour's  fighting,  the 
English  retired  te  their  camp  without  making 
even  an  attempt  to  storm  the  breach.    No  further 


defence.  The  English,  hearing  of  th«  new 
arrivals  at  Castlehaven,  at  once  sent  six  of  thaii 
fleet  to  attack  them,  and  a  fierce  engagement 
ensued  in  the  harbour,  one  ef  the  Spanish  veHcla 
being  sunk  in  shallow  water.  Having  expended 
aU  his  ammunition,  the  English  commander  than 
attempted  to  sail  victoriously  out  of  Uie  harbeor, 
but,  to  his  intense  chagrin,  he  found  he  was  b*- 
calmed,  and  when  a  wind  afterwards  arose  it  wia 
contrary,  and  only  drove  him  closer  to  the  shor*. 
The  Irish,  seemg  how  matters  stood,  opened  fra 
with  all  their  cannon,  which  they  plied  inrnmantlj 


38 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDa 


during  the  two  days  the  English  vesaelB  were  oem- 
fined  in  the  harbour,  bo  that  whem  they  returaed  t* 
Kintale  they  were  in  a  sorry  plight,  haying  lost 
■everal  hundred  of  their  men  and  received  about 
feur  or  five  hundred  hot  durins  their  brief 
sojourn. 

On  21st  December — soon  after  O'Donnell's  ar- 
rival — Hugh  O'Neill  appeared  with  a  large  feroe  on 
a  hill  called  Belgooly,  three  miles  nerth-east  of 
the  English  camp,  where  he  entrenched  himself 
directly  between  the  besiegers  and  Cork,  thereby 
cutting  off  their  supplies  from  headquarters.  In 
that  position  he  resolutely  remained  and  refused 
to  he  drawn  out  of  it  by  any  ruse.  The  English 
commanders  now  became  seriously  alarmed^ 
sickness  and  desertion  were  fast  thianing  their 
ranks,  their  supplies  had  been  cut  off,  while  those 
they  had  were  nearly  exhausted,  and,  worse  than 
all,  the  dreaded  victor  of  Bellanaboy  lowered  like 
a  thundercloud  over  their  camp,  ready  at  any 
mom^it  to  burst  forth  in  destruction  upoM  thein. 
Mountjoy  began  to  consider  the  advisability  ef 
abandoning,  or  at  least  postponing,  the  siege,  and 
retiring  to  Cork.  But  the  Spaniards,  cooped  up 
in  the  town,  became  more  and  more  impatient 
seeing  that  no  active  measures  were  being 
concerted,  and  Del  Aguilha  despatched 
several  communications  to  the  Irish  com- 
manders pressing  them  to  take  immediate 
action.  O'NeiU  strongly  resisted  all  proposals 
for  active  measures,  knowing  that  time  was 
the  greatest  enemy  of  the  English,  who  were  fast 
withering  away  by  disease  and  famine.  But  oba 
Spanish  commander  renewed  his  demands, 
strenuously  urging  the  Irish  to  make  a  general 
attack  upon  the  English  camp  an  a  certain  night, 
while  he  was  simultaneously  to  make  a  sortie 
from  the  town.  When  this  proposal  was  discussed 
in  council  by  the  Irish  it  was  still  opposed  by 
O'NeiU,  who  earnestly  entreated  them  to  wait,  as 
the  English  could  not  hold  out  much  longer  ;  but 
Red  Hugh  O'Donnell,  with  the  ardour  and  impe- 
tuosity  ef  youth,  advocated  an  immediate  attack, 
in  which  view  he  was  supported  by  the  majority 
of  the  Irish  chiefs.  Thereupon  O'Neill,  unwillmg, 
acquiesced  in  the  arrangement. 

On  th«  night  of  the  22nd  December  an  Irish 
officer  named  MacMfthon,  whose  son  had  served 


as  a  page  to  the  President  in  England,  sent  • 
messenger  to  the  English  camp  to  request  the 
favour  ot  a  bottle  of  agua  vitCB  from  the  President. 
To  this  request  Carew,  for  the  sake  of  their  old 
friendship,  readily  acceded,  and  sent  him  th« 
bottle  by  the  messenger. 

Next  day  MacMahon  sent  another  messenger 
with  a  letter  thankinc:  him  for  his  kindness  ;  but 
unfortunately  for  the  Irish  his  gratitude  did  not 
end  there,  for  the  letter  also  warned  him  of  the 
intended  attack  upon  the  English  camp  that 
night.  The  President  was  well  repaid  for  his 
bottle  of  whiskey. 

It  is  right  te  say  that  the  sole  authority  for 
this  incident  is  " Paeata  Hihernia." 

Messengers  were  now  despatched  hotfoot  to  all 
the  outlying  English  posts,  and  the  whole  camp 
bustled  with  preparations.  A  letter  from  the 
Spanish  commander  which  was  intercepted  cen- 
firmed  the  intelligence  as  to  the  attack  that 
night. 

A  little  before  daybreak  one  of  the  English 
officers  rode  up  in  great  haste  to  the  Deputy,  say- 
ing that  he  had  seen  great  numbers  of  matches 
glimmering  through  the  darkness  [the  guns  then 
in  use  were  matchlocks],  and  that  lie  believed  the 
Irish  were  marching  upon  them  in  force,  and  soon 
afterwards  thescouts  reported  similarly.  Thereupon 
the  Deputy  sent  forward  a  body  of  picked  men  to 
oppose  the  passage  of  the  Irish  at  a  barricade 
across  the  road  by  which  they  were  advancing. 
The  main  body  of  the  English  marched  to  a  piece 
of  ground  to  the  west  ef  the  town,  enclosed  be- 
tween a  bog  and  a  trench,  and  here,  protected  on 
the  flanks  by  cannon,  they  awaited  the  onset  of 
the  enemy. 

The  Irish  had  originally  set  out  in  three  divi- 
sions,  but,  the  night  being  exceptionally  dark  and 
tempestuous,  they  lost  their  way,  and  the  divi- 
sions becasae  separated. 

When  O'NeiU,  stealthily  advancing  by  a  ciroui^ 
tons  route  in  the  uncertain  light  of  dawn,  crossed 
a  low  hiU  from  which  he  could  view  the  English 
camp  he  was  confused  and  thunderstruck  at  the 
sight  which  met  hisgaze.  Instead  of  taking  the  Eng- 
lish unawares,  as  bethought,  biU  and  dale  bristled 
with  serried  masses  of  cavalry  and  infantry, 
spears  and  sAbres  gleamed  in  th«  dim  twilighti 


DOWNFALL  OP  ESSEX  AND  CAMPAIGN  OF  MOUNTJOY  AND   CAREW. 


39 


Btandarda  waved  ia  the  meraing  breeze,  toki  the 
olank  and  dm  ef  arms  mingled  with  the  crash  of 
tiie  breakers  •■  the  shore.  He  retaiaed  his  pre- 
sence •£  mind,  however,  and  ordered  his 
men  to  stand  well  together,  aad  then  to  retire 
slowly  towards  a  ferd  at  the  foot  ef  the 
hill;  but  all  that  he  eould  d*  would  act  keep  then 
steady,  and  after  a  time  they  broke  up  and  re- 
treated in  considerable  disorder.  When  Marshal 
Wingfield  thought  he  ebserved  some  cenfusion  in 
their  rasks  he  and  Lord  Clanricarde  charged 
them,  but  O'Neill's  cavalry  thea  came  to  the 
rescue,  and  drove  back  the  English  again  and 
again,  till  reinforcements  arrived,  when  the  Irish 
at  length  gave  way,  still  fightiag  stubbornly.  The 
retreat  became  a  rout,  and  the  English  cavalry 
poured  upon  the  broken  masses,  killing  them  in 
hundreds.  Another  body  of  Irish  and  Spaniards 
under  Sir  Richard  Tyrrell,  then  came  up  and 
made  a  brief  stand,  but,  being  unsupported,  they 
were  likewise  broken  and  a  great  number  killed. 
According  to  the  English  aceoimts,  the  Irish  lost 
pver  1,200  in  this  engagement,  but  the  Irish,  with 
soma  reason,  make  the  number  much  less.  The 
Earl  of  Clamricarde   distinguished    himself  that 


day,  killing  twenty  Irish  with  his  own  hand,  aad 
crying  out  to  "  spare  no  rebel,"  for  which  ■arrioe 
the  Deputy  knighted  him  im  tho  field  in  ijbm 
midst  of  the  slain. 

The  English  then  held  a  thanksgiving,  and 
fired  off  a  feu-de-joi  on  tho  field  of  battle,  hear- 
ing which  the  Spaniards  sallied  out  of  tlio  tuwn, 
imagining  a  battle  was  proceeding,  but  quickly  re- 
turned on  discovering  their  mistake. 

Through  some  extraordinary  misunderstanding 
the  Spaniards  failed  to  support  the  Irish  attack  by 
a  simultaneous  sortie  from  the  town,  as  tboy  had 
promised ;  and  it  was  only  when  the  engagement 
was  quite  over  that  they  made  their  appearance 
as  above  described.  U&ny  prisoners  were  taken  in 
this  battle,  and  the  English  themselves  admit  that 
thev  were  hanged  on  being  brought  into  camp. 
{"  Pacata  Hibernia,"  page  421). 

This  disastrous  overthrow  of  the  Irish  took 
place  on  the  morning  of  24th  December,  1601, 
Old  Style ;  it  broke  the  power  of  O'Neill,  who  waa 
then  an  old  man;  and  O'Donnell  died  shortly 
afterwards,  broken-hearted,  in  Spain,  whither  ho 
had  gone  to  invoke  further  aid  for  his  unhappy 
countrymen. 


THE  SACK  OF  DUNBOY  AND  THE  RETREAT  OF  DONAL  O'SULLIVAN  BEARK 


FTER    tho  battle    of     Einsale    the 
Spanish  commander  capitulated,  and 
his  army  marched  out  of  tho  town 
with  all  the  honours   of  war.     Del 
Aguilha  after  this  formed  an   inti- 
mate   friendship    with  Sir    George 
Carew,  and  openly  expressed  his  con- 
tempt and  dislike  for  the  Irish,  so  that  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  their  leaders  believed  him  to  bo  guilty 
ef  cowardice  or  treachery.    Not  only  had  he  sur- 
rendered   Einsale,    but    he    undertook  also    to 
deliver  up  the  Castles  of  Baltimore,  Dunboy,  and 
Castlehaven,  which,  though  garrisoned  by  Spanish 
troops,   were  the   private  property  of  the  Irish 
chieftains.        Baltimore    and    Caatleks-ven    sur- 
rendered, according   to  Del  Aguilha's  agr«^ement, 
but  Doaal  O'Sullivaa,  Prinee  of  Beare  and  Ban  try, 
deemed    the  proposal  to  surrender  his  anco  ^ral 


castle  as  nothing  short  of  treason,  and  detorninod 
to  hold  it  airainst  the  English  till  help  should 
come  from  Spain. 

Accordingly  he  marched  with  a  snail  force  to 
the  walls  of  the  castle  and  demanded  admittance, 
but  he  found  it  occupied  by  a  Spanish  garrison, 
who  refused  to  give  him  possession  of  it,  having 
heard  of  Del  Aguilha'i  terms  of  capitulation. 
O'Sullivan,  however,  kn<  wing  the  positions  of  the 
outworks,  determined  to  try  strategy,  and  one 
dark,  tempestuous  night  ho  approached  the 
castle  and  made  an  aperture  in  the  eutor  wall 
through  which  he  and  his  men  effected  an  en- 
trance, surprisiag  and  overpowering  the 
Spaniards,  some  of  whom  remained  in  tlie  castle 
and  tlie  rest  left  for  Einsale. 

Del  Aguilha  was  greatly  irritated  at  the  seizure 
of  Dunboy  in  defiance  of  his  capitulation,  and  be 


40 


Ireland's  battles  and  battlefields. 


•ffered  to  go  himself  and  iis]»oiPeB8  O'Sullivan, 
but  this  geMtrouB  proposal  was  dscliueil  by  th« 
English  coinmander. 

Carew  set  out  from  Cork  •n  20tli  April,  1602, 
with  an  army  rf  3,000  men,  while  Wilmot,  with 
another  force  »f  1,000,  marched  from  Kerry — 
both  t©  attack  Dunboy.  Early  in  Jume  this  army 
•f  4,000  sat  d«wn  befora  tha  casble,  defended 
by  143  resolute  and  datermined  men,  who  had 
only  a  few  small  cannoa  to  appose  tha  well 
equipped  park  af  artillery  of  the  besiegers.  The 
defence  af  tha  castle  was  entrusted  ta  Richard 
MacGeoghegan,  while  O'Sullivan  and  Tyrrell  were 
encamped  at  some  distanca  inland.  Before  tha 
siaga  commenced  Carew  seat  a  letter  ta  the 
Spaniards  who  were  among  the  garrison,  attempt- 
ing ta  bribe  them  into  betray isg  the  castle  or  in- 
juring the  ordnance  and  ammunition,  but  this 
preposition  they  rejected  with  scorn.  He  next 
sought  to  corrupt  tha  Irish  commander,  and  seMt 
tha  Baron  of  Inchiquin  to  hold  a  parley  wil  h  him, 
but  ia  this  he  fared  no  better,  for  the  brare 
MacGeoghegan  was  the  soul  of  chivalry  and 
honour. 

Meanwhile  a  Spaaish  ship  had  arrived  at  Ardea, 
on  Kenmai-eBay,  brmginj:  arms  and  treasure,  as 
well  as  the  cheering  intelligence  that  a  fresh  ex- 
pedition was  being  argaaised  in  Spain,  upan 
which  O'Sullivan  at  once  set  out  ta  meet  tha  ea- 
voys  who  had  landed  there. 

Th%  English  now  began  the  bombardment  of 
the  castle,  and  after  a  few  days  attempted  to 
starm  it,  but  were  vigorously  repulsed  after 
■ama  loss  on  bath  sides.  The  batteries  still  con- 
tinued to  play  incessantly,  and  in  a  few  days 
more  a  breach  was  made;  agaia  a  storming  party 
sought  to  enter,  but  were  repulsed  as  before, 
though  they  succeeded  far  a  time  in  gaining  the 
hall  af  kha  castle.  By  the  17th  of  June  the 
castle  was  little  mare  than  a  shattered  ruin,  and 
the  garrisaa,  seeing  the  hopelessness  «f  further  re- 
■istanca,  sent  a  messenger  to  tha  English  caup  to 
offer  surrender  provided  they  were  aHawed  to 
depart  with  their  arms.  The  offer  was  refused, 
tka  messenger  at  once  hanged,  and  the  order 
given  for  a  fresh  attack.  The  garrison  disputed 
thv  entrance  for  a  long  time,  but  ultimately  were 
forced  to  yield  to  tha  averwhalming  numbers  of 


their  assailants,   who  at    length    planted    thair 
standard  in  one  of  the  tawars. 

New  inspired  by  despair,  however,  the  Irish 
fought  with  the  most  amazing  fury — from 
turret  to  garret,  from  hall  to  stairs,  from 
vault  to  vault,  tha  dreadful  struggle  raged 
all  day  till  tha  castle  flowed  with  blood. 
Some  thirty  af  tha  garrison  attempted  to 
escape  by  swimming  across  an  arm  of  tha  sea,  but 
they  were  killed,  some  before  they  could  reach  tha 
water  and  the  others  by  saldiers  posted  in  boats 
for  that  nurpese.  At  length  the  survivors  tttok 
refuge  ia  a  cellar,  entered  by  a  narrow  flight  af 
Btaue  stairs,  in  which  part  af  tha  castle  the  gun- 
powder was  stored.  MacGeoghegan  was  now 
mortally  wounded,  and  the  command  devolved 
on  Thomas  Taylor,  wha,  when  he  entered  the 
cellar,  threatened  to  fire  tha  powder  and  blow  up 
castle  and  all  unless  thair  lives  were  promised  to 
them. 

Carew,  however,  refused  this,  and  poiired  a 
fubilade  of  cannon  balls  into  the  cellar,  upon 
which  Taylar  was  forced  by  his  comrades  to  desist* 
fram  his  threat,  and  surrender  with  them  uncon- 
ditionally. But  Mac6eaghagan,  thaugh  dying, 
disdained  to  surrender  ;  and  when  he  saw  his 
companions  yielding  and  tha  Englifih  enterinc^  the 
place,  by  a  superhuman  effort  ha  raised  himself 
from  tha  floor,  where  ka  had  lain  down  to  die, 
and,  seizing  a  lighted  torch,  crawled  over 
to  fire  the  barrels  af  powder.  There- 
upon one  ot  the  English  officers  caught 
him  just  in  time  to  prevent  him  effecting  his  des- 
perate design,  and  held  him  ia  his  arms  till  he 
was  killed  by  some  of  the  soldiers.  So 
died  the  brave  MacGeoghegan,  a  true  hero  and 
gallant  soldier.  Taylor  and  his  companions,  78  in 
all,  were  then  brought  prisoners  into  tha  English 
eamp.  Fifty-eight  of  these  brave  fellows  were 
hanged  that  day  ia  tha  market-place  af  Castle- 
tawa  Beare,  and  the  remaining  fifteen  ware 
executed  a  few  days  later  in  Cork  and  els'ewhere, 
sa  that  not  one  af  that  little  baud  survived  after  a 
heroic'  defence  for  eleven  days  against  thirty 
times  thair  number. 

The  defence  af  Dunboy  is  ana  of  the  most  bril- 
liant episodes  af  Irish  history,  and  the  lustre 
with  which  even  unbympatbatic  annalists  have  in- 


DOWNFALL  OF  ESSEX  AND   CAMPAIGN   OF  MOUNTJOY  AND  CAREW. 


41 


TMted  it  ia  not  tarnished  by  the  absence  of  sue- 
eesa  or  by  the  cruel  fate  of  iti  gallant  defender!. 
"Pacata  Hibernia,"  says — "The  whole  number  of 
the  ward  consisted  of  oae  hundred  and  forty- 
three  selected  fightinf;  men,  being  the  West  choice 
of  all  their  forces,  of  wbick  no  oae  escaped,  but 
were  either  slaia,  executed, or  buried  in  the  ruins; 
and  so  obstinate  and  resolved  a  defence  had  not 
been  seen  within  tliis  kingdom." 

On  22nd  June,  1806,  Carew  blew  up  the  re- 
mains of  the  castle  with  the  gunpowder  found  in 
the  cellars. 

Of  this  once  famous  stronghold  there  mow  re- 
mains but  two  parallel  walls,  about  49  feet  long, 
10  feet  high,  8  feet  thick,  and  36  feet 
asuader.  There  also  remains  a  small  portion  of 
the  wall  at  the  western  end,  but  of  the  eastern 
ead  wall  every  trace  has  disappeared.  Some  low, 
irregular  grassy  mounds,  relics  of  the  original 
outworks,  extend  around  the  ruins.  On  the 
north  side  tlie  descent  to  the  sea  is  nearly  per- 
pendicular, and  on  the  east  the  ground  facing  the 
open    bay  slopes  /gradually  to  the  water's  edge. 

The  ruins  are  now  surrounded  by  trees,  giving 
the  place  an  air  of  frloomy  solitude,  and  the  tra- 
veller often  passes  on  his  way,  uaeonscious  of  bis 
proximity  to  a  spot  of  such  tragic  celebrity  in 
Irish  history. 

After  tko  destruction  of  his  ancestral  castle 
O'SuUivan  Beare,  now  homeless,  retired  with  hie 
people  to  the  mauatains  and  woods  of  Glengarriff, 
where  he  kept  the  Eaglisk  forces  at  bay  till 
Christmas  time,  when,  forsaken  by  aaaay  of  his 
•fficers,  his  posibioa  became  desperate.  Cooped 
up  in  a  wild  and  desolate  glen,  the  overhanging 
mountains  covered  with  the  winter  aaews,  he  was 
pressed  hard  by  the  English  while  eaeuaabered 
by  a  crowd  of  his  people  unarmed,  infirm,  and 
laany  of  them  women  and  children.  His  fighting 
aaen  were  only  a  few  hundred  in  number.  After 
%  hastv  consultation  with  his  few  remaining 
officers,  it  was  decided,  as  all  other  resources  were 
•xhaustod,  that  their  oalv  hope  was  now  torotreat 
northwards  to  Ulster,  and  fight  their  way  through 
the  hostile  districts  till  they  reached  the  territory 
«C  O'Ruarc,  Prince  of  Sreffni.  The  project  was  a 
desperate  one,  but  to  remain  where  they  were  was 
certain  destruction. 


Accordingly,  on  the  Slst  December,  1602,  vytm- 
menced  this  memorable  aad  disastrous  retreat, 
which  has  excited  the  admiration  of  historians 
of  every  country.  O'Sullivaa,  when  setting  out, 
had  400  fighting  men  and  600  nou-cumbatants, 
the  latter  mostly  women,  children,  old  people, 
and  servant;.  He  had  been  unable  to  make  any 
special  arrangements  for  supplying  them  with 
■food,  aad  w:is  obiie:ed  to  depend  upon  the  chaaees 
of  obtaining  a  sufficiency  on  the  way,  as  he  had 
plenty  of  atoney  sent  him  from  Spain.  But  ke 
found  «h«  people  afraid  to  sell  him  anythwg,  as 
the  President  had  Rent  word  that  anyone  asaisfc- 
iag  them  in  any  way  would  be  tre  ited  as  O'SuOi- 
van's  covert  or  open  abettors.  And  any  lands 
through  whieh  they  passed  were  to  be  forfeited 
to  the  Crown. 


BERBHATSNT. 

With  the  imperfect  resources  at  his  disposal 
O'SuIlivan  found  it  utterly  impossible  to  brtiq^ 
his  sick  and  wouaded  with  him,  and  accordingly 
he  left  them  behind  in  his  camp 
with  a  supply  of  food,  hoping  probably 
that  they  would  be  humanely  dealt  with. 
But  he  was  mistaken,  for  in  the  words  of  Carow 
himself  in  Pacata  JSihemia  (page  659) — "  The 
next  morning,  being  the  4th  January,  1603,  Sir 
Charles  Wilmot,  comming  to  seelce  the  Enemy  m 
iheir  Campe,  he  found  nothing  but  hurt  and  tiehe 
men,  wh«se  pains  and  lives  by  the  soldiers  were  both 
determined"  (ended). 

The  first  day  of  their  march  O'SuUivt-n  and  his 
people  reached  Bally vourney ;  from  that  they 
proceeded  into  the  couatj  Limerick,  and  uade 
for  the  Glen  of  Aherlow,  where  they  hoped  for  » 
brief  rest  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  Galtoe?.  On 
the  way  they  were  met  by  Viscount  Barry,  with 
a  strong  force,  at  Bellagkan  ford,  near  Buttevaat, 
where  he  hoped  to  stop   their  progress,    but   the 


42 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


famished  and  desperate  fugitivea  fought  with 
such  ferocity  that  they  utterly  routed  their  oppo- 
neaka.  They  then  reached  th«  Tale  of  Aherlow, 
where  thoy  refreshed  themaelTts  with 
kerbs  and  water,  for  they  could  get 
no  other  food.  On  tkey  still  advanced,  their 
ranks  thinning  eTery  day,  BtiM  harassed  and 
pursued  by  their  ruthless  foes,  botk  EaglLsh  and 
Irish,  and  often  reduced  to  the  direst  straits  for 
wank  of  food.  On  the  ninth  day  of  their  toilsome 
journey  they  reached  the  Shannon  at  Lorrhae 
oppeaitd  Portumna,  but  they  had  no  means  of 
crossing,  and  maan while  their  assailants  were 
horering  around  like  vultures,  but  afraid  to  at- 
tack. O'Sullivan  ordered  hia  men  to  entrench 
tkemaelves,  and  gave  directions  to  have  a  number 
of  his  heraes  killed ;  the  flesh  was  kept  a»  a  luxury 
for  the  sick  aud  wounded,  and  the  skina  were 
stretched  over  wooden  frames  so  as  to  form  light 
eurraghs  or  boats.  In  those  frail  skiffs  ke  trans- 
ported his  people  across  the  river,  repelling  at  the 
same  time  an  attack  by  the  Sheriff  of  Tipporary, 
who  attempted  te  throw  the  women  uid  children 
into  the  river. 

The  gaunt  and  attenuated  band  next  reached 
Aughrim,  where  they  were  met  by  three  times 
their  number,  under  Captains  Malby  and  Burke, 


Lord  Clanriearde's  brother;  but  here  they  wore 
again  victorious — like  starving  wolves,  maddened 
by  hunger  and  suffering,  they  dashed  upon  their 
foes  with  resistless  fury,  scattering  them  like 
chaff  before  the  wind,  killing  their  leader  and 
capturmg  their  standards. 

When  they  arrived  in  Roscommon,  where  they 
were  kindly  treated  by  the  inhabitants,  a  guide 
pi-eaented  himself  and  offered  to  conduct  them  te 
O'Ruarc'a  castle,  about  a  day's  march  oft.  O'Sul- 
livan, struck  by  his  kindness,  gave  him  two  hun- 
dred pieces  of  gold,  which  he  accepted  with  some 
kesitattoa,  as  he  wished  for  no  reward.  After 
travelling  for  a  whole  night  in  the  dark,  they  at 
length  reached  the  summit  of  one  of  the  Curlieu 
mountains  at  sunrise,  from  which  the  guide 
pointed  out  in  the  distanee  the  towers  and  battle- 
ments of  O'Ruarc's  castle  rising  above  the  trees. 
There  being  no  further  difficulties  he  then  bade 
them  farewell. 

About  noon  O'Sullivan,  with  85  survivors, 
resehed  the  castle,  where  they  received  every  pos- 
Bible  kindness;  some  more  straggled  in  next  day 
in  detached  parties  of  two  or  three,  but  out  of 
the  thousand  who  had  originally  set  out  from 
Olengarriff,  not  one  hundred  reached  the  friendly 
portals  of  O'Ruarc,  Prince  of  BreffnL 


BSKBUBB. 


43 


BE  NBU  RB. 


N  1646  Owen  Roe  O'Nsill  was  Oom- 
maader  of  the  Irish  treops  ut  CTlster, 
and  in  the  spring  ef  that  year  he 
travelled  to  Kilkssny  t*  neet  Rinuecini, 
the  Pope's  Nuncloj  who  hrought  him  money 
and  supplies.  He  then  returned  to  the 
North  te  calleet  his  forces,  and  in  the  month  e£ 
May  had  assembled  an  army  of  5,000  foot  and 
500  horse.  Esrly  in  June,  while  drilling  his 
troops  at  Cr Dana^h,  in  Cavan,  news  reached  him 
that  the  whole  of  the  English  and  Scotch  garrisons 
in  Ulster  were  to  start  immediately  from  their 
quarters,  unite  in  one  great  army  imder  Major- 
General  Hunroe,  and  advance  by  foreed  marches 
on  Kilkenny  to  suppress  the  assembly  of  repre- 
sentatives there.  The  intended  point  of  rendezveus 
was  Glaslough,  in  the  north  of  Menaghan.  The 
main  body,  under  Major-Qeneral  Munroe  himself, 
was  te  march  there  fe-om  Belfast,  another  detach- 
ment under  his  brother  George  was  to  proceed 
southwards  from  Coleraine,  crossing  the  Black- 
water  at  Benburb,  and  these  two  forces  united 
were  to  be  joined  at  Clones  by  the  Donegal  con- 
tingent. 

To  prevent  the  union  of  all  these  troops  was 
BOW  O'Neill's  plan  ;  there  was  no  time  for  heiita- 
taon,  he  therefore  resolved  to  threw  all  his 
strength  into  one  swift  and  telling  blow  before  the 
two  first-mentioned  forces  could  effect  a  junetien. 
The  5th  of  June  was  the   day  appointed  for  the 


meeting  of  the  brothers  Munroe  at  Waslough. 
O'NeiH  was  there  by  the  4th;  thence  he  uarchod 
north  ward,croesed  the  Black  water  into  Tyrone,  and 
encamped  at  Benburb.  He  then  sent  a  strong 
body  of  cavalry  northwards  to  intercept  GteorfO 
Munroe  and  beat  him  back  upon  his  route,  and  be 
despatched  another  force  to  hold  the  ford  at  Port- 
more,  lest  either  party  should  attempt  to  cross 
there. 

Meanwhile,  on  same  day  (4th},  the  main  body, 
under  Major-Gensral  Munroe,  had  marched  from 
Dromore,  in  Sown,  to  Loughadyan,  near  Poyntz- 
pass,on  the  borders  of  Armagh,about  20  miles  from 
Benburb.  Munroe  had  sent  en  iu  advance  a  small 
force  ef  light  cavalry  to  cross  the  Blackwater  at 
Benburb  and  meet  his  brother's  forces  en  their 
way  te  Glaslough.  By  accident  thib  cavalry  fell 
in  with  a  few  of  the  Irish  scouts,  and  sncceededin 
making  prisoner  of  one,  kem  whem  they  elicited 
the  startling  intelligence  that  O'Neill  was  already 
entrenched  at  Benburb.  Quickly  retracing  their 
steps  they  bore  their  prisoner  back  te  their  eosa- 
mander,  who  then  learned  that  O'Neill  lay  right 
between  him  and  his  brother's  forces.  Althoufl^ 
it  was  new  late  at  night,  Munroe  roused  his  army 
irom  their  slumbers  and  instantly  despatched  all 
his  cavalry  te  Armagh,  while  the  infantry  and 
artillery  struck  their  tents,  broke  up  camp,  and 
foUewed. 

About  eight  o'clock  on  Friday  morning,  5th  ci 
June,  Ceneral  Munroe  and  his  army  rode  out 
from  Armagh  and  made  a  reconnaissance  of  the 
enemy's  position  at  Benburb,  which  he  observed 
to  be  very  strong,  as  they  held  both  the  bridge 
and  the  ford.  He  then  held  a  council  with  his 
officers,  at  which  it  was  decided  that  it  would  be 
imprudent  to  risk  an  engagement  with  the  Irish 
in  so  advantageous  a  position,  but  that  the  best 
plan  would  be  to  march  about  six  miles  higher 
up  the  river  to  a  ford  at  Calcdon  {iktm  Kinard). 
cross  the  river  there,  and  thus  draw  the  enemy 
out  of 'the  strong  position  which  they  held. 

Accordingly  tkcy  marched  along  the  river  in 
view  of  the  Irish  and  succeeded  in  crossing  at 


44 


Ireland's  battles  and  battlefields. 


CaledoB  without  meating  resistance;  but  wk«Q 
they  had  proceedaci  some  distaace  at  the  other 
side  towards  Beaburb  their  ranguard  was  at* 
tacked,  aud  a  smart  engagement  wsued  between 
them  »nd  the  advajsced  body  of  the  Irish  at  the 
wooded  pass  ef  Ball^kilgaria,  three  niles  north  of 
Caledou.  The  English  ultimately  forced  this 
pass  and  drove  the  Irish  eut  ef  it. 

O'Neill  meanwhile  had  abandoned  his  positiea 
OB  the  rirer,  and  adranced  westward  te  meat 
the  English,  taking  up  his  position  oa  a 
"screggred  high  hi U  "  called  Kneckaacloy,  abeut 
two  miles  west  ef  Benburb  and  immediately 
westward  of  the  confluence  of  the  Oona  and  the 
Blackwater.  His  army  then  faced  south-east, 
and  hia  left  wing  was  protected  by  the  Oona  river 
and  his  right  by  an  impassable  swamp.  Munroe 
than  came  up  and  deployed  his  troeps  in  battle 
line  oa  another  hillock  about  500  jards  to  the 
southward,  looking  aortk-west,  so  that  the  two 
armies  now  stood  face  te  face,  with  a  shallow 
valley  or  hallow  between  them.  . 

Hostilities  commenced  about  6  o'clock  p  m  by 
skirmishing  parties  being  thrown  forward  from 
tka  wingi  •!  betk  armies  next  the  river,  where 
I  lie  brushwood  was  dense  and  thick;  in  these  en- 
cuuaters  the  English  were  mostly  worsted  and 
had  to  be  aautiuually  supported  by  detachraeats 
frwm  the  maia  body.  At  ene  time,  however,  the 
Scotch  musketeers  serieusly  threateaed  t.he  Irish 
left  wing,  but  O'Neill  sent  forward  a  stroag  body 
of  his  famous  light  cavalry  who  at  once  dis- 
persed and  routed  theni.  All  this  time  the  Eng- 
lish field  artillery  was  playing  from  the  summit 
..t  the  hiU,  but  it  appears  te  have  been  but  badly 
served,  as  most  of  tke  shot  passed  harmlessly 
high,  aad  oaly  twice  struck  down  iles  ef  tke 
Irish. 

An  attempt  was  made  by  Lerd  Ards,  one  ef  tke 
English  commanders,  te  attack  the  Irish  left  wing 
by  crossing  the  Oona  with  a  body  of  cavalry,  pre- 
eeeding  along  its  eastern  bark,  and  charging  the 
Irish  across  the  shallows  ef  the  river.  O'Neill, 
liowever,  >ent  his  son  Henry  to  meet  tkem  with 
GOO  foot,  who  completely  routed  them,  Lerd  Ards 
and  many  ^f  his  ofiBeers  beinc;  made  prisoners. 

Tke  Irisk  were  at  length  losing  patience  at 
being  kept  so  long  inactive  and  exposed   to   the 


enemy's  ire,  and  they  repeatedly  besought  their 
command  to  lead  tkem  forward  agaiost  the  Eng- 
lish. But  O'Neill  desired  them  to  wait  tiH  soma 
aavalry  which  ke  had  sent  away  in  tlia  mornmg 
skeuld  return,  and  he  continued  tke  skirmishing, 
his  real  objeet  being  to  wait  tiU  the  brilliant  bub 
of  that  June  day  went  round  sufieientlj  to  be  m 
the  backs  ef  the  Irish,  and  shine  full  in  the  faces 
•f  their  adversaries,  so  as  to  dazzle  them.  Then, 
and  not  til  then,  would  ke  order  a  general  ad- 
vance. As  tke  time  approached  he  harangued  hia 
treopa  in  inspiring  language,  exhorting  tkem  to 
fight  valiantly  for  their  faith  and  fatherland,  and 
concluded  by  orderuig  them  not  to  fire  until  they 
were  within  pike's  length  of  the  English. 

At  length  when  the  proper  mament  came 
O'Neill  gave  tke  order.  The  Irisk  advanced  in 
two  divisions,  the  first  or  front  composed  of  five 
columns  with  spaces  between,  and  tlieseeond  (tho 
reserve)  of  four  similarly  spaced;  but  it  waa 
stated  by  one  of  the  English  officeis  (Sir  11  Bel- 
lings)  diat  the  intervening  spaces  in  both  tiiese 
divisions  were  too  narrow,  so  that  in  the  event  of 
a  reverse  or  of  the  reserve  being  brought  forward 
neither  could  pass  through  tho  etlier  without 
causing  confusion.  The  English,  sti  auge  to  say, 
had  no  reserve.  They  farmed  all  their  troops  into 
one  body,  and  numbered  6,0*9  feet  and  80f 
horse,  while  tke  Irish  numbers  were  5,000  and 
600  respectively. 

Munroe,  seeing  the  Irish  advaneing  to  attack* 
sent  forward  a  body  of  cavalry  (mostly  Irish,  as 
he  says  in  his  despatch),  but  O'Neill's  cavalry 
met  and  quickly  turned  them,  drove  them  back 
upon  tlio  English  infantry,  and  even 
pursued  them  through  their  ranks,  causing 
considerable  disorder.  The  Irish  coloaelr 
dismounting  from  their  horses,  led  their  men  to 
the  charge— down  the  hillside  to  the  bottom  of 
the  hollow,  then  up  the  opposite  slope  facing  tho 
cannon,  and  right  up  against  tke  English  lines  till 
they  were  within  pike's  length  of  them. 

One  murderous  volley  crashes  from  the  Irish 
musketeers,  and  then,  obseured  by  the  clouds  of 
circling  smoke,  the  opposing  lines  meet  man  t* 
man  and  pike  te  pike.  Tke  Englisk  and  Scottish 
eflieers  stood  their  ground  manfully,  and  would 
uoi  give  way  till  forced  by  the  Irish  pikemen,  but 


BENBUflB. 


45 


the  rank  and  file  of  the  English  fought  badly,  and, 
falling  back,  in  a  few  moments  their  position  w«a 
earried  bj  tka  Irish. 

The  English  were  in  bad  condition  for  receiving 
a  charge;  their  ranks  had  already  been  broken  by 
their  own  retreating  eavalry;  they  were  wearied 
by  their  long  march,  and,  as  they  say  themselves, 
"  Thay  did  not  expect  to  be  faced  by  Ulstermen, 
much  leas  to  be  fought  with"  {The  British  Offictr). 
Besides,  the  sun,  now  setting,  was  glaring  level  in 


follewing  a«  befoie  in  pursuit.  This  miehap  pre- 
cipitated the  result.  O'Neill  now  gave  the  order 
"  Redouble  your  blows  and  the  battle  ia  won." 
(AphoritmieaU  DitcoverieJ.  A  total  rout  fol- 
lowed, and  the  English  army  broke  up  in  tumul- 
tuous disorder.  The  cavalry  forded  the  Black- 
water,  and  most  ef  them  e8ca]»ed  in  safety,  bat  of 
the  infantry  great  numbers  were  killed  and  many 
others  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross  tke 
river  where  it  was  not  fordable.    (Carte's  Ormonde 


THB     BAOTIil     OF     BBNBCBB. 


their  faces,  so  that  between  smeke  and  sunshine 
they  could  with  difficulty  distinguiah  their  oppo- 
nents  tiU  close  at  hand. 

The  struggle  was  a  brief  one,  and  the  fate  of 
battle  was  decided  in  a  few  moments.  Munroe, 
seeing  the  Irish  prevailing,  despatched  a  second 
squadron  ef  cavalry  against  them,  but  only  with 
the  same  result  as  before.  They  were  agaiu  met 
by  the  Irish  cavalry,  hurled  back  in  disorder 
upon  tiie  infantry,  breaking  their  ranks,  the  Irish 


and  Munroe's  despatch).  Only  one  regiment,  that 
ef  Sir  J  Montgomery,  retired  in  order;  all  the 
others  broke  from  their  ranks. 

The  English  loss  wae  about  2,000  (The  Brit 
Officer),  though  many  autherities  make  it  Mere 
thaa  that.  The  loss  on  the  Irish  side  was  re- 
markably small,  not  more  than  150  at  theutmust; 
this  may  be  partly  accounted  for  by  the  clumsy 
handling  of  tke  English  artillery. 

Tke    Irish    captured   nearly  all    the  artillery. 


46 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


arras,  »nd  ataadarda  of  the  EnglUh,  b«aid«a  a 
great  quantity  of  tents,  baggage,  and  suppliea. 
Ifunroe  precipitately  fled  from  the  battlefield 
without  his  cloak  or  wig  (Carte'a  Ormonde),  and 
his  brother,  with  the  Coleraine  eontingent,  seeing 
the  fight  raging  from  afar,  wisely  retired  aad  aue- 
ceeded  in  escaping  without  the  loaa  of  a  aingle 
man. 

According  to  the  English  aocoumta  (The  Brit. 
Officer)  the  Irish  pikea  were  much  better  than  the 
English  ones,  being  a  foot  or  two  longer,  4- sided, 
and  sharp,  while  the  others  were  hroad -headed 
and  blunt.  The  same  authority  aays  that  the 
English  and  Scottish  soldiers,  whem  they  fouad 
their  pikes  too  heayy  for  tkeu,  were  in  the  habit 
of  ousting  ofif  a  fool  or  two  to  lighten  them. 


8IQN1TTJRK    OP    OWBN    BOB    O'NBILL   (DON   RCOBinO 

o'nbill). 

From  a  facsimile  letter  in  "  Contemporary  Histery  of 
Events  in  Ireland." 

The  Irish  took  many  prisoaers,  and  gare  quar- 
ter to  all  who  submitted,  according  to  The  British 
Officer.  The  day  afUr  the  battle  O'Neill  buried 
tho  bodies  of  several  of  the  English  and  Scottish 
officers,  and  a  tablet  in  Benburb  churchyard  still 
records  the  last  restiag-place  of  Captain  James 
Hamilton,  who  "  was  slain  in  his  Majesty's  ser- 
viee  against  the  Irish  rebbels,  the  6th  day  of  June, 
1646." 

The  hill  whieh  formed  the  centre  of  the  Irish 
position  has  been  a  large  grazing  field  for  a  lung 
time  past,  and  the  hillock,  or  rising  ground,  occu- 


pied by  the  English  ia  bow  oorered  by  auall  field* 
and  meadows,  and  is  partly  under  tiUag*. 

A  quantity  of  Stat*  correspondence  relative  to 
this  battle  is  published  in  "  The  Aphorumtoall 
Diteovery"  and  "  Contemporary  History  of 
Affairs  in  Ireland,"  edited  by  J  T  Gilbert, 
Esq,  M  R  I  A;  two  letters  in  particular  are  very 
detailed — Muaroe'a  despateh,  and  an  extract  from 
"  The  History  of  Ui«  Warr  in  Iieland  from  1641  to 
165S,"by  a  British  Officer  of  Sir  John  Clot- 
worthy's  regiment.  There  is  also  a  very  detailed 
account  of  the  battle  in  "  Transactions  of  the 
Ossory  Archceelogical  Society,"  by  "  An  Ulster 
Archseologiat." 

At  midnight  I  gtxed  on  the  moonless  skies  ; 
There  glistened,  'mid  other  star  blazonries, 
A.  sword  all  stars;  then  Heaven,  1  knew. 
Had  holy  work  for  a  sword  to  do. 
Be  true,  ye  clansmen  of  Nial !    Be  true  1 

At  morning  I  looked,  as  the  sun  uprose. 

On  the  fair  hilU  of  Antrim,  late  white  with  snows 

VTas  it  morning  enly  that  dyed  them  red  ? 

Martyred  hosts,  methought,  had  bled 

On  their  sanguine  ridges  for  years  not  few  1 

Ye  clansmen  of  Conn  this  day  be  true  ! 


There  is  felt  once  more  on  the  earth 

The  step  of  a  kingly  man  : 
Like  a  dead  man,  bidden,  he  lay  from  his  birth 

Exiled  from  his  country  and  clan. 

This  day  his  standard  he  flingeth  forth  ; 

■e  tramples  the  bond  and  ban  : 
Let  tham  look  in  his  face  who  usurped  his  hearth  ; 

Let  them  vanquish  him  they  who  can  1 

Owen  Roe,  our  own  O'Neill  1 

He  treads  once  more  our  land  ! 
Ths  sword  in  his  hand  is  of  Spanish  steel  t 

But  the  hand  is  an  Irish  hand  I 


AUBRET  Db  Vebb. 


RATHMINES  AND  CULLENSWOOD. 


RATHMINES    AND    CULLENSWOOD. 


BathKar,  upon  thy  broken  wall, 

Now  grows  tk*  lusmore  rank  and  tall— 

'Wild  Rraas  ap«n  thy  heartstone  springs, 

And  ivy  round  thy  turret  clings; 

The  night-owls  tbrvugk  thy  arches  sweep. 

Thy  moat  dried  up,  thy  towers  a  heap, 

Blackened,  and  charr'd  and  desolate— 

The  traTeller  marTels  at  thy  fate  1 

— "Thb  Monks  of  Kilc&ea." 


IFTY  or  sixty  years  ago  Rath- 
mintB  eonsietMl  of  a  cluster  of 
houses  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
"Tko  Chains,"  with  a  few 
dataehed  residences  scattered 
sparsely  around  through  the 
•pen  coontry  ;  to-day  it  is  a 
lar|;e  and  populous  sujburb  of 
the  metropolis,  of  which  it  al- 
most forms  a  part,  while 
scarcely  »  vestige  remains  of 
its  ence  rural  character.  The  place  known  as 
"  The  Chains,"  situated  at  the  upper  end  of 
Rathmines-road,  though  now  in  a  dilapidated  and 
unsanitary  condition, originallyfermed  the  nucleus 
of  the  little  hamlat  of  Rathmiaes,  through  which 
the  Swan  Rirer,  now  entirely  closed  in,  flowed. 

In  aneient  times  the  whole  district  lying  south 
of  Dulilin  was  called  Cualann,  corrupted  into 
CuUen;  that  portion  of  it  between  Rathmines  and 
Donny brook,  and  extending  out  to  the  Dodder,  waa 
known  as  the  Wood  of  Cullen,  or  Cullenswood,from 
a  wood  which  tkon  covered  a  eonsiderable  part  of 
it.  "  CuUen"  is,  therefore,  in  this  instance,  a 
topographical  and  not  a  personal  name  ;  it  also 
occurs  is  the  name  Glencullen,  a  gorge  in  the 
Dublin  Mountains  between  Glendoo  and  Tibrad- 
den.  After  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion  numbers 
of  the  Irish  were  driven  out  of  Dublin,  and  took 
refuge  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  Dublm  and  Wick- 
low  mountains,  from  which,  in  company  with  the 
Wicklow  elans,  they  made  warlike  incursions 
upon  the  plains  beneath,  ravaging  the  country 
and  keeping  the  English  settlers  in  continual 
terror. 
About  1200  A  D  King  John  founded  a  colony  of 


Bristol  settlers  in  Dublin,  to  whom,  regardless  of 
the  rights  of  the  original  inhabitants,  ko  capri- 
ciously granted  a  charter  of  the  city  similar  t* 
that  of  Bristol,  ^ese  settlers  were  accusU>med  to 
meet  on  the  plaias  of  Cullenswood  on 
holidays  and  festivals  to  indulge  in  the 
games  and  sports  of  the  period.  The 
fierce  sapts  of  the  mountains  viewed  tkoao 
new  usurpers  of  their  homea  with  deep 
feelings  of  hostility  and  resentment,  and  eagerly 
watched  for  an  opportunity  of  wreaking  ven- 
geance upon  them.  On  Easter  Moaday,  1209, 
afterwards  known  as  Black  Monday,  a  large  num- 
ber of  these  settlers  went  out  to  tko  plain  of 
Cullenswood,  according  to  custom.  While  they 
were  amusing  themselves  there  a  number  of  the 
Wicklow  clans — the  O'Byrnes  and  O'Tooles — 
with  the  dispossessed  Irish  from  the  neighbour- 
ing mountains,  who  were  concealed  in  an  ambus- 
cade in  the  wood,  fell  upon  tium  with  great  fury, 
and  slew  SCO  of  thess.  Tko  following  quaint 
account  of  this  sanguinary  affray  is  given  by 
Stanyhurst,  a  writer  of  the  16th  century  :  — 

"  The  citizens  having  over  great  afiance  in  tke 
multitude  of  the  people,  and  so  consequently 
being  somewhat  retchlecs  (reckless)  in  heodmg  tko 
mountain  enewie  that  lurched  undo*  tkoir  boms. 
were  wont  to  roam  and  royle  in  alusters,  somo- 
iimes  three  or  four  miles  from  towne.  Tke  IrL>h 
enemie,  espying  tkat  the  citizens  were  accustoii;!>d 
to  fetch  such  odd  vagaries  on  holydaya,  and 
having  an  inekling  withal  by  tho  means  of  aoioe 
claterfert  ^traitor)  or  other  that  a  company  of 
thorn  would  range  abroad  on  Monday  in  tko 
Xaater  week,  towards  tho  woode  of  Cullen,  they 
lay  in  a  state  very  well  appointed,  and  layde  in 


48 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


sundry  places  for  their  coning.  The  citizens, 
ratlicr  minding  the  pleasure  they  should  presently 
enjoy  than  forecastiBg  the  hurt  that  might  ensue, 
flockt  unarued  from  the  citie  to  the  woode. 
Where,  being  intercepted  by  their  lymg  in  ambush, 
ivere,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred,  miserably 
elayne.  The  citizens,  deeming  that  unluckie 
tyme  to  be  a  cross  or  dismaU  day,  gave  it  the 
appellation  ef  Black  Monday.  The  citie  being 
soon  after  peopled  by  a  fresh  supply  of  Briatol- 
lians,  to  dare  the  Irish  enemie,  agreed 
to  bancket  yearly  in  that  place.  For  the  mayor 
and  the  sheriffes,  with  the  citizens,  repayre  to  the 
TVoodc  of  Gullen,  in  which  place  the  mayor 
bestoweth  a  costly  slinuar  withia  a  meate  er 
rouadsU,  and  both  the  sheriffes  within  another, 
where  tliey  are  so  well  guarded  by  the  youth  of 
th*  citie,  afl  the  mountain  enemie  dareth  not  at- 
tempt ta  snatch  so  much  as  a  pastye  trust  from 
tlience." 

The  rather  meagre  details  ef  this  iBcident  that 
have  beeM  handed  down  to  us  represent  that  the 
settlers  were  unarmed  and  unprepared  for  this  at- 
tack, aad  that  it  wa*  tlierefore  a  mere  massacre. 
It  should  be  reeollected,  however,  that  there  is  no 
eestemporary  account,  and  that  these  details, 
such  as  we  have  them,  rest  exclusively  upen  the 
testimeny  ef  chroniclers  who  wrote  upon  hear- 
say evidence  some  hundreds  of  years  after  the 
event  occurred.  The  accounts  must  tlierefore  be 
received  with  reserve. 

Duhlin  wail  shortly  after  replenished  by  a  fresh 
coleny  »f  settlers  from  Bristol,  who  for  haadreds 
of  year  saft«rwards  marched  out  every  Easter 
Men  day  to  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  fully  armed, 
and  headed  by  a  black  flig,  aad  formally  ehal- 
lenged  the  Irish  septs  to  combat.  This  strange 
ceremeaial  was  observed  up  to  a  comparatively 
recent  period. 

The  same  chroaiclers  relate  that  in  1316,  David 
O'Teole,  an  Iri&h  chieftain,  laid  a  similar  ambus- 
cade, but  the  citizens,  sallying  out  suddenly  from 
the  city  with  tlteir  black  flag,  defeated  the  am- 
buscade, and  routed  their  assailants,  killing;  anum- 
ber  of  them,  and  pursued  the  reiuainder  for  miles 
into  the  mountains. 

The  distiict  of  Rathuines  and  CuDenswood, 
lying  south  ef  Dublin,  and  directly  between    the 


city  and  the  mountains,  was  the  scene  rf  contisua] 
conflicts  between  the  early  English  settlers 
and  tbe  aative  Irish.  Tradition  still 
points  out  the  sceae  of  the  memorable  dis- 
aster of  1209,  and  the  place  is  to  this 
day  known  as  "The  Bloody  Fields."  Its  exact 
position  is  ehowa  oa  the  6-inch  Ordnance  Survey 
Map  in  Thom's  Directory.  The  name  ef  "  Cul- 
leaswoed"  still  remains,  though  the  "  wood"  has 
long  since  disappeared.  It  is  applied  to  the  dis- 
trict lying  immediately  south  of  Raaelagh.  I  have 
been  unable  to  discover  anything  as  t«  the  site  of 
the  eriginal  "  wood,"  wliich  probably  consisted 
more  ef  brushweod  and  heather  than  trees.  The 
Dublia,  Wieklow,  and  Wexford  Railway  now  passes 
through  "  The  Bloody  Fields  ;"  a  considerable 
portion  is  occupied  by  Palonerstea  Road  and  its 
offshoots,  and  the  remainder  is  becoming  gradually 
built  over.  In  sinking  the  foundations  fer  the 
houses  there  considerable  quantities  of  human 
boaes  have  beea  discovered  from  time  to  time, 
accompanied  in  some  instances  by  arms  and 
coins. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  these  fields  re- 
mained till  receatly  an  open  country  space  long 
after  the  surrounding  suburbs  of  Rathgar,  Clon- 
skeagh,  and  Donaybreok  were  built  on.  A  glance 
at  tlie  map  will  show  this,  the  place  appearing 
hemaied  ia  on  all  sides  by  houses  aad  private 
grounds.  Whether  the  evil  traditions 
of  old  attaching  to  the  Ucality  had 
aay  deterrent  effect  upon  building  enterprise 
it  is  impessible  to  say,  hnt  the  fact  remains 
that  it  is  only  within  the  paat  few  years  that 
it  has  begun  to  be  generally  built  on.  It  is 
now  a  growing  suburb  of  modern  red  brick  houses 
and  a  tram  line  ruas  through  it ;  in  a  few  years 
more  it  will  be  entirely  built  over,  and  ef  the 
"Bleody  Fields"  wiH  survive  but  the  name — a 
memento  ef  this  tragic  episode  of  the  early  Eng- 
lish settlement. 

During  the  Civil  War  between  Charles  I.  and 
his  Parliament,  Lord  Ormonde,  the  Viceroy,  was 
entrusted  with  eemmand  of  the  Reyalist  troops  in 
Ireland.  In  1649  he  determined  to  besiege  Dub- 
lin, wluch  was  occupied  by  the  Republioan  forces 
under  Colonel  Jones,  and  with  this  object  he  en- 
camped  about  the  middle  c^  July  south  of  the 


RATHMINES  AND  CULLENSWOOD. 


49 


city  at  Rathminea.  Another  portion  of  his  army 
took  up  a  position  at  the  nerth  side  of  the  city 
under  command  «f  Lerd  Dillon.  From  Rath- 
mines  OrmoBcle  intended  to  carry  works  and  en- 
crenchments  down  towards  the  LiiFey,  wkieh 
would  enable  him  t*  command  the  Mouth  of  the 
rirer  and  thus  cut  off  the  enemy's  supplies 
by  sea.  In  this  project,  howerer,  he  waa 
unsuccessful,  and  the  garrison  was  strength- 
ened by  successive  reinforcements  of  infantry 
and  cavalry,  as  well  as  considerable  quantities 
•f  supplies  and  ammunitioa. 


would  in  a  short  time  deprive  them  of  cavalry, 
and  ia  a  great  measure  restrict  tk«ir  operations. 
But  it  was  fated  to  be  otherwise,  as  the  sequel 
will  show. 

In  the  district  known  as  Baggetrath,  and  (ae- 
eordmg  to  Mr.  Wakeman),  exactly  on  the  site  o< 
44  Upper  Baggot-street,  there  thea  stood  the 
stout  old  castle  of  Baggetrath.  This  castle 
Ormonde  considered  the  fittest  place  to  be  forti- 
fied and  made  the  headquarters  for  offmsive 
operations  against  the  city.  After  it  had  been 
viewed  and  examined  by  three  of  his  principal 


BAGGOTRATH  CASTLE,  1791  (From  Qrose»  Antiquitiet). 
Site  now  oecupied  by  41  Upper  Baggot-street. 


On  1st  August  Ormonde  held  a  council  ef  war, 
as  tlie  army  appeared  too  much  expesed  in  camp 
lit  Rathmiues.  Ormonde  himself  was  disposed  to 
take  up  quarters  at  Drimnaeli,  near  Crumlin, 
where  he  could  eommunicate  with  the  rest  of  his 
army  at  the  north  side  ef  the  Liffey.  This  waa 
opposed  by  most  of  his  ofBeers,  who  thought  sueh 
a  movement  would  seem  too  like  a  retreat,  /ind  it 
was  oecordingly  decided  to  take  up  a  position  so 
•close  to  the  outworks  of  Dublin  as  would  prevent 
the  beleaguered  forces  within  from  grazing  their 
horses  on  the  pasture  lands  which  then  lay  between 
the  city  w%lls  aad  the  camp.  This,  it  vraa  thought, 


officMv,  who  eoncurred  in  his  views,  Ormonde 
directed  General  Purcell  to  march  te  tlie  castle 
with  1,500  men  and  materials  and  ammunitioe  to 
fortify  it.  This  was  on  the  evening  of  the  Ist  of 
August. 

At  daybreak  next  merning  Ormonde  went  him- 
self te  the  castle  to  see  how  the  work  waa  pre- 
gressing.  To  his  annoyance  he  found  it  very 
little  advanced,  and  on  asking  for  an  explanation 
Purcell  stated  that  he  had  been  mitled  by  his 
Irish  guide,  that  he  had  lost  his  way,  aad  that  he 
in  eonsequence  did  not  arrive  there  till  an  hour 
before  daybreak.      This    explanation     Ormonde 

G 


50 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


naturally  enough  did  aot  contider  vary  satiB- 
f»ct«ry,  as  th«  total  distance  ttss  enly 
one  mile,  and  Purcell  had  therefore  spent 
the  wk«le  night  marching  this  distance.  The 
castle  being,  howvTer,  in  a  naturally  strong  pesi- 
tion ,  Orm*nde  considered  that  it  would  not  take 
long  to  fertify,  and  he  accordingly  deputed  the 
work  to  Sir  William  Yaughaa,  with  directions  t« 
hare  it  dene  as  hastily  as  possible. 

Observing  some  bodies  of  the  enemy  horering 
about,  he  drew  his  whole  army  over  towards  the 
castle,  with  the  right  wing  corering  the  fortifying 
party,  and  planted  his  artillery  on  an  emmence 
•ailed  GaUowB  Hill,  near  where  Mouat-street  is 
now,  between  the  castle  and  tlie  city  walls.  Having 
then  assigned  different  duties  to  his  several  offi- 
cers, Ormonde  retired  to  kis  tent  about  eight 
o'clock  a.m.  to  take  some  rest,  as  he  kad  been  up 
all  night  writing  despatches.  He  does  not  appear 
to  kavo  anticipated  any  imatediate  attack,  and 
was  apparently  satisfied  tkat  he  had  made  ample 
preparation  for  any  eontingeney. 

About  nine  o'clock,  however,  Colonel  Jones 
sallied  out  from  the  city  with  1,200  horse  and 
4, 009foot,  intending  only  to  make  a  reconnaissance, 
but,  seeing  the  occasion,  favourable  for  an  attack, 
and  tkat  Ormonde's  troops  were  badly  disposed,  ke 
made  a  detour  to  the  castle,  and  about  10  o'clock 
suddenly  and  unezpeetedly  attacked  the  right 
wmg,  which,  after  some  brief  fighting,  broke  up 
in  disorder  and  fled  from  the  field,  bringing  tho 
fortifying  party  with  them.  Ormonde,  wakened 
by  the  shots,  rushed  from  his  tent  just 
in  time  to  find  his  right  wing  in  full  retreat.  His 
officers  then  attempted  to  rally  the  main  body 
and  left  wing,  which  for  a  time  made  some 
show  of  fighting,  but  in  vain;  the  Republican 
troops  gained  field  after  field  until  they  came  up 
to  where  tho  artillery  was  planted.  Here  Or- 
monde, surrounded  by  his  personal  staff,  made  a 
last  attempt  at  resistance  ;  but,  being  attacked 
front  and  rere,  they  had  to  fly  from  the  field  leav- 
ing thoir  artillery,  ammunition,  and  treasure  in 
the  hands  of  tho  enemy. 

la  this  disastrous  engagement  Sir  William 
Vaughan  and  many  other  officers  of  distinction 
were  slain.  A  panic  seems  to  have  seized  Or- 
monde's   army  on     tho    occasion — whole    regi- 


ments ran  away,  throwing  down  their  arma 
and  bcggmg  for  quarter.  A  body  of  2,500  in- 
fantry.finding  themselves  deserted  by  the  cavalry, 
surrendered  in  a  body  on  being  promised  quarter, 
but  numbers  of  them  were  butchered  when 
brought  within  the  city  walls.  It  was  stated  by 
the  Republican*  tkat  in  tkis  battle  there  were 
three  thousand  killed  and  as  many  taken  prisoners, 
and  some  authorities  plact  the  number  even  still 
higher. 

Tho  victory  was  complete  and  decisive — it  broke 
up  the  Royalist  army  and  raised  the  siege  of  Dub- 
lin. Ormonde's  undoubtedly  bad  generalship  on 
the  occasion  involved  him  in  great  discredit  at  the 
Court  of  England,  and  in  reply  to  the  charges 
brought  against  hira  he  furnished  a  long  explana- 
tion, which,  however,  seems  lame  and  uniatisfac- 
tory.  His  reputation  as  a  military  leader  ap- 
pears to  have  been  shattered,  and  he  never  after- 
wards made  any  effective  stand  against  the  Re- 
publican forces.  He  deemed  it  advisable  shortly 
afterwards  to  retire  to  the  safe  seclusion  of  tho 
Continent,  where  he  remained  till  the  Restoration. 

Shortly  after  tho  battle,  Baggotraih  Castle  was 
again  seized  by  a  small  body  of  Royalists,  who  held 
out  for  some  days  against  Cromwell,  but  he  ulti- 
mately took  it  by  storm,  and  left  it  a  shattered 
ruin.  In  this  eoadition  is  remained  till  tho  be- 
ginning of  ^e  prosent  century,  when  it  was  ruth- 
lessly demolished  to  make  room  for  a  terrace  of 
dwellinghouses  in  Upper  Bagget-street,  which 
have  since  risen  over  its  ruins.  There  is  a  fine 
drawing  of  this  old  castle,  dated  1791,  in  "  Grose's 
Antiquities  of  Ireland"  in  which  it  is  represented 
as  Quite  a  rural  scene  in  the  midst  of  fields  and 
trees,  with  the  mountains  in  the  background, 
and  would  considerably  exercise  tho  imagiaatioii 
of  a  modern  inhabitant  of  the  neighbourhood. 
Tko  accompanying  illustration  is  copied  from 
Grose. 

The  original  Castie  of  Baggotrath  was  built 
about  the  twelfth  centi^y,  but  the  latest  struc- 
ture, a  square  tower,  was  erected  about  the  time 
of  Jatues  I.  or  Elizabeth.  There  are,  I  believe, 
some  old  people  still  alive  who  remember  its  ruins. 
Some  interesting  local  details  concerning  it  are 
given  in  Ifr.  VTakeman's  fit  at  series  of  "  Old 
Dublin." 


THE  SIEQE  OF  DEBRT. 


61 


For  a  long  time  aft«r  the  great  battle  tliere,  it 
waa  the  resort  of  freabooters,  deBparadoes,  and 
highwaymen,  and  was  coasidered  a  dangeroua 
place  to  paas  after  dusk. 

"  Lewia'8  Dublin  Guide,"  published  in  1787, 
gives  the  following  notice  of  chis  interestins  niia— 
"  The  upper  part,  which  threatened  immediate  de- 
struction to  all  whe  should  approach  its  base,  was  in 
1785  taken  down:  and  what  small  fragment  of  the 
tower  was  left  was  entirely  filled  up  with  stones, 
earth,  and  other  matters.and  the  wholealosedatthe 
top;  80  that  it  is  mow  almost  as  solid  and  compact 
aaarock,  andmaybid  defiance  to  theshocksof  time." 

The  office  of  GoYernor  of  Baggotrath  Castle, 
though  a  sinecure  froxa  the  time  of  tiie  battle, 
was  fiUed  from  time  to  time,  aad  a  salary  paid  till 
the  Union,  when  it,  with  a  number  of  similar 
appointments,  was  aboliskcd,  and  a  ctimmutation 


of  the  salary  paid  te  Sir  Joha  (afterwards  Lerd) 
De  Blaquiere. 

In  this  battle  the  fighting  extended  aU  along 
the  south  side  ef  the  city,  from  Rathmines  down, 
to  the  sea  and  back  as  far  as  the  banks  of  the 
River  Dodder.  After  the  battle  a  large  number 
of  Lord  Inchiquin's  soldiers  from  Ormonde's 
army,  took  refuge  in  the  grores  and  thickets  of 
Rathgar  with  which  the  place  then  abounded,  and 
there  concealed  themselves  till  after  seme  parley- 
ing  th«y  obtained  conditions  for  their  lives.  Next 
day  the  gi  eater  number  of  them  took  up  arms  in 
the  Republiean  service,  which  would  indicate  that 
th^ir  political  views  were  ef  an  accummodatin^ 
kind.  It  may  be  observed  that  even  to  this  day 
Rathgar  bears  traces  of  Uie  character  which  then 
distinguished  it,  it  being  one  of  the  most  wooded 
suburbs  ef  the  city. 


THE    SIEGE    OF     DERRY. 


N  1688,  before  affairs  in 
England  had  taken  a  very 
pronounced  turn  against 
King  James,  Ireland  was  in 
a  most  disturbed  ocndition. 
Ulster  im  particular  was 
greatly  disorganised.  Mys- 
terious rumours  were  afloat 
SB  to  risings  and  murders, 
and  Protestants  and  Ca- 
tholies  alike  lived  In  constant  apprehension 
of  being  ssassacred,  each  by  the  ether.  Early 
■t  December  maay  anonymous  letters  were 
received  by  prominent  persons  in  the 
North  warning  them  of  an  intended  massacre  of 
Protestants  at  an  early  date.  On  the  7th  De- 
cember two  eommunicalions  were  received  by  the 
Town  Ceuneii  of  Derry,  one  intimating  that  the 
MMsacre  was  fixed  for  the  9th,  and  the  other  a 
letter  from  one  of  the  old  governors  ef  the  city, 
stating  that  Lord  Antrim's  regiment,  mostly 
Catbelics,  was  only  twelve  miles  off,  and  calling 
upon  the  inhabitants  te  shut  their  gates  agaiut 
them. 


It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  pro- 
jected massacre  was  but  a  myth  like  r.he  others, 
and  originated  in  the  fevered  and  excited  imK<^ina- 
tions  <>f  the  people.  It  is  not  seriously  referred  to 
by  any  historian. 

While  deliberations  were  proceeding  as  to  the 
course  to  be  adopted,  news  was  brought  to  the 
assembled  multitude  that  Lerd  Antrim's  regimen* 
wa»  now  within  two  miles  ef  the  wall«.  The 
people  were  divided  in  their  councils — some  were 
two  terrified  to  give  any  opinieo,  many  discredited 
the  whole  stery;  but  the  great  majority  of  the 
humbler  classes  clamoured  vociferously  for  the 
gates  to  be  shut  against  the  forces  of  the  King. 
The  obnexieus  regisaent  waa  by  this  time  in  view 
at  the  far  side  of  the  river  and  was  making  pre  - 
,  paratiens  to  cress,  but  while  the  town  council 
and  the  more  responsible  inhabitants  still 
wavered,  the  young  apprentices  of  the  town 
took  the  matter  in  Uieir  own  hands. 
Thirteen  ef  them  sudden^  drew  their  swords,^ 
seized  the  city  keys  from  Ae  guard,  and  then, 
rushing  dewn  te  the  ferry  which  Antrim's  meu 
were  approashing,  they  raised  the  drawbridge, 


52 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


and,  rcturniag,  lacked  all  the  gates  of  th«  t«WB. 
Such  wafi  the  first  overt  act  of  rebellioa  against 
KiDg  Jam*8  II. 

The  troops,  which  wers  intended  aa  a  garrisoa 
for  the  t«wn,  haviag  formally  aLemanded  and 
been  refused  admission,  withdrew  with  their 
eommander  te  Coleraine.  From  all  sides  new  the 
English  settlers,  terrified,  thronged  te  Derry  an  a 
refuge,  and  night  and  day  strenuous  efferts  were 
made  te  strengthen  the  fortificatiens  around  the 
t«wn< 

On  Christmas  Day,  1688,  King  James  landed 
on  the  French  shores,  a  fugitive  from  his  king- 
dom and  his  subjects.  In  March,  1689,  he  eaa- 
barked  at  Brest  for  Ireland  with  a  naval  and 
military  ferce,  aa  well  as  a  considershle  quantity 
of  supplies  and  money  provided  by  King  Leuis  ef 
France.  He  landed  at  Einsale  about  the  middle 
of  March. 

On  9bh  April,  after  a  toilsome  march,  James 
and  his  army  appeared  before  Derry,  accompanied 
by  his  son,  the  Duke  of  Berwick,  and  Qeneral  De 
Kesen,  a  French  officer.  Lundy,  the  governor  of 
the  town,  advocated  submission,  and  forbade  all 
preparations  for  resistance,  but  on  the  appearance 
of  King  James's  army,  a  tumultous  meeting  ef  the 
inhabitants  was  held,  and  Lnndy  was  openly  ac- 
cused' of  cowardice  and  treachery,  for  it  was 
strongly  suspected  that  he  had  epwied  secret  ne- 
gotiations with  the  Jacobites.  The  conimEind  of 
the  tewB  now  devolved  upon  two  of  the  principal 
•fficers,  assisted  by  Rev  George  Walker,  rector  ef 
Duuough  more,  who  by  his  exhortations  and  cease- 
less energy  greatly  enceuraged  the  garrison. 
Lundy  found  it  necessary  to  conceal  himself  irom 
the  fury  of  the  townspeople  till  tlia  ensuing 
ni^^ht,  when  he  escaped  from  the  town  in  dis- 
guise. 

When  James  arrived  he  entered  into  negotia* 
tions  with  the  townsjieople  touching  an  honour- 
able surrender.  Shortly  afterwards  h«  ap- 
proached the  walls  accompanied  by  his  staff,  with 
the  object  of  conferring  with  the  garrison,  but 
when  he  was  within  about  one  hundred  yards,  a 
oannon  from  the  nearest  bastion  was  without 
warning  treacherously  fired  at  him,  killing  one  of 
his  officers  by  his  side.  He  then,  seeing  the  hope- 
lessness of  a  compromise,  at  once  withdrew,  and 


soon  after  returned  to  Dublin  in  company  with 
De  Rosen,  leaving  his  army  at  Derry  in  command 
of  General  Hauiilton. 

Meanwhile  dissensions  raged  within  the  walla. 
The  pusiUanimous  town  council  were  still  advo- 
cating a  surrender,  and  had  even  prepared  and 
signed  a  document  to  that  elect,  when  Colonel 
Murray  ami  the  great  bulk  of  the  humbler  citizens 
cook  armed  possesuon  of  the  town  and  superseded 
the  municipal  authorities.  All  negotiations  for  a 
surrender  were  summarily  terminated.  The 
peace  party  met  no  more,  and  Derry  by  an  over- 
whelming majority  resolved  on  resistance. 

On  21st  April  a  prolonged  roar  of  cannon  pro- 
claimed that  the  siege  had  begun.  The  Jacobites 
had  completely  surrounded  the  town  so  far  aa 
land  was  concerned;  but  the  approach  by  water 
was  unprotected,  because  tliey  had  no  ships  of 
war  and  tkoy  had  to  substitute  a  boom  across  the 
river  below  tlie  town  instead.  This  boom  was 
composed  of  great  cables  and  pieces  of  timber 
bound  together,  drawn  tightly  across  the  river, 
and  securely  fastened  to  massive  stakes  or  pillars 
on  either  bank.  It  was  thus  impossible  for  an 
vessel  to  pH£S  up  or  down  the  ri  rer  without  burst- 
ing through  this  formidable  obstacle. 

Buring  the  lirst  day  the  besieged  made  a 
sudden  sally  and  attacked  an  isolated  detachment 
•f  Jacobite  infantry  under  Hamilton  who  were 
Marching  round  to  the  other  side  of  the  town.  A 
fierce  combat  ensued.  llie  sortie  was 
led  by  the  gallant  Murray,  who  charged 
at  the  head  of  the  cavalry,  but  tliav 
were  met  by  Berwick  and  his  cavalry  with  such 
effect  that  the  Williamite  ranks  were  broken,  and 
tlioy  had  to  fly  for  refuge  to  the  town.  Murray's 
horse  was  killed  under  him,  and  ho  himself 
escaped  with  difficulty.  But  although  this  sally 
wsA  thus  repulsed,  tho  Jacobites  suffered  the 
greater  loss,  and  had  two  of  their  principal 
officers  killed.  * 

On  the  25tk  of  April  the  garrison  made  another 
sally  on  a  body  of  590  Jacobites,  whom  tliey 
fought  in  a  desultory  way  from  10  o'clock  in  tho 
morning  till  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  the 
Jacobites,  nearly  overcome  by  force  of  numbers, 
were  relievod  by  reinforcements  from  the  main 
body,  and  the  Williamites  were  forced  te  retire. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  DEBBT. 


58 


The  loii  on  both  sides  in  this  action  was  ia- 
contidaraUe,  but  th«  Jacobites  lost  De  Pusignan, 
a  dislinguiskcd  Frenck  officer. 

Early  ia  May,  during  a  dark  sight,  the  Jac*^itea 
toak  possesBian  af  an  eminenca,  called  WindniH- 
hiU,  aTarloekine  tka  town  ua  the  south-wast,  in- 
teadinur  ta  plaat  same  artiUerv  tUere;  but  wkaa 
morning  came  and  the  garrison  saw  their  be- 
siegers iu  ua  manacing  a  positioa,  they  sallied  out 
in  force,  and  after  a  desperate  hand-ta-hand  en- 
gagemeat,  completely  routed  theas ,  killing  tkeir 
gaUant  commander,  Ramsey.  Tka  Wiliiamites 
then  constructed  trenches  and  outworks  here, 
which  they  held  duriag  the  remainder  af  the 
siege.  In  this  encounter,  as  indeed  in  all  others, 
the  Derry  men  showed  their  rast  superiarity  as 
marksmen  over  their  apponents,  erary  shat,  both 
•f  musket  and  cannoa,  telling  witk  deadly  affect. 

Many  af  the  Jacabites  who  had  been  captured 
in  the  sevwal  conflicts  were  now  prisaners  within 
the  town,  and  these  the  (nrrison,  to  their  credit 
be  it  said,  treated  with  the  greatest  humanity, 
even  allawing  surgeons  and  snpplies  of  praTiaiuus 
t*  be  sent  to  tkem. 

On  4th  June  a  desperate  attempt  was  Made 
te  storm  and  enter  the  tewn.  The  attack, 
which  was  aaade  by  three  detachments  of  horse 
and  two  af  foot,  was  concentrated  «a 
that  part  of  the  outworks  adjoining 
'WindmiU-hill.  The  Jacobites  advanced 
with  the  utmost  gallantry,  cheering  aa  they  ap- 
proached and  holding  boughs  before  thou.  The 
WiUiamites  met  tham  witk  a  steady  fire  in  three 
lines,  each  line  retiring  to  the  rear  ta  load  aa  bhey 
fired.  This  cheeked  the  advance  ef  the  storming 
party,  who,  after  long  and  hard  fightiag,  lost  seTe- 
ral  hundred  by  the  eool  and  deadly  fire  from  be- 
hind the  eatrenchmonts,  and  had  many  prisoaeTS 
taken  aa  well,  upon  whioh  they  desisted  from  the 
attempt  on  the  town.  In  this  engagement  the 
defenders  were  ably  assisted  by  the  women  of 
Derry,  who,  regardless  of  danger,  were  to  be  seen 
in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  serTiag  out  refreshments 
and  ammunition  to  the  men,  and  even  attacking 
the  besiegers  with  showers  of  stones. 

Now,  howerer,  the  brare  garrison  were  con- 
fronted by  a  new  and  mere  deadly  foe,  against 
which  no  valour   is  preef.      Grina  famiae  stared 


them  in  the  face,  and  had  already  made  its  mark 
in  their  aaxieus  features.  Their  last  leaf  was  gone 
and  they  wero  forced  to  stave  off  the  cravings  •£ 
hunger  with  horseflesh,  tallow,  and  various  kinds 
of  refuse. 

On  13th  June  the  watchmen  on  the  ehurck 
tower  discerned  out  at  sea  thirty  skips,  display- 
ing friendly  signals  and  ensigns,  about  to  enter 
Lough  Foyle.  This  news  caused  great  joy,  and 
the  garrison  anxiously  watched  the  pregrets  of 
the  fleet.  A  messenger  at  length  swam,  at  duftk, 
from  one  of  the  ships,  and  announced  that  Major- 
General  Kirke  kad  arrived,  conveying  a  great 
quantity  of  previaioae  a.wd  arms  for  the  famished 
and  miBerable  ^'arrieon.  Their  hearts  were  glad- 
dened with  the  hope  of  relief,  but  it  waa  destined 
to  be  dashed  to  the  ground,  and  to  prove  but  a 
very  draught  ef  Tantalus.  Kirke  became  faint- 
hearted when  he  saw  the  boom  and  the  threaten- 
ing aspect  ef  the  Jacobite  forts  guarding  the  pas- 
sage of  the  river.  He  accordingly  lay  te,  and 
for  forty-six  days  this  great  fleet  of  thirty  sail 
rode  securely  at  anchor  in  Lough  Foyle,  while  the 
brave  fellows  inside  she  town  starved  and  fought 
in  rags,  hopiag  against  hope,  day  after  d.-ij,  that 
Kirke  would   make  some  effort  to  relieve  tham  ! 

Meanwhile  the  garrison  were  reduced  to  dread- 
iul  straits.  Meat  and  corn  had  entii^ly  din- 
appeared.  Dead  dogs,  horaes,  cata,  foul  grease, 
and  tallow  had  taken  tkeir  place,  and  even  of 
these  there  was  a  scant  supply.  The  foUowiag 
tariff  of  prices  during  the  siege  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  privations  suffered  by  the  garrisoa  aad 
townspeople — Horeeflesh,  Is  8d  per  lb;  quarter 
of  dog  fattened  by  eating  dead  bodies,  5s  6d;  dog's 
head,  2s  6d;  cat,  48  6d;  rat  fattened  by  human 
fleth,  Is;  mouse,  6d;  greaves,  Is  per  lb;  tallow,  4s 
per  lb;  salted  hides.  Is  per  lb;  quart  of  horse- 
blood,  Is;  handful  of  sea- wrack,  2d;  handful  of 
chick^i-weed.  Id. 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  sommunicate 
with  tho  sluggish  commander  of  the  fleet,  but 
thou^  they  failed,  through  tho  messengers  being 
intercepted,  he  could  not  but  be  aware  of  their 
Bufferings,  for  they  never  ceased  to  signal  to  him 
for  relief.  It  seems  strange  that  he  should  net 
have  tried  the  simple  expedient  of  firing  on  th« 
boom.     A  dozea  well-directed  shots  at  40  or  50 


I 


54 


IBELAND'S  battles  and  BATTLEFIELDa 


yarda  could  hardly  have  failed  to  break  it,  aad  it 
waa  well  aboTo  the  water  at  low  tide. 

The  laat  attempt  to  aterm  tke  town  was  mad* 
on  the  30th  June,  but  it  was  repulsed  like  the 
others.  Then  it  was  that  Marshal  de  Rosen,  the 
Freach  comataader,  cemmitted  an  act  ef  cruel 
barbarity  for  which  Miere  is  no  parallel  since 
the  Riegeef  Calais  by  Edward  III.  He  oolleeted 
aU  the  Williamite  inhabitants — men,  women,  and 
children — froaa  the  surrounding  country  and 
drove  them  to  the  gates  of  the  town,  leaving 
tkem  there  to  starve,  in  hope  that  the  garrison 
weuld  admit  t^em,  and  thus  still  faster  ceasume 
their  store  ef  provisions.  This  piece  ef  savagery, 
however,  aroused  such  indignation  assong  the 
Irish  officers  and  men  ef  the  Jacobite  army  that 
Da  Resen,  afraid  ef  taking  so  extrsMe  a  step  en- 
tirely on  his  own  responsibility,  wrote  te  King 
James  in  Dublin  apprising  him  of  it.  James  at 
once  replied  forbidding  it,  and  ordering  the  other 
gMxerak  not  te  execute  such  a  command,  but  be- 
fore this  reply  was  received  numbers  ef  these  un- 
fortunate people  were  already  congregated  at  tke 
gates  in  tlie  utmost  misery. 

The  garrison  refused  to  admit  them,  and  now 
adopted  retaliatory  measures.  On  tke  bastion 
facing  the  hostile  camps  they  erected  a  huge 
gallows,  and  brought  forth  t^e  Jacobite  prisoners, 
whom,  up  to  this,  tbey  had  treated  kindly.  Osten- 
tatious preparations  were  tken  made  to  hang  them 
unless  De  Resen  desisted,  and  they  were  permit- 
ted te  write  to  him  te  that  effect.  This  st«rn 
attitude  of  the  garrison,  together  with  James's 
letter,  had  «ke  desired  result,  and  the  wretched 
crowd  were  permitted  te  depart  in  safety. 

About  the  middle  of  July  negotiations  were 
opened  for  a  surrender,  but  thev  came  to  nothing, 
for  the  commissioners  disagreed  about  the  date. 
The  active  siege  now  ceased,  and  wae  turned  into 
a  blockade.  It  had  nearly  sufficed.  An  ominous 
silence  had  settled  down  upon  the  ancient  town — 
the  shadow  ef  approaching  death.  The  gaunt  and 
starving  garrison  still  laanned  the  walls,  but  tkey 
now  looked  like  living  skelekeni.  They  had  only 
a  dozen  horses   left  and  a   pint  ef   nteal  to  each 


Meanwhile    Eirke    had    received    peremptory 
orders  from  England  to  risk  everything  aod  force 


the  boom.  Tke  unhappy  garrison  knew  nothing 
ef  this,  however,  and  had  almost  abandoned  aU 
hep«  of  relief — but  relief  was  at  hand. 


walkbr's  honuhbnt,  sirrt. 

Tke  shades  ef  evening  were  closing  into  night 
on  the  28th  July,  when  a  flash  was  seen  in  the  di- 
rection ot  Culuore  Fort,  and  a  loud  report  rever- 
berated along  the  placid  waters  ef  the  Feyle. 
There  was  a  rusk  te  tke  battlements,  and  tkeo,  sa 
a  tkoHsand  lean  and  wMted  forms  wistfully 
peered  tkroug^  the  darkening  gloom,  another 
flash  bade  them  listen  for  a  second  report, 
which  waa  feUewed  by  ,a  rapid  succession 
of  others,  the  fitful  light  of  the 
flashes  revealing  tke  forms  ef  three  ships 
sailing  up  the  Foyle  amid  a  continuous  fire  from 
tke  Jacobite  forts  along  the  river.  Kirke  had  ati 
last  resolved  te  attack  the  boom.  Tke  spectators 
were  breathless  with  anxiety  and  excitement. 
Onward  sailed  the  ships  with  every  inch  of  cui- 
vaa  spread  to  the  wuid.ttiruugh  a  raking  fire  of 
shot  and  shell.  At  length  tke  foremost  struck 
witk  full  force  against  the  boom — there  was  a  loud 
oraab,  the  vessel  recoiled  from  the  shock  and 
grounded,  but  tlie  boom  was  broken.  The  other 
two  ships  passed  through,  and  ft  broadside  from 


THE  BATTLE  OP  THE  BOTNE. 


65 


th«  tkird  relcaud  it  in  time  to  foll«w ;  tk*  thre* 
then  8»ilad  up  t*  ih«  town  and  larndsd  all  their 
■iorai  and  prcTinont.  The  8i«g«  wm  ended,  and 
next  morninii;  whan  the  waated  defenders  looked 
trom  their  ranparta  they  saw  an  empty  camp — 
the  Jacobites  kad  gone  and  the  gallant  sity  was 
free. 

The  accounts  as  t*  the  numbers  and  losses  in 
tills  famous  siege  are  rery  eoaflicting,  but  accord- 
ing to  tke  best  autherities  the  beiiiegers  were 
about  6,000  or  7,000  strong,  while  tke  besieged 
wer«  betwe^  10,000  and  12, 000,«xciusiTe  ef  women 


and  children.  Except  in  occasional  figkting  out* 
side  the  waHs,  boweTer,  this  nunerical  superi- 
ority was  of  little  advantage  to  tbe  besieged  on 
aeceusit  of  tke  limited  space  in  whick  they  were 
enclosed  and  the  scarcity  of  previsions.  It  i»  esti- 
mated that  each  side  lost  about  half  its  number. 

Ifany  of  the  eaanon  and  other  interesting 
relics  ef  this  famaus  Eiec;e  are  still  to  be  seen  in 
the  town,  and  in  1828  a  lofty  pillar  surmounted  by 
a  statue  of  Walker  wu  erected  on  tlie  site  •t 
one  of  the  western  baatdona  t*  the  memory  ci 
that  remarkable  nfuio. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BOYNE. 


CRIPPLED  by  the  relief  ef  Derry 
and  the  disastrous  defeat  at  New- 
tewH-Butler,  the  Jacobites  retired 
aontfaward  hrom  UlsUr,  and  King  James,  having 
sent  his  army  into  winter  quarters,  returned  to 
Dublin  in  Nevsmber,  where  he  remained  till  the 
following  June. 

William  ef  Orange  landed  at  Carriekfergus  en 
14t^  June,  1690,  accompanied  by  a  number  of 
distinguished  offiews  and  nkblecaen,  and  on  tke 
same  day  he  arrived  in  Belfast.  Me  took  imme- 
diato  measures  to  coHect  and  organise  his  scat- 
tered army  and  put  a  stop  to  pillaging  and  otker 
misconduct  of  wkick  ke  bad  heard  while  in  England. 


He  also  issued  orders  that  bis  soldiers  should  pay 
for  everything  they  got  from  the  people. 

On  24th  June,  everything  being  in  readiness, 
he  marchad  southward  witk  all  his  troops,  and  en 
the  27tk  he  reached  Dundalk,  wkick  had  been 
occupied  by  tho  Jacobite  forces,  but  waa  eva- 
cuated by  thorn  on  hia  approach.  James  then 
retired  to  Ardee,  and  on  tho  28  th  ko  crossed  tho 
Boyno,  and  encamped  on  its  soutkcru  bank,  about 
three  miles  above  Drogkeda.  Hero  he  resolved 
to  wait  for  his  rival  and  try  the  issue  of  battle. 

William,  quickly  following,  at  early  morning  on 
the  30th,  he  reached  the  Boyne  ;  and  from  tke 
hill  of  TuUyeiker,  about  two  miles  north  of 
Droghe«la,  he  surveyed  tho  picturesque  surround- 
iag  country  in  all  tho  glory  of  su muter.  In  front 
was  tho  Jacobite  camp,  nearer  the  ancient  town 
of  Droghtda,  and  away  to  the  right  lay  tho  de- 
vious glittering  course  of  tbo  Boyno.  Accom- 
panied by  some  of  his  officers,  he  then  rode  down 
to  the  picturesque  gorge  now  known  as  King  Wil- 
liam's Olen,  from  whick  ko  made  careful  observa- 
tion of  tho  Jacobite  position,  and  determined  kia 
point  of  attack,  while  kis  army  advanced  in  tho 
rere  close  to  the  river. 

He  was  so  charmed  witk  tho  beauty  of  the 
Bceoe,  enhanced  by  the  lovely  morning,  that  ko 
rode  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  along  tho  river 
and  sat  down  upon  some  rising  ground  opposite 
tke  Jacobite  camp,  where  he  called  for  hia  break- 


56 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


fut  t«  b«  ■•TTed  him  al  fretco.  Mcanwliile  a 
party  mi  tha  Jaaobita  Kane  quietly  descended 
from  the  hill  of  Donora  ob  tha  far  tide  and  entered 
a  ploughed  field  opposite  tha  apok  where  William 
and  hie  suite  were  breakfaatiag.  After  reaaiBing 
there  soma  time  thay  ratHmed,  apparaatly  \nt^- 
out  having  accomplished  anything;  but  neTartha- 
less  thay  had,  unnoticed,  unliaibercd  two  field 
pieces  and  concealed  tkam  uader  a  hedge,  leaving 
a  few  axparc  guaners  in  charge. 

About  half  an  hour  afterwards  William  rasa  to 
remount  his  herae,  when  a  loud  report  from  one 
•f  tha  pieces  resaunded  along  the  river  banks,  the 
ball  killing  a  man  and  a  eouple  of  horses  a  short 
distance  behind  him.  Before  he  could  recover 
from  his  surprise  a  second  was  fired,  and  the  ball, 
ricochetting  from  the  river  bank,  struck  him  an 
the  right  shoulder,  inflicting  a  harmless  lacerated 
wound.  A  few  inches  closer  would  have  abruptly 
ended  the  war.  William  fell  forward  on  his 
horse's  Bcck,  a  loud  shout  of  cKultatiou  wns 
raised  from  the  Jacobite  camp,  and  messengers 
were  evaa  despatched  ta  Paris  aad  Dublin  with 
l^e  mews  that  he  was  killed.  In  a  few  moments, 
however,  he  was  sufficieatly  recovered  to  sit 
upright  again  aad  asswer  the  uaay  inquiries  aa 
to  tha  wound,  which  waa  then  dressed  by  the 
RurgeoBS.  The  place  whare  this  incident 
occurred  is  a  littla  below  the  glen  and  near  tha 
obelisk. 

The  night  of  tha  30th  closed  without  any  fur- 
ther action,  and  both  sides  prepared  for  a  fiaal 
struggle  on  the  morrow.  Authorities  differ  as  to 
the  respective  numbers  on  each  side ;  but  Sir 
William  Wilde,  who  seems  to  have  investigated 
tha  matter  with  some  care,  places  tha  aumbers 
at  86,000  Williamites  and  23,069  Jacobites 
("  The  Soyne  and  the  BlaehvMter,"  p.  249.) 
Stoiay,  who  waa  King  William's  chaplain,  and 
was  present  at  tha  oigagemant.  estimates  tha 
respective  forces  at  36,000  and  2a,000.  (See 
Surrey' »  History,  page  70.)  The  Duke  of  Ber- 
wick, at  page  63  of  his  memoirs,  says,  "The  enemy 
had  45,000  aad  we  were  oaly  23,000."  "  Maeariae 
Excidium"  (■p.  47)  makes  the  Williamites  double  the 
number  af  their  adversaries,  aad  Cane  gives  the 
WilliamitcB  a  majority  af  12,001  at  least  (p.  207). 
The  smallneas  •£  King  James's  army  was  cvea 


jocularly  referred  to  by  soma  af  William's  foreign 
officers  {Storey,  p.  73). 

The  Williamites  were  all  well  disciplined  •*]. 
diars,  tried  ia  maay  a  fereiga  battlefield,  and 
drawn  from  nearfy  every  aatioaality  in  central 
Europe. 

The  Jacobites  caasisted  of  French  and  Irish, 
tha  Freaeh  beiag  well  equipped  aad  disciplined  ; 
but  of  the  Irish  a  large  number— five  or  six  thou- 
sand at  least— were  raw  levias,  inezperioBoed,  ua- 
discipliaed,  and  littla  better  than  tha  iasurgeats 
in  '98,  armed  with  pikes  aad  other  imjsrevised 
weapeas. 

The  Williamites  had  about  59  pieces  ef  artillery 
besides  mortars  ("ilfacariaefxctdium,"  p.  343).  Tha 
Jacobites  had  but  12  field-pieces,  of  which  oaly 
six  were  availabl.  on  tha  battlefield,  the  remain- 
der having  been  sent  towards  Dublin  to  protect 
the  baggage  {Cane,  p.  211). 

When,  in  addition  to  this  great  numerical  dis- 
parity, we  consider  that  so  maay  of  the  Irish 
were  practically  useless  as  soldiers,  beiair  imper- 
fectly armed,  and  that  the  Jacobites  were  almost 
totally  deficient  in  artillery,  we  may  fairly  say 
that  tkey  were  outnumbered  by  their  oppoaeats 
ID  the  proportion  of  at  least  two  to  one. 

Day  dawned  cloudlessly  on  Tuesday,  1st  July, 
aad  the  silvery  waters  of  the  Boyae  glanced  bril- 
liaatly  beneath  tha  merning  sua  ;  but  before  tka 
early  mists  had  risen  from  tiie  surroundiag 
heigjits,  the  braying  of  trumpets,  neighing  of 
steeds,  and  other  martial  sounds  disturbed  the 
rural  stillness  and  proclaimed  the  presence  of  war. 

William's  plan  of  battle  was  to  force  the  pas- 
sage af  the  river  in  foxir  places,  aa  follows  : — 
Goieral  Douglas  with  10,000  nen  vraa  to  march 
at  daybreak  to  the  bridge  and  fords  at  Slano, 
and  theace  advance  upon,  and,  if  possible,  out- 
flank tha  Jacobite  left  wing— a  march  of 
about  six  miles.  This  passage  having  been 
accomplished,  the  Dutch  Blue  Guards,  the  French 
Huguenots  and  tha  Irish  EnniakiUeaers  com* 
manded  by  Duke  Schonberg  were  to  enter  at  the 
ford  opposite  William's  Glea.  The  Daaes  and 
Qermans  under  Count  Nassau  were  to  cross  at  th* 
shallows  between  the  two  islands;  and  the  left 
wiag,  almost  exclusively  composed  of  Daaish  and 
Dutch  eavalry,  waa  to  cross  immediately  eastwarcl 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BOYNS. 


67 


of  Tvllf  alien  hill.  It  mty  b«  mMtioned  thai  tm 
it  wa8  8umm«r  tk*  rirer  wm  vary  low  aad  ford- 
abla  in  almost  aay  plaaa. 

It  will  b*  meceasary  t«  refer  to  tk«  map  to 
aaderstand  these  seTeral  mevea  which  I  have 
■umbered  thus  :— 

(1).  10,000  under  Dosftlaa  to  cross  at  Slaae,  &c. 

(2).  Dutch,  French,  and  EnniskiUiners  vnder 
Sohomberg  to  cress  at  Oldbridge. 

19 


of  cavalry  were  ef  course  routed,  abovt  70  of  < 
being  killed.  Tbe  Jaaebite  left  wing  whiek 
extended  out  towards  Slane  then  came  to  thoir 
aasiatance  and  coTwed  tho  retreat  of  the  anr- 
TiTora. 

About  half  past  tea  o'cloek  Wiliaaa,  haviiif 
been  irn  for  seed  by  special  messenger  of  the  sueoaoa 
of  this  expedition,  ordered  the  other  attempts  to 
be  made.    The  Dutch  Blue  Guards,  reputed  tho 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BOYNE. 


(8).  Daaes  and  Oermant  under  Count  Nassau. 

(4).  Loft  wing  under  King  William. 

Douglas  with  his  10,000  men  (nearly  half  tho 
number  of  the  Jacobites)  maroked  to  Slane;  the 
horsecrossed  atRosnaree,  and  some  of  the  infantry 
at  a  ford  about  a  mile  higher  up.  Immediately  on 
crossing  tkey  were  met  by  Sir  Heal  O'Neill  with 
some  500  or  600  cavalry,  who  for  a  short  time  by 
his  skilful  manoeuvring  held  them  in  oheek,  but 
O'Neill  w«s  ultimately  killed,  and  the  small  force 


finest  infantry  la  the  world,  entered  tho  river 
opposite  Oldbridge,  and  tho  Danes  and  Germans 
at  a  ford  betweea  tho  two  islands.  The  Irish  foot 
resisted  tkair  progress,  but  being  principally 
armed  with  pikes,  their  resistance  was  ef  short 
duration,  and  they  fell  back  upon  the  line  of 
cabins  and  rudo  defences  on  tko  southero  bank, 
before  the  withering  and  well  directed  fire  of  tkoir 
oppoaonts. 
Hamilton,  leading  the  Irish  horse,  now  advaaood 

H 


58 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDa 


te  the  river*!  edge;  part  waT«r«d  uid  fled  before 
the  terrible  ire,  but  the  remainder  impetueusly 
charged  into  tke  watar,  hurling  back  Dutch, 
Daaes,  aud  BraudoBburgkera,  with  the  loss  ef 
Calimotte  the  leader  ef  the  Huguenota.  Brave 
old  Schonberg,  thcu  82  years  of  age,  atoed  on 
the  northers  bank  at  the  ent  ranee  te  Williaaa's 
Olen,  watching  the  struggle  with  a  SDaall  body  ef 
reserve,  but  when  he  learned  of  tke  death  mi  hii 
old  friend  aud  comrade  Calimotte,  ke  rushed  iute 
the  river  to  rally  the  Uugueaets  without  waiting 
to  doB  hia  helmet  or  cuirass.  Just  as  ke  wm 
abeat  to  laad  at  the  opposite  side  Hamilton's 
cavalry  again  charged,  with  disaatreus  result  te 
themselve;,  for  they  were  met  by  a  treuendeus 
fire  which  emptied  many  a  saddle, bet  they  never- 
thelesa  broke  tlie  ranks  of  tke  Huguenots  and  i* 
the  struggle  the  gallant  old  Sshonberg  feU  dead 
with  a  musket  bullet  through  kia  head. 

From  the  acsotiat  of  the  battle  givea  is  the 
"Histoire  de  U  devolution  d' IrUnde,"  published  at 
Antwerp  in  1791,  it  seems  likely  that  Schonberg 
feM  a  victim  to  a  stray  Williamite  buMeb.  Storey 
also  says  riiat  ke  was  killed  by  the  eareless  firing 
ef  his  ewn  men.  A  monument  now  stands  on 
tke  spot  to  mark  where  ke  fell.  A  sketch  of  it  ia 
given  on  page  55. 

The  Irish  cavalry,  tke  enly  really  effective  Irisk 
troops,  perfernaed  prodigies  ef  valour,  consideiing 
tkeir  numbers.  On  another  attempt  being  made 
by  the  Dutch  and  Danes  te  establish  themselves, 
tkis  famous  cavalry  ckarged  witk  such  effect  that 
in  a  few  momenu  they  swept  nearly  all  tke 
Williamites  koa  their  positions  on  the  southera 
baak  of  tke  Boyne.  TVe  Dutch  Blues,  however, 
stood  unbrekda  by  cavalry  or  infantry,  and  held 
tkeir  ground  admirablj  though  temporarily  eut- 
niunbered. 

William  now  led  the  left  wing  of  5,000  cavalry 
dowa  to  the  river,  eastward  ef  Tullyalleu  Hill,  and 
thou|^  wounded  and  acarcely  able  to  use 
kia  right  arm,  ke  plunged  into  tke 
water  and  rode  at  their  kead  to  the 
other  side,  where  he  efifected  a  landing,  apparently 
with  little  oppoaitien.  On  reaching  tke  bank, 
which  waa  wet  and  swampy,  his  kerse  got  begged 
and  he  was  fereed  to  alight,  tiU  one  of  his  officers 
•extricated  it*    He  then  remomtedt  and  led  kia 


men  along  tke  laae  te  Skeepheuae,  whither  the 
Jacobites  were  retiring,  whe  at  ene  time  turned 
8o  fiercely  at  bay  that  they  drove  some 
of  William's  best  troops  down  the  hill,  till  some 
reinforcements  enabled  tke  Williamites  to  rally. 

By  this  time  both  wings  of  the  Jacobite  army 
were  closing  in  upon  their  centre.  Tke  left  wuig, 
temporarily  successful  at  Rosnaree,  but  ordered 
te  retire  te  support  the  centre,  had  fallen  back 
•pen  Duleok,  and  tke  right  wing  and  centre  re- 
tired upon  Donore  Hill,  and  fnally,  towards  even- 
ing, joined  the  left  wing  at  Duleek.  The  retreat 
was  effected  in  good  order,  with  inconsiderable 
loss,  and  directed  with  consummate  skiU. 

The  advance  of  the  Williamite  right  wing  by 
Slaae  waa  a  manterly  manoeuvre,  but  it  partly 
failed  in  its  object.  Had  Douglas  succeeded  in 
oatflanking  tke  Jacobite  left  and  seizing  tke  paaa 
of  Duleek,  ae  as  to  cut  off  James's  road  to  Dublin, 
the  result  would  have  been  the  annihilation  ef 
the  Jacobite  army  and  the  termination  of  the  war 
at  a  blow.  But  fate  decreed  otherwise,  and  tke 
Vf  illiamitea  had  to  be  satisfied  witk  an  indeeisivo 
victory  and  a  successful  passage  of  the  Boyne. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  victors  made  little 
or  me  attempt  to  follow  up  tkeir  success.  Their 
cavalry  pursued  the  Jacebitea  te  Duleek,  where 
tke  Iritih  rallied  and  presented  a  front,  but  tke 
WiUiamites  declined  battle,  and  tke  last  stand  of 
tkevanquisked  was  made  at  the  deep  defile  of  Naul, 
in  the  extreme  north  ef  tiie  county  Dublin,  on 
tlie  borders  of  Meath  ;  there  tke  Williamites 
reined  horse  and  returned  to  Duleek. 

So  ended  the  famous  Battle  of  tke  Boyne — a 
battle  of  dynasties — where  WiUiam  of  Orauge 
snatched  the  sceptre  fiem  the  enfeebled  grasp  ef 
the  ill-starred  Stuart  line. 

It  has  been  stated  by  many  writers  that  James 
during  tke  battle  remained  at  Donore  Church, 
which  would  be  almost  entirely  out  of  view  ef  the 
battlefield  ;  but  this  stateMcnt  is  in  conflict  with 
nearly  all  accounts  ef  tke  battle,  and  is  not  con- 
firmed by  any  e«ra  potent  autkerities.  It  is  likely 
enough  that  he  went  there  towards  the  close  ef 
battle,  when  his  troops  were  being  forced  back 
from  the  river. 

It  should  be  mendoned  that  the  celebrated 
fighting  ohurckman,  Oeorge  Walker,  whe  had  w 


THE  FIBST  SXEGB  OF  LDIEBICK. 


59 


difrt{agulali«d  himself  at  Derry,  f«U  ia  thii  battk, 
and  waa  immediately  stripped  and  robbed  by  his 
•wn  «amp  foUewers  I  ("  Storey"  p.  82.)  lb  is 
6Ten  recorded  that  William,  ob  hearing  of  his 
death,  unsympathetically  remarked, "  Fool!  what 
brought  hiat  there !"  But  he  was  undoubtedly  a 
brave  man,  and  well  merited  the  tardy  honour 
paid  to  his  memory  at  Derry. 

It  is  a  strani^  fact  that  erery  Williamite  soldier 
wore  a  spray  of  greea  in  his  cap,  se  that  en  this 
occasion,  at  least,  green  was  the  Orange  celeur. 
The  Jacobites  wore  small  pieees  ef  white  paper 
in  their  caps,  white  being  the  Jacobite 
colour. 

Notwithstanding  many  statements  to  the  con- 
traiy,  JaMU  had  shown  eonsiderable  bravery  on 
many  a  foreign  battlefield,  though  his  conduct  on 
this  occasion  looked  Tsry  like  cowatdiee,  and 
earned  fer  him  in  Ireland  an  unsaroury  sobri- 
quet, vrhich  does  not  bear  translation. 


ConsiderLag  the  numbers  engaged  in  this  battle, 
the  mighty  issues  at  stakes,  and  the  enduring  im- 
portance of  the  result,  the  number  killed — iOO 
Williaaiites  and  1,000  Jacobites — seems  surpris- 
ingly saal. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  victory  has 
been  vastly  exaggerated ;  when  we  recollect  the 
glaring  disparity  of  numbo^  and  equipments,  that 
James  concentrated  the  besc  ef  his  troops  into 
the  apex  ef  a  triangle  (a  singularly  bad  piece  ef 
Keneralehip),  and  that  the  WiUiamites  had  a 
kmg  worth  fighting  for,  which  Uie  Jacobites 
lacked,  it  is  impossible  but  to  conclude  that  "  the 
glorious  Battle  nf  the  Boyne,"  so  long  the  shib- 
beleth  of  party  faction,  so  oft  the  watchword  ef 
fratricidal  strife,  is  one  of  those  popular  delu- 
sions which  only  needs  a  perusal  of  history  to  dis- 
pel, and  that  suecess  under  such  cireumstaaceft 
brings  little  of  glory  to  the  victors  and  stiU  less 
disgrace  to  the  vanquished. 


THE     FIRST    SIEGE     OF    LIMERICK. 


}HE  victory  at  the  Boyne  and  the 
surrender  of  Dublin  opened  thm 
province  of  Leinster  to  the 
WiUiamites.  The  Jacobites  now 
>^/^f^  decided  to  fall  back  upon  the 
T-^^^  Shannon  as  their  Hue  of  defence, 
and  occupy  the  fortified  towns  of 
Limerick  and  Athlone.  The  gar- 
risons of  the  smaller  towns  canae 
in  considerable  numbers  to  Limerick,  and  a 
large  force  of  French,  under  General  Lauzun, 
also  proceeded  there;  but  when  Lauzun  had  ia ■ 
spected  the  fortificatioas  of  the  town  he  pro- 
nounced it  untenable,  declaring  that  "  it  eould  be 
taken  with  roasted  apples,"  and  he  aecordingly 
marched  off  to  Galway  with  his  entire  force,  in- 
tending to  embark  for  Frzmce.  The  defence  of 
Limerick,  therefore,  devolved  upon  the  Irish 
alone,  and  to  shem  belong*  the  undivided  honour 
of  its  success. 

On  9th  August,  1690,  forty  days  after  the 
Battle  of  the  Boyne.  William  appeared  before  the 
walls  of  Limerick  with  his  army,  and  encamped 


at  Singland,   now  a   south-eastern  suburb  of  the 
city. 

According  to  O'Callaghan's  "Grten  Book, "  where 
the  matter  is  gon«  into  with  great  minuteness, 
the  WiUianaite  forces  at  Limerick  numbered 
26,«00.  "ViUare  Zfiiernicum"  makes  them  38,500, 
but  the  former  estimate  is  probably  tlie  mcro 
correct,  as  it  is  known  that  Williant  detached  from 
his  army  about  10,090  men  to  garrison  other 
towas  after  the  Battle  of  the  B«yne.  The  Duke 
of  Berwick  says  that  the  Irish  numbered  29,0§0 
infantry,  of  which  only  half  were  armed,  and  3,500 
cavalry; — "  toute  notre  infanterie  Irlandoise.  qui 
moatoit  a  environ  vingt  mille  hommes,  dout  pour- 
tant  il  n'y  avoit  plus  de  la  moitic  qui  fut  armee. 
Nous  tiames  la  campagne  avec  notre  eavalerie, 
qui  pouvoit  faire  trois  mille  cinq  cents  chevaux." 
— (Memoires  du  Marecktd  de  Berwick,  tome  I. 
p.  76.) 

William  intended  to  await  the  arrival  ef  hie 
siege  train,  which  was  coming  from  Dublin  uuder 
escort,  as  tho  artillery  he  had  with  kiin  was  oi 
light  ealibre,  and  rather  suited   for  field  purposei 


60 


Ireland's  battles  and  battlefields. 


thaa  a  siege.  Tewards  eTening  he  teat  a  trum- 
peter te  summen  the  tewa  to  eurroider,  but 
Beisseleau,  the  goreraor,  returned  the  anawer 
that  he  hoped  to  gain  the  good  opkiieQ  •{  the 
Prince  oi  Orange  by  hia  vigerouB  defeaee  of  the 
towu  with  wkick  King  Jamei  had  entrusted  him. 
.  WilHam  was  rather  diaappoiuted  at  thia  reply, 
for  he  expected  that  the  town  would  aurreader  at 
once  oa  aceouat  of  ita  inadequate  defeacea  ;  ke 
therefore  resolved  to  at  once  cemmence  offenaivo 
operations. 

On  the  10th  a  Frenekman  deserted  from 
William's  camp  and  made  hia  way  into  the  tewn, 
conveying  the  important  intelligmca  that 
William's  siege  train  was  oa  its  way  from  Dublin. 
It  consisted  ef  a  number  ef  heavy  caaaon,  a  quan- 
tity of  ammunition  and  provisions,  also  seme  tia 
pontoon  boats  for  crossing  tko  river.  When 
General  Sarsfield  heard  this  news  ho  determined 
to  intercept  the  convoy.  He  collected  together 
about  600  light  cavalry — picked  men,  commanded 
by  an  officer  who  knew  every  pas-*,  wood,  and  bog 
in  all  the  countryside,  and  on  the  night  of  Sun- 
day, 10th  Auguat,  ho  aet  out  with  hia  troopers  on 
this  daring  enterprise. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  his  departure  an 
Irish  gentleman  came  to  William's  camp  and  re- 
ported that  Sarsfiold  had  started  oa  some  myste- 
rious noctunral  expedition.  William  apparently 
did  not  give  the  matter  much  consideration,  for, 
although  he  issued  orders  for  a  body  of  cavalry 
to  pursue  him,  they  did  not  start  till  Tuesday 
morning  1 

Sarsfield  directed  his  course  towards  KiBaloo, 
about  fifteen  milea  higher  up  the  Shannon,  keep- 
ing tko  river  on  hia  right  aU  along.  His  imme- 
diate object  now  was  to  cross  the  Shannon  and 
get  into  the  county  Tipperary,  through  which  the 
convoy  was  passing,  but  this  was  no  easy  saatter, 
for  the  bridges  and  fords  were  few,  and  vigilantly 
guarded  by  the  Williamitea.  About  ten  milea 
above  Limerick  was  O'Brien's  Bridge,  tka  ancient 
paas  between  Clare  and  Tipperary,  but  this  he 
dared  not  attesapt,  for  it,  too,  was  held  by  the 
eneay.  He  and  hia  men,  accordmgly,  paaaed  on 
through  Bridgetown  and  Ballycorney  till  they 
reached  Killaloe,  which,  however,  thoy  did  not 
eucor,  lest  they  might  attract  notice,  but  kept  to 


oao  aide  and  passed  beyond  it,  croasing  Bia  ShaB« 
noB  kotwoen  the  town  and  Ballyvalley.  Havmf 
now  entered  Tippwary,  tkey  marched  south-east- 
ward, almost  in  a  direct  line,  for  Keeper  moim- 
tain,  where  they  rested  for  a  krief  time. 

Sarsfield   soon  ascertained   the  whereabouts  of 
tho  convoy,  aad  discovered  that  tkey  intended  to 
encamp  that    night  at  Ballyneer.y  hill,  about  18 
miles   south-east  of   Limerick  and  IS  miles  from 
where  he  aad  his  troopers  now  stood.    Gautioualy 
following  by  unfrequented  routes,  ko  at  length 
reached    BaUyneety      that     night,     where      th* 
eonvoy    was    encamped    on     a      grassy    slop» 
near  an  old  ruined  eastle.     Haviag,  ky  accident, 
discovered  that  the  watchword  was,  by  a  strange 
coincidence  "Sarsfield"  he  stealthily  approached 
tho  camp  shortly  after  midnight,  croasing  the  in- 
tervening hill,  aad  daaoendine  on  the  Williamitos 
from  the  summit.    It  was  a  calm  moonlight  aigkt, 
and  tho  eamp  apprehending  no  danger  was  stilled 
in  sleep.     The  sentinel  challeaged.     "  Sarsfield  is 
tho  word,  and  Sarsfield  is  tho  man,"  was  the  reply. 
The   sentiael    was   cut   down,  and  then  upon  the 
amazed  and  half-awakened  Williamites,  Sarsfield 
and  his  troopers  swept  with  tho  suddenness  and 
swiftness  of  a  thunderbolt.    Down   they  caoie 
with  wild  huzzas  along  the  green  sward,  the  turf 
quivering  beneath  their  feet,  their  sabres  flashing 
in    the  pale  moonlight.      Little  resistance  was 
offered;  tko  men  were  sabred  and  shot  down  as 
tkey  rushed  from   their  tents,    and   these  wh» 
could,  escaped   and  hid  themselves  in  tho  heather 
and  bushes  till  morning.     Sarsfield  then  collected 
the   guns   together,    and    having  filled  them  with 
powder,   ho  thruat  their  muzzlea  into  the  grouad, 
pat  all  tihe  auppliea  aad  poatooa  boata  over  them 
in  a  heap,  aad  laying  a  train  blew  up  all  with  a 
tremendous  explosion   which  resouadod  through 
ail   tho   surrounding  country,    rudely  disturbing 
the  stillness   of   the  aight.     Thus  was  destroyed 
tho  splendid  siege  train,  which  William  had  des- 
tmed   for   the  reduction   of  his  refract*       ^ish 
subjects. 

Meanwhile  the  eouater  expedition  de^psSehed 
by  William  were  sluggishly  making  their  way 
from  the  camp  at  Limerick;  ihoy  started  at  two 
o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  but  after  about  a> 
hour  "  they  saw  a  great  light  in  the  air,  and 


THE  FIRST  SIEGE  OF  LIMERICK. 


a 


liaard  a  strange  rumbling  aoue,  which  Mme  cob- 
jectured  to  be  the  train  blowa  up,  u  it  really 
was. — [Storr/,  p,  119.) 

The  deitruetioD  ef  their  artillery  caused  great 
anneyance  to  the  WiUiamites,  and  an  equal 
amount  of  rejoicing  ameng  the  Irish  within  tlie 
city,  whe  w«re  much  encouraged  by  this  brilliant 
achievement  of  their  dashing  commander. 

On  17th  August  WiUiam  epened  new  trenches 
before  the  walls,  determined  to  carry  on  the 
siege  with  the  means  and  materials  at  his  dis- 
posal, till  the  new  siege  traia,  for  which  he  had 
sent  to  Waterford,  should  arriTe.  A  bombard- 
ment continued  till  tlie  19th,  when  the  King, 
ridiag  about  the  treaches,  uarrewly  escaped  being 
killed,  a  caanon  ball  frem  the  ramparts  paasing 
within  a  few  inches  ef  him.  On  the  20th  tke 
Irish  made  a  soriie,  infiietiag  ceniiderable  loss  oa 
the  besiegers.  After  this  the  WiUiamites  used 
red  hot  balls,  causing  much  destruction  in  the 
town  and  greatly  alarming  the  inhabitants,  who 
nerer  before  had  serai  such  missiles,  The  shells 
threwB  into  tke  city  were  of  immense  size,  and 
would  astonish  evea  modem  artilleriats. 
Linehan,  the  historian  of  Lisaeriek,  states  that 
one  in  his  possessiea  is  18  mehes  in  diameter 
and  weighs  2001b8  !  The  crumbliag  walls  of  the 
ancient  city  aew  began  to  show  the  effects 
•r  tlie  bombardment,  and  the  garrisoa  adopted 
tlt«  atraage  expedient  ef  hanging  woel  sacks  out- 
side them  to  deaden  the  feree  ef  the  eannon, 
which  Story  compares  te  Jesephus's  defence  ef 
tke  towns  in  Galilee  when  he  hung  sacks  ef  chaff 
orer  the  walls  to  protect  them  from  the  battering 
rama  of  the  Romans. 

Hunger  was  now  beginning  to  tell  upon  the  in- 
trepid garrison,  their  food  being  limited  to  beans 
and  oatmeal,  and  these  only  in  small  quantities. 
The  French,  iadeed,  had  promised  proTisions  and 
assistaace,  but  ae  tidmgs  of  them  eame,  and  the 
oondicion  of  the  iahabitants  was  bacomiag  more 
and  more  desperate  every  day. 

S.irs6eld,  aaticipating  a  breach  in  the  walla 
under  the  continuous  cannenadiag,  caused  masked 
batteries  and  mines  to  he  constructed  at  the 
weakest  points,  so  that  if  menaced  by  a  storming 
party  he  could  instantly  effect  their  destruction. 

At  length,  under  tlie  sustained  fire  of  36  pieces 


ef  cannon  and  few:  mertars,  a  breach  appeared  at 
the  walls  near  St  John's  Gate.  On  Wednesday, 
the  27th  August,  William  ordered  the  asaaulk 
The  garrison  desired  that  the  women  and  ehildraa 
should  be  removed  from  tke  tewa,  but  the  wotaen 
refused  to  forsake  their  husbands  and  brothen  in 
the  mement  of  danger. 

It  was  half-past  three  in  the  afteraeon.  A 
deathlike  silence  prevailed.  The  sun  shone 
brilliantly  ia  the  heavens,  lighting  up  with  its 
gladdening  rays  many  a  peaceful  landscape  by 
the  fair  waters  ef  the  Shanaoa.  Tke  Irish  stood 
around  the  breach,  grim  aad  fierce  determiuatien 
depicted  in  their  emaciated  faces.  Huated  and 
baited  into  their  last  stroagheld,  deserted  by 
their  allies  and  forsaken  by  their  king — defiant 
still  and  desperate,  the  old  patrician  race  turaed 
resolutely  at  hay. 


TH£  BRIDGE   OF  LIMERICK. 

Far  along  the  surrounding  treaches  they  saw 
Boried  msMes  of  dark-visaged  warriors  from 
ntany  a  distant  sovereignty — from  the  swamps  ^f 
low-lying  Holland,  tha  sunny  plains  mi  France, 
the  gloeaiy  Rhenish  foresu,  9mA  the  bleak  shares 
of  Denaiark — heterogeneous  eleaienta  leagued 
together  iw  a  commoa  bond  ef  warfare. 

Both  sides  waited  in  aoxious  expectancy  for 
the  signal  of  attack.  At  length  it  was  announced 
by  three  successive  booms  from  tke  cannon.  The 
grenadiers  leaped  from  the  trenches  aad  rushed 
furiously  upon  the  counterscarp,  throwing  in 
their  grenades  and  discharging  their  muskets  at 
the  defenders.  The  Irish  were  well  prepared,  aad 
poured  a  destructive  cross  fire  upon  their  assail- 
ants from  the  sides  of  tiie  breach,  the  du.st  and 
smoke  being  so  great  that  the  eomkataats  were 
almost  eatirely  concealed  from  view. 


62 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


At  length  their  immediat*  iuppliea  of  ammuni- 
tioD  being  exhausted,  the  Irish,  weak  with  priTation 
and  hunger,  were  gradually  ferced  back  from  the 
breach,  and  the  Williamites  emtered  in  seeming 
triuMph.  But  now  the  towaspeople,  seeing  the 
garrison  ererpewered,  thronged  in  numbers  to 
their  assistaace — the  shipwright  with  his  adze, 
the  butchei  with  his  kaife,  and  the  brawny 
blacksmith  with  his  hammer.  The  women,  too, 
in  this  terrible  emergency,  rushed  inte  the  midst 
of  the  combat  and  fought  with  amazing  fury, 
usiag  sticks,  st«>es,  bottles,  and  in  fine,  every 
kiad  of  improTised  weapon  that  desperate  neces- 
sity could  suggest.  Encouraged  by  this  unex- 
pected support  til*  garrison  rally.  They  face 
about,  and  again  meet  their  foes.  A  furious 
hand-to-hand  struggle  ensues,  and  the  whole 
tewa  resounds  with  the  din.  New  the  Irish 
prevail,  and  now  the  Williamites.  Victory 
waveis.  At  last  the  besiegers,  after  three  hours' 
desperate  fighting,  yielding  inch  by  inch,  are 
foiced  back  to  the  breach  amid  triumphaat 
shouts  from  the  Irish.  And  now  the  retreat  ba- 
ceiaing  general,  they  rush  back  iu  headlong  con- 
fusioa — over  the  waUs,  outside  tbe  eeuaterscarp 
falling  iu  mingled  heaps  of  living,  dying,  and 
dead. 

When  the  fighting  was  at  its  very  hettest,  the 
Brandenburghers  took  possession  ef  the  Black 
Battery,  little  knowing  ef  the  velcano  that  slum- 
bered beneath  their  feet.  As  they  swarmed  thick 
upon  it  Sarsfield  fired  the  mine  ; — high  above 
the  din  of  battle  rose  a  mighty  roar  which  seemed 
te  rend  the  very  heavens  asunder,  and  a  dense 
mass  of  smoke  and  fire  shot  up  into  the  sky, 
bringing  up  with  it  fort,  men,  and  houses  together 
iu  one  mingled  mass  ef  ruin. 

Foiled  and  defeated  at  every  point  WiUiam 
called  off  his  men.  "  The  King  stood  nigh  Crom- 
well's Fort  all  the  time,  and  the  business  being 
over,  he  ^ent  te  his  camp  very  much  cencerned, 
as  indeed  was  the  whole  army,  for  you  might 
have  seen  a  mixture  »f  anger  and  sorrow  in  every- 
body's countenance." 

"  We  lost  at  least  5G0  upon  the  spot  and  had  a 
thousand  more  wounded,  as  I  understood  by  the 
bui  jireuus  of  our  hospitals,  who  are  the  properest 
judges."     {Story,  p,  132.) 


It  was  urged  by  some  that  WiUiam  should 
order  a  aether  attack,  but  he  would  act  hazard  it 
—ha  had  lost  too  many  mea  already.  "Th» 
King,  therefore,  caUed  a  council  of  war,  wherein 
it  was  resolved  to  quit  the  tewn  aad  raise  th* 
siege,  which,  as  the  case  stood  with  us,  was  no 
doubt  the  most  prudent  thing  that  could  be  done" 
{Story,  p.  182).  It  will  be  remembered  that  thia 
candid  historian  was  King  William'*  diaplaia. 


SARSFIELD  3  STATUS. 

Accerdingly,  on  Sunday,  the  31st  August,  1690, 
William  drew  off  his  forces  and  commenced  his 
retreat.  He  was  evidently  apprehensive  of  an 
attack  from  the  Irish,  for  he  placed  some  ef  his 
cavalry  in  the  rear  {Story,  p.  133).  To  show  his 
extreme  anxiety  to  get  his  artillery  away  in  safety 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  (according  to  the  same 
authority)  the  first  day  he  marched  it  to  Cullen, 
near  the  scene  ef  Sarsfield's  exploit,  a  distance  of 
about  twenty  miles,  which  was  ne  light  day's 
mareh  for  heavy  artillery,  drawn  by  exen  over 
such  bad  roads  as  they  liad  in  those  days.  The 
Williamite  losses  in  this  siege  were,  according  to 
their  owa  acov^ants,  1,200,  but  ace er ding  to  the 
Jacobites  5,000.  The  Irish  loss  was  probably 
about  half  that  of  the  Williamites. 


THE  TWO  SIEQES  OF  ATHLONE. 


It  WM  a  brilliant  yietcrj  ttr  the  Irish  in  three 
weaks'  litge  to  hare  npuli*«l  bo  formidable  a 
foree  as  that  which  triumphed  at  the  Bojae. 


THE  BLACKSMITH  OF  LIMKRICK. 

He  grasped  his  ponderees  hammer,  he  could  not  stand 
it  More, 

Te  hear  the  bombshells  bursting  and  thundering 
battle's  roar; 

He  said,  "  Kie  breach  they're  mounting,  the  Dutch- 
man's murdering  crew — 

ni  try  my  hammer  on  their  heads,  and  see  what  that 
can  do  I 


Ihe  blacksmith  raised  his  hammer,  and  rushed  into  the 

street, 
■is  'prentioe  boys  behind   him,  the  ruthless  foe  te 

meet — 
High  OB  the  breach  of  Limerick,  with  dauntless  hearts 

they  stood. 
Where  bombshells  burst,  and  shot  fell  thick,  and  redly 

raa  the  blood. 


The  first   that  gained  the  rampart    he  was  a  captain 

brave — 
▲  captain  of  the  Grenadiers,  with  blood-stained   dirk 

and  glalTe; 
lie  pointed  and  he  parried,  but  it  was  all  in  Tain, 
For  fast  through  skull  and  helmet  the  hammer  found 

hiabrainl 


The  next  that  topped  the  rampart  he  waa  a  colonel 
held; 

Bright  through  the  dust  ef  battle,  his  helmet  flashed 
with  gold. 

"Gold  is  no  match  for  iren,"  the  dou|^ty  bUeksmith 
said. 

And  with  tiiat  ponderous  hammer  he  cracked  the  foe- 
man's  head. 

"  Hurrah  for  gallant  Limerick  I"  Black  Ned  and  Moraa 

cried. 
As  OB  the  Dutchmen's  leaden    heads  their  hammers 

well  they  plied. 
A  bombshell  burst  between  them — one  fell  withomt  a 

groan. 
One  leaped  into  the  lurid  air  and  down  the  breach  was 

thrown. 

"  BraTe  smith  1  braTe  smith  1"  cried  Sarsfldd,  "  beware 

the  treacherous  mine  1 
Brare  smith  1  brare  smith  I   fall  badcward,  or  ssrely 

death  is  thine  I" 
Ihe  smith  sprang  up  the  rampart,   and    leaped  the 

blood-stained  wall. 
As  high  into  the  shuddering  air  wont  feemea,  breach, 

andalL 

Up  like  a  red  Tolcano  ttiey  thundered  wild  and  high- 
Spear,   gun,    and  shattered  standard,   and     foemen 

through  the  sky; 
And  dark  and  bloody  waa  the  shower  that  roaad  the 

blacksmith  fell- 
He  thought  upon  his  'prentice  beys— they  were  arenfed 

walL 

•  ••••• 

BOBUT   DWTU    JOTO» 


THE    TWO    SIEGES    OF    ATHLONE. 


)%  ^'^^FTER  the  battle  ef  the  Boyne, 
aa"  M-U  Lieuenant-GMieral  Douglas, 
with  12,000  Daen,  12  eannon, 
and  2  mortars  {Maeariae 
Exeidium,  p.  167),  was  tie- 
spatched  by  Williaoa  to  besiege 
Athlone.  It  may  be  well  te  re- 
mark that  Athlone  k  divided 
into  two  parts  by  the  ShaBBon, 
one  part  being  in  Leinster  hmI  tiie  other  in 
Cob  naught.  ) 

The  towB  waa  commanded  by  Colonel 
Grace,  a  stout  old  veteran  whe  had  fought  in 
the  Cromwellian  wars,  and  waa  now  nearly  80 
years  of  age.      On  17th   July  Douglaa's  army 


appeared  before  the  walls,  and  aa  ooon  ae  Ibey 
came  within  range  were  greeted  by  a  Tigorous  fire 
from  the  Irish  cannon.  Having  established  him- 
self in  positioB  Douglas  sent  a  drummer  to  sum- 
aen  the  town  te  surrender,  but  Grace  decliaed 
to  eBtertain  say  such  proposal,  and,  f  ring  a  piatol 
ever  the  messenger's  head,  told  him  Aat  these 
wei-e  the  only  terms  upon  which  he  would  treat 
with  the  besiegers.  On  Douglas's  approach  Grace 
had  buret  the  Leinster  side  of  the  town,  de- 
stroyed the  bridge  across  the  Shannon,  and  then 
retired  into  the  great  castle,  having  previously 
strengthened  the  walls  with  immense  earthwork! 
te  make  them  bombproof. 
Douglas  spent  four  days  coutracting  entrenoh* 


64 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS 


iQ«Dta  undw  ft  eontinuoui  ire  from  aerou  fch« 
riTw;  at  tke  end  •£  that  tim*  h«  had  six  gun* 
plantetl  in  positioa  oppAsite  tli«  ruined  bride*, 
and  c*aaB«BC«d  firing  up*n  th«  caatl*.  But  bis 
firing  kad  little  afTact,  for  tii*  canaon  balls  sank 
harmlessly  into  tke  great  earthworks,  and  after 
three  days'  firinic  the  only  danaga  done  was  a 
•light  breach  in  the  battlemeats.  Oa  the  other 
haad  the  fiiiag  from  the  caatle  caused  great  haroc 
aaong  the  basicgers,  and  killed  n'Miy  of  their  best 
officers.  Soaglaa  fouad  Athloue  much  •'-.runger 
tha>  he  had  expected.  The  commander,  Qrace, 
waa  no  ordinary  adrwsary,  having  twice  pre- 
viously defended  the  town;  and  now  ho  kad  • 
formidable  array  of  ordnaBco  and  ample  supplies 
of  ammunilioB  at  his  disposal.  Apparoatly  thero 
was  little  hope  of  reduciug  tho  castle  from  tko 
Leinster  side.  Douglaa  accordingly  despatched 
A  strong  detachment  nortk  to  Lanes  borough, 
about  twenty  miles  oft,  where  there  waa  a  bridge 
across  the  Shannon.  By  this  move  ho  hoped  to 
get  round  to  the  Cuunaught  side  of  the  town; 
but  Oraco  had  anticipated  him  there,  for  Lanes- 
horough  also  was  found  bristling  with  defeneei, 
and  its  bridge  swrpt  by  cannon. 

Meanwhile  tho  besie;;eis' supply  of  bread  waa 
failing,  and  tkoir  ardour  slackened  considerably 
under  tho  steady  and  d«s!ructive  fire  from  the 
castle;  and,  to  make  matters  worse,  mews 
wrived  that  Sarsfiold  was  rapidly  advancing  with 
a  large  force  to  the  relief  of  tlie  garrison.  Grace, 
seeing  signs  of  hesit;iiicy  among  tho  besiegers,  re- 
doubled his  effort^,  and  now  hung  out  a  blood-red 
flag,  which  signifies  resistance  a  outrance.  This 
was  the  last  straw.  Douglaa  now  caUod  a  council 
of  war  with  his  offi(;«rs,  at  which  it  waa  decided 
to  abandon  the  siege,  and  at  tho  dead  of  night  oa 
Friday,  tho  25th  July,  1690,  the  Williamites 
atealt^ily  withdrew  from  their  positions,  having 
lost  about  SOO  men  a  Mie  abortive  attempt  on 
tho    town;    »^d    so    ended    tka    first    siege    of 

Athlone. 

■  •  •  •  • 

On  the  l^h  Juno,  1S91 — nearly  a  year  after- 
wards — Qeneral  Qinckel  advanced  towards  Ath- 
lone with  au  army  of  about  18,000  meu,  50  siege 
«aii<ioa,  and  eight  mortars. — (Captain  Pmrker't 
Memoirt,  p.  26).      In  tke  provioua  siege  Colonel 


firaee  kad  made  no  attempt  to  defend  the  Eng- 
lish  town — the  portion  at  the  Leinster  side  of  the 
Shannun — as  he  ooasidered  the  walls  too  weak  t<> 
stand  against  cannon;  but  now  he  had  repaired 
t'lem  as  well  as  tiieir  condition  would  permit, 
and  restored  the  fortifications,  within,  lliese 
slmder  defences,  however,  seen  gave  way  under 
yb»  English  artillery,  and  on  the  seeond  day  (tho 
20th)  Qmckel  h<ad  effected  such  a  breach  that  he 
was  able  to  carry  it  by  assault;  and  the  Irish, 
having  lost  about  60  killed  and  wounded,  retired 
across  the  bridge  to  the  Irish  Town.  Tho  Eng- 
liuk  attempted  to  feUow,  but  now  a  number  of 
tho  Irish  fated  them  on  the  bridge,  and  by 
dint  of  extraordinary  efifurts,  held  it  till  their 
eomradna  behind  broke  down  tko  arches  with 
axes  and  picks,  upon  wkieh  tho  brave  defenders 
escaped,  some  by  plunging  into  the  river  and 
others  by  clambering  across  tho  tottering 
masonry  with  tke  aid  of  their  eomrades  at  th« 
ether  side. 


▲THLONE  OASTLI. 

On  the  20th,  General  St.  Ruth,  who  was  at  Bal- 
liuasloe,  hoard  •t  tho  capture  of  tlio  English  town, 
and  at  once  set  out  with  his  army  to  assist  the 
garrison,  encamping  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  walls.  By  the  23rd,  nearly  tho  whole  side  of 
the  castle  was  battered  down  under  the  constant 
connonading,  and  on  tho  same  dny  the  English 
sot  fire  to  a  miH  upon  the  bridge,  in  which  62 
naen  wore  burnt  alive.  Next  day  a  party  of  tho 
besieging  foree  attempted  as  before  to  pass  the 
river  at  Lanesborough,  but  wore  repulsed  by  its 
garrison  under  Edmund  Boy  O'Reilly. 

On  tho  26th,  seven  distinct  batteries  of  siege 
guns  were  pouring  their  iron  hail  into  the  town,  and 
every  breastwork  and  defence  thrown  up  by  the 


''         "'  i..W 


ff#  THE   TWO  SIEGES  OP  ATHLONE. 


65 


(.^knakinpfdlylnCore  th«  shot  and  shell  of 
.„,  lihe  w«U-MrTed  WUliamit*  artillery.  The  Irish 
r,  went  swept  away  as  fast  as  they  attempted  to  re- 
.. .  pair  -them,  hut  still  they  bravely  struggled  ea. 

Qinekel  now  began  to  seriously  eonaider  his  posi- 

.«  tion— his  artillery  eould  do  ne  more;  the  town  was 

-■-■  a  mass  ef  emmbling  ruins,  aad  yet  its  obstinate 

',  defoaders  showed  ne  signs  ef  BubmiBsion  or  sur- 

'  render.     Apparently  there  wonld  be  no  town  left 

.  to  take  if  they  could  not  soen  enter  it.      It  was 

aecordingly  reseWed  to  ferce  a  passage  into  the 

;  town  by  repairing  the  broken  bridge  with  planks. 

Hie  besiegers,    after   considerable    loss,  thoegh 

covered  by  a  tremendous  artillery  fire,  eenstructed 

a  breastwork  at  the  near  end  of  the  bridge.    Hie 

Irish  had  another  composed  of  wattles  at  their 

end,  but  it    was    set   on    fire    by    the    English 

grenades,  and  the  Irish  were  forced  to  leave  it. 

Dwrtng  the  night  of  Saturday,  27th  June,  the 
English  worked  hard  at  the  bridge,  and  when 
day  dawned  on  Sunday,  the  28th,  tiie  Irish  saw 
with  dismay  that  a  few  more  planks 
wouM  complete  the  passage,  and  then 
the  town  would  be  in  the  hands  of  th« 
eneiiy.  An  English  battery  was  placed  to  sweep 
the  bridge,  so  that  it  would  be  certain  deaA  te 
appear  even  for  an  instant  upon  it.  At  this  eriti* 
cal  moment  one  of  the  Irish,  named  Costume, 
stepped  forward  and  called  upon  ten  others  to 
follow  hiaa  and  save  Athlone.  Ten  volunteers 
'  were  easily  found,  and  with  Costume  at  their 
head,  tiiiese  brave  men  advanced  towards  the 
.  bridge  and  faced  Uie  battery.  The  English  were 
amazed  at  their  intrepidity  and  recklessness. 
With  de8pei>te  and  frantic  energy  they  proceeded 
te  tear  «p  tiie  planks  and  hurl  them  into  the 
river.  The  English  battery  reared,  the  bridge 
waa  swept  by  grape,  and  when  the  smoke 
cleared  the  whole  eleven  lay  dead  I  But  the 
bridge  must  go  down  I  Undismayed  by  the  fate 
of  their  comrades  eleven  more  come  forward  and 
take  their  places  upon  it.  Again  the  planks  are 
torn  up  and  hurled  belew,  and  again  a  terrifie 
fire  issues  from  breastwork  and  battery,  killing 
nine  ef  the  second  batch,  but  net  till  they  have 
thrown  down  the  last  plank— and  saved  the 
town  I  ■.•■'.■•^  'T--. 

The  legendary  exploit  ef  Horatius  Coeles  has 


thus  its  cotmterpart  in  edr  ewn  history  in  tiie 
fight  fer  the  bridge  ef  Atklene,  whose 
gallant  defenders  exhibited  a  devetien  and 
self-sacrifice  as  noble  as  ever  graced  the  annals  <tf 
Rome  or  immertalised  the  pass  ef  Thermopylae. 
Thougb  no  stately  cenotaph  eommemoratea  their 
deed,  nor  pompous  crypt  surrounds  their  humble 
dust,  in  the  affectionate  memories  ef  the  Irish 
race  they  have  a  monument  of  deathless  and  im- 
perishable fame. 

Failing  te  pass  the  bridge,  the  besiegers  held  a 
council  ef  war,  at  which  it  waa  resolved  te 
make  another  attempt  while  two  ether  partiea 
were  te  simaltaneously  cross  the  river  by  the  pon- 
toons and  the  ford.  St.  Ruth  observing  the  pre- 
parations, and  guessmg  their  object,  drafted, 
troops  hate  the  town,  and  during  the  night  made 
ample  arrangements  fer  the  reception  ef  the  as- 
sailants.  The  attack  upon  the  bridge 
was  commenced  by  the  grenadiers  throwing 
in  their  grenades  among  the  Irish,  «du^ 
returned  their  volleys.  llic  Irish,  however, 
succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  the  English  &uMine 
or  breastworks,  and  tiie  attacking  party  were 
forced  te  abandon  them.  "  By  this  tisae  it  wm 
past  twelve  o'clock,  and  the  generals,  finding  thf* 
attack  upon  the  town  that  way  was  like  to  eost 
aoaay  lives,  they  deferred  it  till  new  measures  were 
consulted  on;  nor  knew  they  well  what  te  think 
at  present,  seeing  themselves  defeated  in  m  great 
a  project.     {Storey,  p  104.) 

On  June  30th  another  council  «f  war  was  held, 
and  the  advisability  ef  raising  the  si^;e  was  de 
bated,  but  many  of  tite  principal  officers  opposed 
this  course,  pointing  out  the  shame  of  retraato^ 
from  a  town  already  in  rains.  While  they  wero 
yet  in  deliberatien,  two  ofteers,  deserters  fnmi 
the  Irish,  came  and  informed  Ginekel  that  new 
waa  his  opportunity  for  an  attack;  that  the  Irish, 
having  repelled-  the  last  aasault,  believed  the  be- 
siegers were  disheartened,  and  would  draw  off, 
and  so  thinking  themselves  quite  secure,  were  un- 
prepared, and  could  easily  be  surprised. 

The  suggestion  seemed  a  good  one,  and  Ginckel 
at  once  acted  upem  it.  Immediate  orders  werw 
issued  for  tiie  ttroeps  to  be  isi  readiness  in  the 
morning,  and  the  signal  for  advance  waa  to  be 
the  tolling  of  the  C  o'clock  church   beU.    It  had 

.1 


'^j''<^3«.i^$:;^x^^^^jtlif!^^,ii£i^k^^-)i^^ 


^^fei*^s^'i^^-^lrfiife^itefiTr- 


u 


IRELAND  S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


ia«Dta  under  ft  eontinuoua  ire  from  aerosa  the 
riT«r;  ak  tke  end  •£  that  tim*  ha  had  six  guns 
planted  in  posibioa  opposite  the  ruined  bridfce, 
and  ceaeaeMced  firing  upen  the  caalle.  But  his 
firing  had  little  eflect,  for  the  canaon  balls  sank 
haroaleisly  into  tke  great  earthworks,  and  after 
three  days'  firing  the  onlf  damage  done  was  a 
•1  ght  breach  in  the  battlemeats.  Ob  the  other 
hasd  the  fiiiag  from  the  caetle  caused  great  haroc 
AMong  tke  besiegers,  and  killed  n>u.ny  of  their  bent 
-officers.  Souglaa  fouad  Athloiie  much  s 'wronger 
than  he  had  expeeted.  Tke  commander,  Grace, 
waa  no  ordinary  adrwsary,  having  twice  pre- 
viously defended  the  town;  and  bow  he  had  a 
formidable  array  of  ordnaace  and  ample  supplies 
of  ammunition  at  his  disposal.  Apparently  thero 
waa  little  hope  of  reducing  the  castle  from  tke 
Leinster  side.  Douglas  accordingly  deipatched 
•  atroag  detachment  nertk  to  Lanesborougk, 
about  twenty  miles  oft,  where  there  waa  a  bridge 
across  the  Shannon.  By  this  move  he  hoped  to 
get  round  to  the  Couaaught  side  of  tlie  town; 
but  Grace  had  aaticipated  him  there,  fur  Laaes- 
borough  also  was  found  bristling  with  defeneea, 
and  its  bridge  awppt  by  cannon. 

Meanwhile  the  besie^eis'  supply  ef  bread  was 
failing,  and  their  ardour  slackened  considerably 
under  the  ateady  and  dralructlTe  fire  from  the 
castle;  uid,  to  make  niattera  worse,  aews 
arrived  that  Sarafield  waa  rapidly  advancing  with 
a  large  force  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison.  Grace, 
seeing  signs  of  hesituncy  amoag  the  besiegers,  re- 
doubled his  effort"".  :vnd  uuw  hung  out  a  blood-red 
flag,  which  aigaifie*  lesiHtaace  a  outrance.  This 
was  the  last  straw.  Douglas  now  called  a  couacil 
of  war  with  his  officsrs,  at  which  it  was  decided 
t<>  abandon  the  siege,  and  at  the  dead  of  night  oa 
Friday,  the  25th  July,  1600,  the  Williamites 
stealthily  withdrew  from  their  positions,  having 
lost  about  300  men  a  Mie  abortive  attempt  on 
the    town;    ^nd    so    ended    tke    first    siege    of 

Athlone. 

•  •  •  •  • 

On  the  l^h  Juno,  1691 — ne^irly  a  year  after- 
wards— General  Ginckol  advanced  towaids  Atk- 
lone  with  au  army  of  about  18,000  men,  50  siege 
•auaoa,  and  eight  mortars. — {Captain  Furker't 
Memoirs,  p.  26).      In  tke  previous  siege  Colonel 


6race  kad  made  no  attempt  to  defend  the  Eng> 
liah  town — the  portion  at  the  Leinster  aide  of  the 
Shannon — as  he  ooaaidered  the  walla  too  weak  to 
staad  against  cannon;  but  now  he  had  repaired 
t'lem  as  well  as  Mieir  eoadition  would  permit, 
and  ro:^tored  the  fortiScatioBS.  within.  Theso 
slmder  defeaces,  however,  seen  gave  way  under 
tfio  English  artillery,  aad  en  the  seeond  day  (the 
20th)  Qmckel  hsvd  effected  such  a  breach  that  he 
was  able  to  carry  it  by  assault;  aad  the  Irish, 
having  lost  about  60  killed  and  wouaded,  retired 
acrass  the  bridge  to  tke  Irish  Towa.  Tke  Eng- 
liuk  attempted  to  follow,  but  now  a  number  of 
the  Irish  faced  tbem  oa  the  bridge,  and  by 
diut  of  extraordiaary  efforts,  held  it  till  their 
comrades  behind  broke  down  the  arches  vrith 
axes  aad  picks,  upon  wkiek  the  brave  defenders 
escaped,  aomo  by  plunging  into  the  river  aad 
otkera  by  clambering  across  the  totteriag 
masonry  with  tke  aid  of  their  eomradea  at  the 
other  sidOi 


ATHLONE  CASTLI. 

On  the  20tb,  General  St.  Ruth,  who  was  at  Bal- 
liuasloe,  heard  •{  the  capture  of  the  English  towa, 
and  at  once  set  out  with  his  army  to  assist  tko 
garrison,  eacamping  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  waDs.  By  the  23rd,  nearly  the  whole  side  of 
the  castle  was  battered  down  under  the  constant 
eonneaading,  and  on  the  same  day  the  English 
sot  fire  to  a  mill  upoa  tke  bridge,  in  which  62 
naea  wore  burnt  alive.  Next  day  a  party  of  the 
besieging  force  attempted  as  before  to  pass  tlto 
river  at  Lanesborough,  but  were  repulsed  by  its 
garrison  under  Edmund  Boy  O'Beilly. 

Oa  the  26tk,  seven  distiact  batteries  of  siege 
guns  were  pouring  their  iroa  kail  into  the  town,  and 
every  breastwork  aad  defeace  thrown  up  by  the 


THE   TWO  SIEGES  OF  ATHLONE. 


65 


Irish  BMik  npfdly  before  the  shot  and  shell  of 
the  w«ll-B«rTed  Williamite  artillery.  The  Irish 
were  swept  away  as  fast  as  they  attempted  to  re- 
pair them,  hut  stiU  they  bravely  struggled  en. 

Qinckel  now  began  to  seriously  consider  his  posi- 
tion— his  artillery  could  do  na  more;  the  town  was 
a  niaes  ef  cruaibling  ruins,  and  yet  its  obstinate 
defenders  showed  no  signs  ttt  submission  or  sur- 
render. Apparentljr  there  would  be  no  town  left 
to  take  if  they  could  not  soon  enter  it.  It  was 
accordingly  reselved  to  force  a  passage  kite  the 
town  by  repairing  the  broken  bridge  with  planks. 
The  besiegers,  after  ctmsiderable  loss,  thoegh 
corered  by  a  tremendous  artillery  fire,  eenstructed 
a  breastwork  at  the  near  end  of  the  bridge.  The 
Irish  had  anotim:  cemposed  of  wattles  at  their 
end,  but  it  was  set  on  fire  by  th«  English 
grenades,  and  the  Irish  were  ferced  to  leave  it. 

Dvring  the  night  of  Saturday,  27th  June,  the 
English  worked  hard  at  the  bridge,  and  when 
day  dawned  on  Sunday,  the  28th,  the  Irkh  saw 
with  dismay  that  a  few  more  planks 
wouM  complete  the  passage,  and  then 
the  town  would  be  in  the  hands  of  the 
meay.  An  English  battery  was  placed  to  sweep 
the  bridge,  so  that  it  would  be  certain  death  to 
appear  even  for  an  instant  upon  it.  At  this  eriti- 
oal  moment  ene  of  tha  Irish,  named  Costume, 
stepped  forward  and  called  upon  ten  others  to 
follow  him  and  save  Athlone.  Ten  volunteers 
were  easily  found,  and  with  Costume  at  their 
head,  these  brave  men  advanced  towards  the 
bridge  and  faced  the  battery.  The  English  were 
aitazed  at  their  intrepidity  and  recklessness. 
With  desperate  and  frantic  energy  they  praceeded 
to  tear  up  the  planks  and  hurl  them  into  the 
river.  Ite  English  battery  roared,  tha  bridge 
was  swept  by  grape,  and  when  the  smoke 
cleared  the  whole  eleven  lay  dead  I  But  the 
bridge  must  go  down  !  Undismayed  by  the  fate 
of  their  comrades  eleven  more  come  forward  and 
take  their  plaees  upon  it.  Again  the  planks  are 
torn  up  and  hurled  belew,  and  again  a  terriic 
fire  issues  from  breastwork  and  battery,  killing 
nine  af  the  second  batch,  but  net  till  they  have 
thrown  dewa  the  last  plank — and  saved  tho 
town  I 

The  legendary  exploit  of  Horatius  Coeles  baa 


thus  its  counterpart  in  eur  ewn  history  in  the 
fight  fer  the  bridge  af  Athlane,  whose 
gallant  defenders  exhibited  a  devetion  and 
self-sacrifice  as  noble  as  ever  graced  tha  annals  oi 
Rome  or  immartalised  the  pass  af  Thermopylae. 
Though  no  stately  cenotaph  eommemorates  their 
deed,  nor  pompous  crypt  surrounds  their  humble 
dust,  ht  the  affectionate  memories  af  tha  Irish 
race  they  have  a  menument  of  deathless  and  im< 
perishable  fame. 

Failing  to  pass  the  bridge,  Uia  besiegers  held  », 
council  af  war,  at  whieh  it  was  resolved  t* 
make  another  attempt  while  two  other  partiea 
were  to  simultaneously  cross  the  river  by  the  pon> 
toons  and  the  ford.  St.  Rutii  observing  the  pre- 
parations, and  guessmg  their  object,  drafted, 
troops  into  the  town,  and  during  the  night  made 
ample  arrangements  fer  the  reception  of  the  aa- 
sailants.  The  attack  upon  tho  bridge 
was  commwiced  by  tha  grenadiers  tiu^wing 
in  their  grenades  among  tha  Irish,  who 
returned  their  volleys.  The  Irish,  however^ 
succeeded  in  settmg  fire  to  the  Eaglish  faaeine 
or  breastworks,  and  the  attacking  party  wore 
forced  to  abandon  theaa.  "  By  thia  time  it  w»a 
past  twelve  o'clock,  and  the  generals,  finding  th« 
attack  upen  Mie  tewn  that  way  was  like  to  eoct 
many  lives,  tbcy  deferred  it  till  new  measures  woe 
consulted  on;  nor  knew  they  well  what  ta  think 
at  present,  seeing  themselves  defeated  in  eo  great 
a  praject.     (Storey,  p  104.) 

On  June  30th  another  eeuncil  af  war  was  held, 
and  the  advisability  af  raising  the  siege  was  d» 
bated,  but  many  of  the  principal  officers  opposed 
this  course,  peinting  out  the  shame  of  retraattng 
from  a  town  already  in  rains.  While  they  were 
yet  in  deliberatian,  two  ofieara,  deserters  from 
the  Irish,  came  and  informed  Ginekel  that  new 
was  his  opportunity  for  an  attack;  that  tha  Irish, 
having  repelled  the  last  assault,  believed  tha  be- 
siegers were  disheartened,  and  would  draw  off, 
and  so  thinking  themselves  quite  secure,  weie  un- 
prepared, and  could  easily  be  surprised. 

The  suggestion  seemed  a  good  one,  and  Oinckel 
at  once  acted  upen  it.  Imsaadiatc  orders  wem 
issued  for  tha  troaps  to  be  ia  readiness  in  tha 
morning,  and  the  signal  for  advance  was  to  be 
ik»  tolling  of  the  6  o'clock  chureh   beU.    It  had 


.^MkifiMkiialM 


66 


IRELANDS  «A11'LES  AND   BATTLEFIELDS. 


been  diaoorered  that  the  rirer  wiu  foi  dable  close 
to  the  bridge,  owiug  to  the  extremely  dry 
weather;  accitrdiugly,  when  the  time  htul  arrivud, 
sixty  grenadiers  iu  armour,  followed  by  obh-Ms, 
rapidly  crossed  the  ford,  and  gaining  the  f:ir  buni:, 
rushed  around  and  planke<l  the  bridge,  wliile 
others  arranged  tiie  bridge  ef  pontoon*.  By  the-a 
energetic  measures  tlie  besiegers  passed  over  xo 
rapidly  thut  iu  half  an  hour  tliey  had  possession 
of  tlie  town,  before  tlia  Irish  could  niwre  th.ui 
realise  what  had  taken  place. 

In  this  final  assault  there  fell  the  gallaui  old 
Grace,  who  I  t<rha|)B  Would  not  have  d«sired  lo 
survive  the  fall  of  the  t4)wu  he  liiul  so  long  aud 
■o  ably  defen.led. 

There    is    uu  doubt  ihui  ihe    diskeasious   and 


jealousies  between  the  Irlih  and  Freneh  edm* 
manders  largely  contributed  te  the  isiue  ef  this 
siege,  fer  no  one  seems  te  have  had  suffieienfe 
authority  to  enforce  obedience.  St.  Ruch  appears 
to  have  been  guilty  ef  grave  remissnoss,  as  at  the 
time  ef  the  assault  he  wm  amusing  himself  at 
hiM  camp  two  miles  away. 

The  inadequate  nature  of  the  defences  on  this 
occasion  niuy  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  on 
enterin:,',  the  Kuglish  found  only  six  braes  guns 
aud  iwe  mortars  in  the  whole  t<jwa  !  {Stvrnj, 
p.  108).  Tho  same  historian  (at  p.  115)  stales 
thut  this  siege  cost  the  Williitmitvs  '*  12,000 
ciuinon  bullets,  600  bombs,  n!gh  50  tuns  of 
powder,  aiid  a  great  many  tuns  ef  stenesshet  out 
of  our  mortars." 


A  U  GH  R  I  M. 


A  — 

"Immediately  after  the  cap- 

*]t!'  tureof  Athlone,  St. Kuth  marched 
whis  army  to  Ballinasloe,  fourteen 
miles  westward,  aud  encamped 
on  the  western  bank  ef  tlie  ri\ur 
Su  k.  He  was  anxious  for  another 
eagagemvnt  us  soon  as  poiscible  in  order 
to  i-etrieve  his  reputation,  so  shaken  by 
the  loss  of  Athlone.  On  the  11th  of 
July  the  Williamites  advanced  to  BaUinaslee, 
but  by  this  time  St.  lluth  had  shifted  his 
quarters  to  the  village  of  Augbrim,  five 
miles  further  westward,  where  he  took  up  a 
strategic  po$itien  on  tlte  grten  slopes  *t  the  hill  of 
Kilcommodan,  with  his  advanced  guards  posted  on 
the  Corbally  hills.  His  army  extended  about 
two  miles  iu  length,  from  Aughrias  to  Urachree. 
All  along  their  front,  at  the  foot  of  tlie  hill,  was  a 
small  brook,  runaing  through  an  impassable 
marsh,  now  meadow  lands  aud  pasture. 

The  two  principal  passes  leading  around  this 
morass  to  the  dry  uplands  ef  Kiluommodau  were 
the  pass  of  Urachree  en  tlie  rljht,  and  the  pass  ef 
Aughrim  on  tlie  left  ef  the  Jacobite  army.  Both 
were  held  by  the  Jacobites.  Urachree  was  the 
weaker  of  these  pjisses;  it  was  more  open  than  the 


other,  aud  was  more  practicable  for  cava'ry  move- 
ments. On  its  inuer  side  it  was  formed  by  the 
gentle  slope  ef  Kilcommodan;  on  its  outer  by 
sttep  hilli  and  bogs.  It  was  the  most  assailable 
point  of  the  Jacobite  position. 

The  pass  of  Aughrim  was  much  mere  difficult. 
It  was  closer  to  the  Jacebite  centre  than  Ura- 
chree, and  was  flanked  on  ene  side  by  the  marsh, 
and  on  the  other  by  a  great  red  bog.  At  the  very 
narrowest  part  of  the  pass  the  little  stream  which 
caused  the  morass  crossed  the  road,  and  ran  into 
the  beg  on  the  opposite  side.  A  short  dis- 
tance beyond  this,  on  the  right  hand  ap- 
proaching Kilcommodan,  stood  the  ruined 
castle  of  Aughrim,  one  of  the  ancient 
strongholds  of  the  O'Kellys.  The  possession 
ef  this  eastie,  dilapidated  though  it  was,  was  of 
great  strategic  importance,  as  it  commanded  the 
passage  ef  the  road  —so  narrow  that  only  two 
horsemen  could  ride  abreast — leading  out  of  the 
pass  ef  Aughrim  to  the  open  ground  beyond. 

St  Ruth  displayed  consummate  skill  in  hu 
choice  of  greund.  Aleng  the  north-eastern  side 
of  Kilcommodan  his  army  was  drawn  up  in  array, 
aud  from  his  camp  down  the  slope  ef  the  hill  to 
the  morass  below,  were  a  number  of  parallel  rows 


AtJGHRlM. 


•7 


•f  lofty  whitethorn  hedged,  many  of  which  remain 
at  the  present  day.  In  tbase  St  Ruth  liocl  plated 
his  foot  Boldiors,  amd  bo  arraagsd  matters  aa  to 
facilitate  comiuuuication  from  one  line  to  another 
at  t.lie  sides,  in  order  that  a  body  of  assailant*  ad- 
vancing from  hedge  to  hedge  in  front  might  be 
eflfeciively  attacked  on  both  flanks  as  they  ad- 
vanced up  the  hill.  He  also  cut  gaps  in  these 
Jjedges  to  enable  bin  cavalry  to  char^'c  down  tho 
hill  when  uecossury. 

The  Castle  of  AuKhrim  was  garrisoned  by  Colo- 
uul  Walter  Burke's  Irish  regiment,  with  twt 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  behind,  in  a  hollow,  was  a 
small  body  «f  light  cavalry,  U  attack  any  aitillery 
that  migkt  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  castle  by 
the  WiUiamites,  Upon  the  other  side  of  the  paas, 
opposite  Uto  castle,  a  strong  body  of  Irish  infantry 
waft  posted,  so  tkat  the  Pasa  of  Aughrim  was  almost 
impregnable  from  any  (luarter. 


KILCOMMODAM   HILL   AND  MOORUM   CHURCH. 
OF  ST.   KUTH'S  DKA.TH. 


iiCEN  B 


St  Ruth  had  few  artillery — only  nine  guns — 
(Green  Booh,  p.  373);  two  of  these  defended  the 
caatle,  and  tlie  remaining  seven  he  divided  into 
two  batteries — one  ou  the  right  slope  of  Kilcom- 
modan,  sweeping  the  Pass  of  Uraehree,  and  the 
other  on  the  left  slope,  covering  the  castle.  He 
had  no  artillery  iu  front,  his  plan  being  to  allow 
tho  Williamite  foot  to  approach,  and  then  to 
sweep  them  down  the  hiU  with  his  cavalry  into 
the  morass,  where  they  would  be  all  cut  off  before 
their  artillery  could  save  then. 

As  to  numbers,  Storey,  Harris,  Tindal, 
and  Dalryinple  variously  estimate  the  Jacob- 
ites as  being  from  25,000  to  28,000  stroiig, 
and  the  WiUiamites  from  17,000  upwards. 
O'Halloran,  a  native  of  Limerick,  who  had  oppor- 
tunities of  couTiMTsiug  with  many  who  had  fought 


at  tho  battle,  writing  in  1771^  estimates  tho 
Jacobites  at  15,000  and  the  WiUiamites  at  25,000. 
'  Macariae  Excidium'  (p.  131)  makes  tho  Jacobite^ 
14,000.  The  official  account  in  tlio  London  iiazettr 
says  that  tho  Jacobites  were  28,000,  and  wei-e 
superior  iu  number  to  tho  WiUiamites.  The 
Jacobites  had  only  nine  pieces  of  ctvnuon,  while 
tho  WiUiamites  had  24  {''Macariae  Kxcidiuju," 
p.  442).  O' Vallaghan,  who  has  certainly  devoted 
more  research  to  the  matter  than  any  of  these 
writers,  and  gives  even  tho  names  aud  strengths 
af  tho  several  regiments  in  "  The  Grceii,  Book," 
estimates  tho  Jacobites  at  15,000  aud  the  Wil- 
liamites  at  26.000  or  27,000. 

Tho  uight  of  Saturday,  11th  July.  1691,  fell 
without  any  action  between  tho  respective  beUi- 
gereuts,  but  tlio  English  generals  carefully 
viewed  the  ground  and  studied  tiie  positions  ou  a 
map  of  tho  district.  On  next  morumg  (Sunday) 
about  six  o'clock,  tho  WiUiamites  started  from 
Balliuasloe,  but,  tho  morning  being  foggy,  they 
halted  tiU  about  noon,  when  tho  fog  cleared.  St 
Ruth,  seeing  them  approach,  deployed  two  lines 
in  front  of  his  camp  to  show  that  he  was  resolved 
to  fight. 

Qinckel  ascended  to  the  top  of  a  hiU  about  half 
a  mile  from  St  Ruth's  canp,  from  whicit  ho  per- 
ceived the  desirability  of  securing  the  pass  of 
Uraehree  on  the  Jacobite  right,  as  aflfording  the 
ea.siest  vtsy  iu  getting  behind  their  camp.  He 
accordingly  sent  seventeen  Danifch  troo|)«rB 
towards  it,  but  they  were  at  once  repulsed  by 
the  outposts.  He  then  sent  a  larger  number  to 
remain  at  the  entrance  to  the  ])aas  to  pi  event  the 
enemy  from  advancing,  and  shortly  afterwards, 
about  two  o'clock,  attempted  to  force  tho  pan  by 
larger  nunbors,  but  was  each  time  repulsed,  the 
Jacobites  meeting  the  attacks  by  rapidly  throw- 
ing out  relief  parties  from  thoir  centre.  At  last 
tho  Jacobites  made  a  feint  retreat  to  draw  theii 
adversaries  into  an  ansbuscade.  Tho  English 
dragoons  eagerly  foUowod,  when  they  were  uu 
expectedly  assailed  by  a  discharge  of  musketry 
but  notwithstanding  this  they  courageously  dis 
mounted  aud  advanced  towards  the  hedge  whict 
concealed  thoir  assailants,  aud  kiUed  most  of  those 
who  remained. 

But  now,while  so  engaged  aud  dismeuutcd.  th 


68 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


Irish  cavalrr  charf^ed  and  drove  thmta  out  •t  the 
p«w8  ia  complete  disorder.  Giiickel  tli«n 
abandoned  tka  attempt  ob  Uracbree,  and,  holding 
a  council  •£  war  with  his  officers,  it  wan  deeiied 
un  aea>unt  af  their  disadTantafi^eoua  position  to 
postpone  the  attack  till  next  day.  Hut  perceiT- 
ing  some  c*nf iiaioa  on  the  Jacobite  right,  this 
•rder  waa  rescinded,  and  it  was  resolved  te  per- 
sist in  the  attempt  un  Urackree  with  a  siill 
stronger  force,  in  the  heps  mi  eenipelling  St.  Ruth 
t»  draw  some  troops  from  his  ceatre  an<1  left  to 
Meet  the  attack.  This,  it  wiu  expected,  would 
weaken  the  Jacobite  left,  and  thus  facilitate  aa 
attack  •■  Aughrim  Castle  {Utorcy,  p.  128.) 

Accordingly,  at  five  o'clock,  the  battle  was 
resumed.  The  WiHiamite  foot,  consisting  of 
Danes,  French,  and  Gerssaas,  marched  right  up 
against  the  ditches  on  the  slope  of  the  hill  near 
Urachree.  These  ditches  were  lield  by  the  Irisli 
infantry,  "  wk*  behaved  themselves  like  men  of 
another  nation,  defendine  their  ditcher  stoutly  ; 
fur  they  would  maintain  one  side  till  our  uoen 
put  their  pieces  over  at  the  other,  and  tlien, 
having  lines  of  cemmunicatiun  from  one  ditch  to 
another,  they  would  presently  post  themselves 
again,  and  flank  us  (Storei/,  p.  12'J).  This  de.s- 
perate  fighting,  resembling  the  struggle  at  La 
Haye  Saint*  at  Waterloo,  continued  for  about 
half  aa  hour,  durint^  which  time  Uie  rest  ef  the 
two  armies  remained  inactive,  except  the 
artillery,  which  continuously  played  on  both  sides. 

St.  Rutk  now,  seeing  his  right  pressed  hard  by 
a  superior  force,  despatched  some  cavalry  and 
^jifantry  towards  Urachree  to  their  relief.  This 
wax  what  Ginckel  desired.  He  now  sent  four  regi- 
ments to  cross  the  morass  at  the  feot  of  the  hill, 
and  attack  the  Jacolite  centre  in  front,  while  he 
simultaneously  de.'tpatched  a  body  ef  cavalry 
round  by  Aughrim  Castle  to  support  them.  The 
infantry  sank  to  tliair  waists  in  the  bog,  and  were 
met  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Jacebites,  but  they 
neverr.keless  established  tlieinselves  on  the  op- 
posite side,  and  drove  the  Jacebites  from  eac 
hedge  to  auether,  till  the  Williuraites  at  l>wt 
approached  the  encampment  at  the  brow  of  the 
hill. 

St  Ruth  now  saw  the  plan    which    be    had  con- 
ceived  with  such  marveUeus  skill  cradually   da- 


yelop  itself  almost  without  a  hitch  or  mishapk 
Retiring  up  the  hill  before  the  advancing  English 
the  Irish  foot  suddenly  divided  in  two,  and  then, 
like  a  wave  receding,  only  to  return  in  greater 
force,  impetuously  attacked  their  assailants  in 
Hank;  while  through  the  space  thus  created  in 
front  St  Rutk  poured  his  cavalry  in  overwhelming 
numbers  down  t.he  hiU  through  the  gaps  which 
he  had  cut  in  the  hedges  for  that  purpose.  Tlie 
result  was  inevitable.  The  English  feot  held 
their  ground  obstinately,  aad  fought  with  extra- 
ordiaary  cuolaessand  determination:  but  it  waa  a 
hopeless  s truj;gle.  They  were  utterly  unable  to 
withstand  the  downhill  cavalry  charge,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  they  broke  and  fled  in  headlong  con- 
fusion baek  again  to  the  morass  which  they  had 
crosKed,  great  numbers  being  killed  in  the  attempt 
to  recross  it.     {Store;/,  p.  130.) 

The  Jacobite  troups  now  pressed  the  advantage 
thus  gained,  and,  crossing  the  morass  in  places, 
advanced  to  attack  the  Williamites  on  their  own 
ground  and  suixeedud  in  maintaining  themselvr. 
there  for  a  time. 

While  these  four  regiments  were  being  routed 
in  this  manner  a  larger  body  attempted  the  merass 
over  near  Aughrim  Ctvstle,  but  fell  into  an  am- 
buscade and  broke  up  in  such  complete  disorder 
that  "  it  was  believed  by  all  who  saw  the  flight 
that  the  English  had  lost  the  battle.'  — {Mackay 
as  quoted  in  "  Oreen  Book,"  page  415.) 

A  great  part  ef  the  William ite  foot  were  now 
in  disorder  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  but  they 
rapidly  reformed  and  were  reinforced  by  a  large 
body  under  Major-General  Talmash.  They  then 
again  faced  their  foes  and  once  more  advanced 
up  the  hill,  but  were  aiet  by  the  same  tactics  aa 
before  and  repulsed  with  great  slaughter. 

Meanwhile  the  Williamitc  right  wing,  composed 
•f  cavalry  and  infantry,  with  their  aitillery,  were 
advancing  towards  the  pass  at  Aughrim  to  succenr 
the  foot,  which  seemed  in  great  peril.  They 
dislodged  the  Irish  from  the  mouth  of 
the  defile,  but  both  parties  were  apparently 
unable  to  use  their  artillery  at  this  point  on  ac- 
count of  the  way  in  which  the  ceaabatants  were 
mixed.  At  this  juncture,  by  amisunderskandiag 
or  mistake  oa  the  part  ef  one  of  the  Irish  officers, 
HWBie  trooDt  were  detached  frwm  the  Jacobite  left. 


AOdHRIBt 


69 


*nd  drawn  off  towaris  Ur»ehr«a,  and  fch«  English 
infantry,  instantly  seizing  the  advamtage,  forced  a 
paaiage  aorou  the  bog  over  near  the  caetle.  They 
drove  the  Irleh  infantry  keforo  them,  and  ad- 
▼amoed  till  checked  by  a  cavalry  charfe.  The 
English  eavalry  and  artillery  were  now  making 
all  possible  speed  to    eoae  to   their  afisistance 


Colonel  Walter  Burke,  the  cfimmander  cf  th* 
castle,  when  h«  opened  the  liarrels  of  ammuni- 
tion, found  that  the  bullets  with  which  he  k»<l 
been  served,  were  fer  the  English  musketa, 
whereas  his  men  were  equipped  with  French  cMses, 
which  were  ef  smaller  bore,  and  eenseqneatly 
the  bullets  were  useless  !    (See  "  MaeUeoghegin't 


a$5- 


4S;x^:^s?- 


%A 


-E 


I 


BATTI-R  OF  AUGHRIM. 


round  by  the  Pass  of  Aui^hrim — they  would  have 
ko  defile  along  a  narrow  and  difficult  road  beside 
the  castle,  which  with  its  outworks  wn«  garrisoned 
by  nearly  2,000  men,  Such  a  pass  ws«  believed 
to  be  impregnable,  and  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  so  but  for  the  extraordinary  blunder  which 
Uien  became  evident. 


History,"  also  "  Light  to  the  Blind,"  in  "  Plunlett 
MSH.,"  edited  by  J.  T.  Qilbeit,  Esq,  M.R.LA). 
The  garrison  in  (le.°pcratiou  fired  their  ramrode 
and  the  buttons  off  their  coats,  but  it  was  of  little 
avail.  The  van  of  tlie  Eaglisk  horse  passed  at  a 
gallop  through  the  uarew  causeway,  while  portieii 
of  the  infantry  captured  the  outworks  ef  the  caatle. 


am^ 


TO 


IREI.ANDS  BATTLES  AND  BATTLEFTELT^S. 


Sfc.  Ruth  ob.<<(>rvine;  tlit  prograss  lUAd*  by  fch* 
WilliAmite  right  orer  uanr  tiie  ciistlc,  and  per- 
oeiviag  that  Micy  wen  foieiug  thoir  way  through 
tlie  paaa,  resolved  t»  make  a  doTwuhill  charge  upon 
tliem,  and  (•r  that  purpose  placed  himself  at  the 
lioad  vf  hia  guardt.  But  that  charge  waa  fated 
never  to  be  made,  fer  aa  St.  Kutk  waa  about  to  lead 
it  a  canaea  ball  atruck  hhu,  and  he  fell  forward  oa 
ilia  horse  a  headless  and  a  gory  corpse.  This 
event  turned  the  tide  of  battle.  Captaia  Parker, 
wiio  WM  fightin<::  against  that  part  et  tk«  Jacobite 
:\rmj  in  which  St  Kuth  fell,  says  in  his  menoirs 
(p.  35  au-i  36),  '-  had  it  not  been  that  St.  Kuth  fell 
it  ia  hard  to  say  hew  matters  would  have  ended  ; 
for  to  do  hirn  justice,  notwithstaudinghis  oversight 
at  Aliilouc,  hn  was  certainly  a  galant,  brave  mtui 
:\nd  a  good  officer,  as  appealed  by  the  dispossitioa 
he  made  of  his  army  that  day.  His  centre  and 
1  ight  wing  slill  niaititained  their  ground,  and  had 
lie  lived  to  order  Sursfiold  down  to  sustain  his 
l«ft  wiug  it  rould  iiave  given  ufTaitis  a  turn  .  on 
ihat  side." 

No  officer  w:w  able  to  lake  St.  Ruth's,  place  for 
he  had  not  coufu'.ed  hi.s  plan  ef  butiln  t«  any  ef 
his  subordinates,  with  wiiem  ii«  was  on  rather  b.id 
terms  since  ttie  mishap  at  Atlilone.  Scoinn  their 
'■ammander  fall,  the  Jacobite  guards  halted  aiul  a 
'-onsiderable  delay  occurred.  'I'hk're  was  ue  one 
to  give  ordeiB.  The  Irish  cavalry  deltnding  tJie 
]  ass  drew  efi*  and  a  retregiade  uioreinenl  com- 
snenced.  The  Williamites  now  gradually  passed 
across  ike  morass  and  extended  their  wing«  riglit 
aud  left,  amid  a  continued  fire  and  hot  dispute 
all  along  th«  line,  the  Irish  still  defending  their 
ditches  desperately.  Driven  from  these,  the 
Irish  retired  up  the  hill,  followed  by  the 
Williamites,  aud  now  the  Jacobite  ca- 
valry, seeing  that  the  day  was  lost,  deserted 
tlie  infantry  and  thought  only  ef  saving  them- 
selves. 1^  Willianiite  troopers  pursued  the 
Jacobites  across  the  hill  and  for  miles  from  the 
battletield.  till  the  sun  set  upon  that  bloody  scene 
tiiiil  with  it  the  star  of  the  Stuarts  for  ever. 

The  slaughter  was  immense — 4,000  or  5,000  at 
lea.-t — and  would  prebaMy  have  been  still  greater 
but  for  darkness  setting  in,  accompanied  by  a 
thick  mist,  which  stopped  the  pursuit.  The 
Williamitth  loss  was,  according  te  Captain  Parker, 


3,#00.  Many  credible  historiann,  Dr  licalie,  Dai- 
ly mplo,  iStc,  aa  well  as  most  Jacobite  acoouuts 
of  the  battle,  state  tliat  the  conquerors  gave  ao 
quarter,  and  the  prnportton  between  killed  and 
prisoners  (7,000  killed  and  450  prif>oaerB,  aa  stated 
in  Storey's  History,  pp.  136-7)  would  seen  te  bear 
•ut  tkeir  testimony.  Evidently  in  extenuation 
of  this,  Storei/  (p.  123)  states  tliat  the  Jaeobitea 
intended  to  give  no  quarter  if  they  were  victorious. 

It  WiM  a  decisive  and  crowning  victory  for  the 
Williatnites,  and  a  disastrous  overthrow  for  their 
opponents,  many  of  whom  now  retired  ta 
Limerick.  Although  the  victory  waa  to  a  certain 
extent  a  ehance  one,  it  ."should  not  in  anyway 
detract  from  the  gallantry  shown  by  the 
Williamite  infantry,  who,  though  beaten  re- 
peatedly down  the  hill,  returned  again  and  again 
with  doggrtd  and  desperate  determination  te  the 
attack. 

Stovcji  savs  ef  (ho  battlefield — "The  place 
where  this  battle  w.os  fought  will  make  a  noise  in 
histeiy  fer  the  future,  though  there's  nothing 
worth  taking  notice  of  near  it.  For  that  which 
they  call  the  Castle  of  Aughrim  is  only  an  old 
ruinous  building,  with  some  walls  and  ditches 
about  it,  aud  never  has  been  a  place  ef  any 
s'^icn^th,  only  as  it's  seated  upon  a  pass.  There 
are  about  half  a  score  little  eabbins;en  the  other 
side  a  small  brook,  with  the  run:s  of  a  little 
church,  and  a  priory  dedicated  to  St.  Catherine, 
and  founded  by  the  Butlers;  the  whole  being  at 
this  day  the  estate  ef  the  Duke  of  Ormend." 

Of  course  the  place  is  greatly  changed  since 
then,  aud  but  a  small  fragment  of  the  castle  now 
remains.  Traditions  of  the  great  battle  are,  hew- 
ever,  quite  vivid  among  the  peasantry.  In  the 
churcliyaid  of  Kilceramodan  Church,  ef  wltlch 
now  searcely  a  trace  is  left,  is  "  St.  Ruth's  Flag," 
which  is  pepularly  believed  to  mark  his  grave, 
but  it  is  supposed  that  kis  reraaius,  if  they  ever 
rested  there,  were  subsequently  removed  else- 
where. A  whitethorn  bush,  called  "  St.  Ruth's 
Bush,"  on  the  north-eastern  slope  of  the  hiU, 
planted  there  to  commemorate  the  event,  marks 
the  spot  where  he  fell. 

At  the  base  of  the  hiU,  on  its  northern  side,  is  a 
place  called  "  Glen-aa-FuUa,"  or  "The  Bloody 
HoUew,"   where  the    Inah.    surrounded    in    tka 


THE   SECOND   SIEGE   OF   LIMERICK   AND   THE    TREATY. 


71 


4nttle,  went  slain  in  great  numbers.  For  fifty  or 
Rixty  years  after wardflkhtir  bluachcd  bonus  Might 
be  Bees  strewed  around  the  country— a  melan- 
choly sight  aid  a  diaual  menient*  e(  the  Irish 
Stuart  wars. 

"  Night  closed  around  the  conqueror's  way, 
And  lightning  shewed  the  distant  hill, 


Wlioro  those  who  lost  tli.-vt  drca'Unl  day 
Stood,  few  and  faint— but  fearless  still. 

I''i>rf;et  not  the  field  whore  they  perislie.I — 

The  truest,  the  last  of  the  bniTo; 
All  (?one  -and  the  bright  hopes  we  rhcrishod 

Uone  with  them,  and  quenched  in  the  gnrp." 

— MouMC. 


THE     SECOND    SIEGE     OF     LIMERICK     AND    THE     TREATY. 


FTER  the  defeat  at  Augh- 
rim,  Tyrconnell  sent  a  mes- 
•age  te  King  James  announc- 
ing that  all  was  lost,  and  that 
unless  immediate  succeur 
arrived  it  waa  useless  to 
continue  re.siptance.  Mean- 
while, Gal  way  having  sub- 
mitted, he  made  prepara- 
tions to  again  put  Limerick 
into  •  condition  of  defence,  and  collected 
stores  of  provisions  and  ammunition,  but 
on  14th  August,  1691,  he  died  of  apoplexy 
at  the  house  of  the  French  commander.  On 
the  15th  an  advanced  party  of  Qinckel's  troops 
approached  Limerick,'  and  on  making  a  recon- 
naissance, saw  the  formidable  preparations  whieh 
had  Ween  naade  by  Sarsfield  and  Tyreconnell  te 
fortify  the  city.  The  walls  had  been  strengthened 
by  great  earthworks,  new  forts  had  been  built  and 
old  ones  repaired. 

On  the  25th  August  the  remainder  ef  the  Wil- 
liamite  army  arrived  with  sixty  pieces  of  canneu, 
none  less  than  12-pounders,  and  nineteen  mortars 
(Williamite  oflScial  pamphlet — Diary  of  the  Siege 
and  Surrender  ef  Limerick,  Sec,  pp.  6 
and  7.)  By  the  27th  they  had  cap- 
tured some  ef  the  outworks,  and  sent  de- 
tached parties  of  artillery  to  attack  and  destroy 
all  the  isolated  castles  in  the  neighbourhood,  for 
Ginckel  waa  afraid  te  allow  them  te  stand,  the 
Irish  having  acquired  auch  a  reputation  for  de- 
fending fortifications.  By  the  end  of  the  mentb 
the  bombardmeat  of  the  city  wui  in  full  swing, 
and  ia  a  few  days  more  parts  ef  it  were  set  on  fire 
by  the  shelly 


On  the  8th  September  a  tremendous  fire  was  c<>ra- 
menced  with  red-hot  balls  and  sliells,  making  a 
breach  in  the  walls  and  destroying  great  nuaa- 
bers  of  houses.  On  12th  the  town  was  nearly  all 
ruins,  but  the  besiegers'  supplies  being  nearly  ex- 
hausted, and  tlie  garrison  making  no  sign  of  sab- 
mi.ssion,  (treparations  were  made  to  raise  the  siege, 
and  a  message  to  that  effect  was  sent  to  London. 
But  meanwhile  the  besiegers  appear  to  have 
changed  cheir  counsels. 

In  the  evening  of  15th  September  a  stroag 
body  of  herse  and  foot  set  out  after  dark  and 
marched  to  a  shallow  place  on  the  river,  two 
miles  above  Limerick,  and  about  midnight  they 
commenced  to  lay  a  bridge  of  boats,  which  tkey 
eoiupleted  by  morning. 

Brigadier  Clifford,  who  had  been  posted  there 
by  Sarsfield  to  prevent  a  surprise,  shamefully 
neglected  bis  duty,  and  allowed  the  Williamites 
to  pass  over  almost  without  any  resistance.  The 
news  that  the  Williamites  had  crossed  the  river, 
and  were  attackiitg  the  town  from  the  Clare  side, 
caused  great  consternation  among  the  Irish,  wke 
flocked  into  the  city  from  all  the  outlying  wcnrks. 

On  22nd  September  Ginckel  himself,  with  aenM 
of  his  principal  officers  an«h  a  strong  detaehaaent 
of  artillery,  crossed  the  river,  under  a  trouble- 
some fite  frotn  the  Irish,  and  marched  round  to 
Mie  works  protecting  Thomond  Bridge,  the  only 
approach  to  the  city  frr>m  the  Clai-o  side. 

A  desperate  conflict  ensued,  and  the  loae  waa 
considerable  on  both  sides,  but  ultimately  the 
Williamites  captured  th^  works,  and  drere  the 
Irish  out  of  them  and  over  to  Thomond  Bridge. 
The  French  officer  in  command  of  the  bridge  xee- 
in^  the  Irish  approach,  pursued  by  the  William- 


72 


IRELAND'S  BATttJES  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


He*,  and  fearinp;  that  besieKsrs  and  besieged 
would  emter  togabher  in  the  confuMoa,  to  kis 
shame  be  it  said,  raised  the  drawbridge,  and  left 
hia  friends  at  tlie  mercy  ef  their  pursuers. 

j  The  foremost  ef  the  Irish,  pressed  forward  by 
these  is  the  rear,  fell  orer  the  fall  of  the  draw- 
bridge into  the  rirer   and  were  mostly   drowned. 

,  ''The  rest  cried  out  for  quarter,  holding  up  their 
handkerchiefs  and  whatever  else  they  could  get; 
but  before  killing  was  orer  they  were  laid  o» 
heaps  upen  the  bridge  higher  than  the  ledges  of 
it;  so  that  they  were  all  either  killed  or  taken,  ex- 

'  cept  about  120   that  got  into  the  town  before  the 


chope  came  te  the  English  camp  and  dined  with 
General  Qinckel.  Hestages  were  exchanged  as  A 
preliminary  to  a  treaty,  and  on  the  27th  tlie  Irish 
made  their  proposals  for  a  surreader.  which  wer« 
rejected  by  Ginckel  as  unreasonable.  Next  day, 
howcTAr,  a  number  of  the  principal  Irish  efiScers 
preceeded  te  Ginckel's  camp,  and  after  a  pro- 
tracted consultation  agreed  to  certain  articles 
under  which  net  only  Limerick,  but  also  all  the 
forts  and  castles  held  by  the  Irish  were  te  be  sur- 
rendered, and  the  war  abandoned. 

But  the  Irish  commanders   were  not  satisfied 
tliat  a  treaty  of  such  vast  importuice  in  its  issues 


iSr^n, 


THE  TREATY  STONB,   LIMERICK. 


bridge  was  drawn  up,  and  many  of  those  cut  and 
slashed  to  the  purpose."     {Storey,  p  224-5.) 

This  miserable  incident  greatly  accentuated  the 
feelings  ef  distrust  long  entertained  by  the  Irish 
towards  the  French,  who,  it  wa«  now  belieyed* 
were  wearied  of  the  war  and  anxious  to  terminate 
it  at  any  cost.  Two  days  after  this  the  Irish  beat 
a  parley.  Of  what  use  was  furtiier  resistance  ? 
The  most  sanguine  among  them  could  not  hope, 
by  a  successful  defence  of  their  city,  to  re-estab- 
lish upen  the  British  throne  the  wretched,  vacil- 
lating Stuart.  Negotiations  were  opened, 
and    on  the  26th  Sarsfield   and   General    Wan- 


should  be  signed  by  General  Ginckel  on  his  ewn 
responsibility,  and  so  the  Lords  Justices  in  Dub- 
lin were  sent  for,  and  the  whole  matter  lay  in 
abeyance  pending  their  arriral. 

Meanwhile  the  WiUiamite  and  Jacobite  troops 
became  on  friendly  terms  and  Tisited  each  other's 
camps. 

About  nine  o'clock  p.m.  on  1st  October  the 
Lords  Justices  arrived  at  the  camp,  and  on  the 
■ext  day  Sarsfield,  Wauehope,  and  all  the  prin- 
cipal Irish  officers  and  functionaries  attended  at 
Qinckel's  camp,  where  there  was  a  long  debate, 
lasting  till    aftur   midnight,  and    on   the  follew- 


hii. 


_.,,s 


THE  SECOND  SIEGE  OF 

ing  ixy  the  treaty  was  duly  signed  by  the 
Irish  and  French  and  the  Lords  Justices 
and  Williamite  commanders.  There  were 
two  sets  of  articles — the  Military  Articles,  pro- 
Tidiiig  for  the  surrender  of  th«  Irish  towns,  etc., 
signed  by  the  French  and  Irish  commanders;  and 
theCiTilArticles,  providing  principally  for  the  ciril 
and  religious  liberties  •f  the  Irish  Catholics, 
signed  by  the  Lords  Justices  aad  WiUiamite  officers. 

These  Articles,  29  in  the  first  a«d  13  in   the  st- 

coad  set,   are  giren  in  detail   in  most   complete 

, histories—  Storey,  MacGeoghegan,  Linehan,  etc. — 

and  it  would  be  impossible  in  the   limiti'd  space 

at  my  disposal  to  more  than  briefly  autliue  them. 

The  Military  Articles  preTide*  that  all  persona 
wishing  to  leave  the  realm  should  bar*  fuU  liberty 
te  jjo  beyond  the  seas  te  any  foreign  country  ex- 
cept England  or  Scotland;  that  if  plundered  on 
the  way  tlie  GoTemment  should  compensate 
them;  that  a  fleet  should  be  provided  for  their 
eoBveyance;  that  the  garriso«  of  Limerick  should 
march  out  with  all  the  honours  of  war— colours 
fly insr,  drums  beating,  etc; — also  that  thwse  wli« 
elected  te  enter  the  service  ef  William  shouW  re- 
tain their  rank  and  pay. 

It  is  the  Civil  Artieles,  however,  that  constitute 
tlie  most  important  part  of  this  famous  treaty. 
These,  13  in  number,  tk«  Irish  vainly  hopod 
would  {)rove  the  Magiia  Charta  ef  their  religieus 
liberties.  Aiticlel.  states  *'thal  the  RomsiH 
Gatholicks  of  Ireland  shall  enjoy  such  privileges, 
in  the  exercise  of  their  religion,  aa  are  consistent 
with  the  laws  of  Ireland,  or  an  they  did  eujoy  in 
the  reign  of  King  Charles  II. ;  and  thoir  Majesties 
(as  soon  a*  their  affairs  will  permit  them  to  sum- 
mon  a  Parliament  i»  this  Kuigdem)  will  eudeav-ur 
to  secure  the  Roniaii  Gatholicks  such  further 
security  in  that  particular  as  way  preserve  them 
from  any  distarbance  upon  the  accwunt  of  their 
said  religioM."  Article  II.  granted  pardon  and 
protection  to  all  who  served  James  on  taking  the 
Cath  of  Allegiance.  Articles  IlL,  IV.,  and  V.  ex- 
tend the  provisions  of  the  Treaty  to  Irish  mer- 
chants, officers,  and  geatlenten  beyond  the  seas, 
as  well  as  other  persoMS.  Article  VI.  prohibits 
all  private  suits-at-law  for  trespass  and  othei-  par- 
Bonal  ofifences  eommitted  during  the  war.  Article 
VII.  proTides  that  ''every  nobleman  and  gentleman 


LIMERICK  AND  THE  TREATY. 


75 


comprised  in  the  2nd  and  3rjl  Articles  shall  havA 
liberty  to  ride  with  a  sword  and  a  case  of  pistols 
if  they  think  fit,  and  keep  a  gun  in  tkeir  house 
for  the  defence  of  same  or  fowling."  Article  VIII. 
allows  the  inhabitants  of  Linerick  and  other 
towns  to  remove  their  goods  without  being 
searched.  Article  IX.  is — "The  oath  to  he  »d- 
minist«ie(i  to  such  Roman  Gatholicks  as  submit 
to  their  Majesty's  Government,  shall  be  the  oath 
aforesaid,  and  no  other.  "  The  Irish  Catholics 
were  very  particular  as  to  this  point,  lest  the 
Oath  of  Suprciaacy  should  he  administered  to 
then,  which  of  course  they  could  not  accept,  as  it 
involved  the  rccognitioe  ef  the  Sovereiga  as  th« 
spiritual  and  temporal  head  ef  their  Church,  iv 
"ppositioii  tx)  the  Pope.  Article  X.  enaets  that  ao 
persoB  or  persons  who  break  any  of  these  articles 
shall  cause  any  other  person  to  lose  the  benefit  of 
them.  Article  XI.  deals  with  arrests  and  execu- 
tions for  debt.  Article  XII.  undertakes  that  the 
tieaty shall  be  ratified  by  tlieir Majesties  within  the 
spa^-e  •{  three  months  or  less,  and  that  they  shall 
have  it  confirmed  in  Parliament.  Article  XIII. 
deals  with  the  debts  of  Colonel  John  Browne. 

Tlie  great  majority  of  the  Irish  troops  elected 
to  go  abroad,  and  served  in  France  and  elsewhere 
■^thoy  formed  the  famous  Irish  Brigades  re- 
nowned in  song  and  story.  Sad  was  tiieir  part- 
ing with  the  old  land  which  they  loved  so  deafly, 
for  whicK  they  had  fought  so  well,  on  wliose  green 
fields  and  swelling  hills  lay  the  homes  of  sc  aiajay 
of  their  gallant  comrade*. 

Tht  principal  article  of  the  Treaty  provided 
that  the  Roman  Catholics  should  have  the  same 
privileges  as  they  had  in  the  reign  of  Charles  11. 
During  that  lime  there  were  few  repressive  actk 
in  force  against  the  Irish  Catholics.  The  Oath  of 
Supremacy  was  not  required  except  when  formally 
administered  to  public  functionaries  ;  and  both 
Houses  of  Parliament  were  open  to  them. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  tell  the  rest  of  thj* 
sad  and  miserable  story.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  Treaty  was  signed  on  3rd  October,  16S1. 
A  few  months  afterwards  Parliament  met  iu 
Dublin  and  entirely  repudiatod  it.  Within  five 
years  not  a  vestige  of  the  privileges  which  it  guar- 
anteed remained.  The  whole  country  seemed  ib 
have  become  insane  en  the  subject  ef  Popery,  aos 


•y^-l,^  .^A^^tL  ^ 


i 


IRELAND'S  BAITLBS  AND  BATTLEFIELDS. 


tkoi-e  wert  appai-eatly  uo  limits  to  legislation  on 
the  subject. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  tkat  a  day  or  two  aft«r 
th«  Treaty  wjia  sig»od,  a  |;reat  French  fleet  of 
eiifhteou  mem-.f-wjir,  four  firo  ships,  and  twunty 
sliips  mt  burdou  arrived  iu  tlie  Shannon  with  re- 
inforcenieutti,  proTiw»ue,  and  ammunition  tor 
Liuirrick.  This  Hcet  Wiis  sutBciently  stror.f;  to 
overpower  tlie  entire  ]"]u;;liah  uaval  force  and  put 
euoujjh  men  ami  supplies  into  the  town  tti  make 
;i  pmhiUKed  dofonce.  Ginckel  wiw  ;,'reatly  dis- 
••ontertod  when  he  learned  of  its  arrival,  and 
fearing  that  tlie  Irish  would  now  break  the  Treaty 
and  I'euew  the  war,  lie  at  once    despatched   mes- 


.Ei 


sengers  for  assistance.  But  his  fears  were  ground- 
less, for  the  Irish,  though  they  regretted  having 
lost  so  good  an  opportunity,  coaiidered  the  Ti-eaty 
irrovoeablv,  and  that  their  honour  depended  upon 
its  observance— (Storey, lyj.  271-S.) 

In  justice  to  his  raotnory  it  should  be  stated 
that  history  attaches  te  William  none  of  the 
Btignta  for  ttie  atrocities  of  the«e  dark  and  terrible 
times.  He,  and  indeed  his  officers  too,  acted  their 
paits  honourably  and  witk  perfect  ^ona  fides.  He 
was  too  brave  a  soldier  tu  trample  on  an  unfor- 
tunate and  fallun  fee,  and  lie  would  undoubtedly 
have  observed  the  Treaty  had  he  been  permitted 
to  do  so  by  his  Pariiameul. 


CONCL  USION. 


RELAND'S  military  his- 
tory may  be  said  to  have 
terminated  with  the  Treaty 
of  Limerick.  In  the  two  cen- 
turies which  nave  elapsed 
since  the  Williamite  war, 
there  have  been  uuhappiiy 
many  disturbance:!  iu  the  country,  but  nothing 
that  could  be  dignified  by  the  name  of  war.  The 
year  1715  \v*s  memorable  for  the  rebellion  of  the 
Pretender  in  Scotland,  but  in  Ireland  there  wits 
no  i^ympathetic  movement ;  all  martial  spirit  bad 
been  crushed  out  of  tlie  country  by  the  recent 
disastrous  campaign,  the  expatriation  of  the  Irish 
soldiers,  and  tbo  cruel  laws  that  followed. 

In  1743  there  was  a  rebellion  in  Scotland  in 
favour  of  Prince  Cliailes  Edward,  the  young  Pre- 
tender, but  the  possibility  of  a  responsive  move- 
ment in  Ireland  was  averted  by  an  astute  tem- 
porary policy  ^f  conciliation. 

In  1759  rumours  of  a  French  invasion  caused 
some  alarm,  aad  in  the  early  part  of  the  following 
year  a  landing  was  effected  at  Carrickfergus,  by 
Thurot,  a  brave  but  Quixotic  Frenchmiui  of  Irish 
descent.  He  captured  the  castle  and  held  it  for  a  few 
days,  after  which  he  re  embarked,  but  on  his  return 
voyage  he  Wiis  met  by  three  English  frigates,  and 
in    the  «harp  action   which  ensued   Thurot    was 


killed  and   kis  three  vessels  were  disabled   and 
taken. 

About  tliis  time  the  Catholics  first  venturtd  to 
agitate  for  a  repeal  of  the  oppressive  laws  under 
which  they  suffered. 

The  year  1776  is  marked  by  tk«  revolt  of  the 
American  colonies,  which  iu  tlie  following  year  re- 
sulted in  tlioir  independence.  To  meet  tke  great 
drain  upon  the  army  caused  by  the  American 
war,  nearly  all  the  troops  were  drafted  out  of 
Ireland,  which  thereupon  was  left  iu  such  a  de- 
fenceless condition  that  the  Irish  Parliament  en- 
rolled and  armed  a  numerous  volunteer  force. 

Towards  the  close  of  1779  some  friction  arose 
between  the  Irish  and  English  Parliaments  in  re- 
ference to  export  duties  on  Irish  goods 
whieh  in  the  following  year  culminated  iu 
Orattan's  meotorable  Declaration  of  Parlia- 
mentary independence  by  which  it  whs 
sought  to  free  the  Irish  Parliament  from  the 
supremuey  of  tke  English  Legislature  as  embodied 
iu  Poyning's  Law.  By  this  law  mo  measure  could 
be  laid  before  the  Irish  Parliament  till  it  had 
been  submitted  to  and  approved  by  the  English 
Government  and  Council.  Grattan's  declaration, 
however,  met  with  little  attention  from  the  Eng- 
lish Ministry.  Meanwhile  the  Volunteer  move- 
ment had   attained  vast  dimensions.     There  were 


^>,vTr^,f^yv>(?w?wviw; 


•JS"" 


CONCLUSION. 


DOW  nearly  100,000  of '  all  ranks,  artillery  and 
infantry,  officered  by  tke  flower  of  fclie  Iriah  aris- 
tocracy uader  Lord  Charlene&t  as  Commander- 
in-Chief.  The  English  Ministry  at  this  time 
commanded  a  strong  utajority  in  the  Irish  Parlia- 
ment, and,  after  a  protracted  strugxle,  on  11th 
December,  1781,  a  motion  for  a  repeal  of  Poyu- 
ing's  Law  was  defeated  by  an  OTerwhelming  Go- 
vernment majority. 

A  few  days  later  Lord  Charlemoat  iavited  a 
confereace  of  all  the  Irish  Volunteer  Corps  tu 
meet  at  Dunganuon  t«  consider  the  action  of  the 
Parliament.  The  ceaference  teok  place  on  15th 
i<'ebruary,  1782,  and  there  in  conclare  assembled, 
the  representatires  of  106,100  Velunteers  paased 
a  series  of  resoluaons  denyins:  and  repudiating 
the  supremacy  which  Poyning's  Law  gave  t*  the 
Eugliah  over  the  Irish  Parliament. 

On  the  16th  of  tlie  following  April  Grattan 
again  proposed  his  famous  resolution,  which  mow 
passed,  and  on  the  17th  May  the  matter  was 
brought  before  both  the  English  Houses  ef  Par- 
liament, and  carried  almost  unanimously.  On 
27th  May  the  Irish  Parliameat  assembled  to  for- 
mally receive  the  news  frem  the  Viceroy,  and  as 
au  evidence  of  their  gratitude,  voted  £100,000 
supplies  for  the  English  navy  and  £50,000  to 
Heary  Grattaa.  Thus  waa  secured  the  independ- 
ence of  the  Irish  Legislature. 

The  Voluuteers  aftsr  this,  keiiig  deserted  by 
thair  aristocratic  leaders,  gradually  became  a  de- 
mocratic institution  ;  and  now  a  social  cataclysm, 
which  shook  Europe  te  its  foundations,  exercised 
the  popular  mind.  Goaded  to  frenzy  by  tlie  ty- 
ranny of  a  corrupt  and  irresponsible  oligarchy, 
the  French  people — the  most  refined  aation  in 
Europe — rose  in  iiisurrectioa  against  their  op- 
pi-assors,  and  casting  asid*  the  restraints  of  civili- 
zation, committe*!  excesses  which  appalled  and 
horrified  Christiaaity.  The  aacient  gorernnent, 
enervated  by  a  long  unfettered  sway  of  despetic 
power,  was  overthrown  by  one  of  the  most  san- 
guinary revolutions  on  record. 

Inspired  hy  the  aew  and  specious  doctriaes  of 
liberty,  equality,  and  fraternity,  the  Irish,  smart- 
ing under  a  sense  of  cruel  injustice,  formed  the 
society  of  "  United  Irishmen,"  composed  prmci- 
oally  of  the  democratic  classes,  but  led  by  some 


aaembers  of  tho  aristocracy,  who  had  imbibed 
democratic  ideas.  Republican  opinions  grew 
more  aad  more  prevalent,  and  in  many  parts  of 
the  couatry  there  was  avowed  and  maaifest  sym- 
pathy with  the  French  revolutionists. 

In  1794  Pitt  entered  on  a  course  of  coaciliation. 
in  pursuance  of  which  he  sent  Lord  FitzwiUiam 
aa  Viceroy,  but  this  new  departure  was  of  but 
short  duration,  and  the  popular  Viceroy  vaa  re- 
called in  the  course  of  a  few  laontha.  Tho 
United  Irishmen  now  became  a  revolutioaary  and 
secret  society,  having  for  its  object  tlio  Otttabliah- 
artent  of  aa  independent  gorornmont  in  Ireland 
by  the  assistance  and  protectioa  of  Fraace.  Thoir 
schemes  were  perfected  ia  1796,  aad  un  16th  Dec,  ia 
that  year  a  fleet  of  43  ships  with  15,000  troopo 
and  45,000  stand  of  arms,  sailed  froaa  Breat  for 
Ireland.  This  formidable  araiada  met  with  the 
fate  which  befel  aearly  all  its  predecessora — it  waa 
dispersed  and  scattered  by  a  storm  witlieut  eveo 
eflfecting  a  landing  upon  the  Irish  coaata. 

Ia  tlio  following  year   negotiaUoas   were  again 
opKued  with  France  by  tlio  Irish  leaders,  but  they 
only  resulted  in  vague  promises  of  aasistanco.  By 
1798,  arrangements   were   completed  for  a  simul- 
taneous rising  all  over  the  couatry,  but  the   Go- 
vernment was    in    tlie    secret,    and    un    tho    12th 
March,  Thomas  Addis  Emmet  and  a   number  M 
other  leaders  wei'o  arrested  in    Bridge-street  and 
uoinmitted  to  Newgate.     A  few  weeks  later    Lord 
Kd  ward  Fitzgerald  was  arrested  ia  Thomas-street 
after  a  desperate    struggle    in    which    ho    waa   so 
severely  wouaded  that  he  died  a  few   days  after* 
wards.  Other  arresU  followed,  and  before  tho  ix«< 
concerted  time  for  action  had  arrived,    nearly   all 
the  leaders  had  been  captured  by  the  GovemMeat. 
The  country  waa  now  in  arms,  but  tlie  aaoveooent, 
deprived  of  its  leaders,  was  irregular   aad   disor- 
ganised, and  reduced  to  a  series  of   sporadic   out* 
breaks    by   an    illiterate  and    semi-armed    pea- 
santry.      The      fighting      comaionced      in     tho 
month    of      May      in     Eildare      aad    Carlow, 
and     at    the    close    of    the     month     the   insur 
genta  were  defeated  and  routed  at  tho   battle   of 
Tara.     At  Oulart  Hill  in  Wexford  the  insursrenbi 
were  successful,  and  annihilated  an.  entire  detach- 
ment of  the  North  Cork  Militia.  They  were  again 
successful  at  Gorey  and  New  Ross,  but   defeotetl 


;s.--v. 


Wy 


76 


IRELAND'S  BATTLES  AND  fiATTLBFIELDa. 


la? -f. 


»t  Arklow.  Th«y  now  fixed  th*ir  camp  fm'  Tui«- 
gar  Hill,  and  •n  21  at  Juu«  Geaeral  Lake,  witk  a 
sti-Mig  ferce,  advanced  to  attack  them,  and  partly 
•unrounded  the  hill.  After  aWout  an  heur  and  a 
half  fightuig  the  insurgents  broke  up  and  fled  in 
Siaotier.  This  defeat  crushed  the  movement  in 
the  south. 

Meaa  while  the  rising  was  proceeding  in  the 
Nerth,  and  the  Irish  were  defeated  at  Antrim 
after  a  desperate  struggle,  and  again  at  Ballina- 
hinch.  After  some  slight  further  flickering  the 
Rebellion  was  practically  extinguished  by  the  end 
of  June.  It,  no  doubt,  smouldered  on  for  some 
years  after  this  in  remete  aad  inaccessible  parts  of 
the  country,  aetaWly  in  tlie  fastnesses  vf  the 
Dublin  aad  Wicklow  mountains. 

After  the  Rebellion  caaie  the  usual  trials  and 
executions,  \ud  most  ef  the  popular  leaders  who 
were  unable  to  make  good  tkeir  escape  Buffered 
on  the  scaflTold.  Towards  tlie  end  of  August,  when 
the  excitemeat  kad  partly  subsided,  three  French 
frigates,  with  1,000  men  and  a  quantity  ef  arms, 
landed  in  Killala,  under  comnand  of  Qeneral 
Humbert,  and  t«ok  possession  ef  the  town.  They 
were  soon  reinferced  by  numbers  of  the  insur- 
gents. Qeneral  Lake,  in  command  of  5.000 
troops,  adTanced  to  attack  them,  but  was  de- 
eiaiTely  defeated  near  Castlebar  on  August  27tl), 
•nd  his  whole  force  breken  up  aad  pursued  for 


miles  from  the  scene  of  action.  Humbert  noi 
rapidly  adranced  by  an  irregular  route  Kmrth- 
wards,  but  was  fiaally  defeated  and  ferced  te  sur- 
render by  an  overwhelming  force  in  county  Long, 
ford. 

Shortly  afterwards  a  fleet  of  tea  vessels  ym 
despatched  by  France  in  aid  ef  Humbert,  but  thej 
were  intercepted  by  an  English  squadron  neai 
Lough  Swilly,  and  after  a  terrific  engagement 
12th  Octeber,  1798,  were  cempletely  defeated, 
and  five  ef  the  vessels  captured. 

On  the  2lBt  May,  1800,  Lord  Castlereagh  introj 
duced  the  Union  Bill  in  the  Irish  Heuse  ef  Cemj 
mens,  and  on  the  7th  June  it  ^na  passed,  and  the 
House  met  for  the  last  time. 

On  Ist  January,  1801,  the  new  Imperial 
standard  knows  as  the  "  Union  Jack,"  composed 
of  the  crosses  ef  St  Patrick,  St  Andrew,  and  Sf 
George,  was  hoisted  from  the  battlements  of 
Bublia  Castle,  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  became 
one  kingdom,  and  the  representation  of  Ireland  waq 
transferred  te  the  central  Parliament  ia  London. 

In  1803  an  abortive  attempt  at  insurrection 
was  made  by  the  unfortunate  Robert  Em  met,  who, 
with  other  leaders,  was  executed  shortly  after- 
wards. In  1829  was  passed  the  Catholic  Eman- 
cipation Act,  and  the  Cathelics,  after  centurieofl 
of  eppresaioa,  took  their  rightful  pesition  as  free! 
subjects  of  the  Empirei 


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