IRELAND. 



249 



Ik*oy. offensive ; and William resolved, in order to pacify the 

 -" , tn t,'" himself into Ireland ; and he accordingly 



J^ Tfi landed at C as on the 14th of June, 1690. 



a Ireland. Having put himself at the head of his forces, the ar- 

 A. U. U >j. my of J nines retired before him to the southern side 

 of the Boyne, near Drogheda, where it halted ; James, 

 who had joined it from Dublin, declaring his resolu- 

 tion to try the fate of a battle. The hostile armies 

 were nearly tMjii.il, that of James consisting of 33,000 

 ilium of 56,000 men. The army 

 of the former was composed of French and Irish ; that 

 ' illiain of Dutch, Danes, and other foreigners, 

 among whom were some Huguenot*, and English and 

 Irish ; the last were principally Enniskillen Protestant;. 

 The position of James' army was strong ; but William, 

 alter having reconnoitred it, resolved to cross the Boyne 

 and attack him. For thi< purpose, he formed his army 

 gjj of into three divisions, with orders to pass the river in 

 i Bojct three different places. The right wing crossed early in 

 the morning of the 1st of July without oppositirn, and, 

 by their manoeuvres, soon put to flight those of the ene- 

 my with whom they had to contend. The passage ef 

 the centre division DMA not effected so easily ; and, af- 

 ter it was effected, the Huguenots were thrown into dis- 

 order. To retrieve which, Schomberg put himself at 

 their head, and being taken prisoner, he was acciden- 

 tally killed liy the fin- of hii own troops. Nearly at 

 the same time fell George Walker, the heroic defender 

 mlonderr bject of the King himself, who 



headed the third division, was, after crossing the river, 

 to take the enemy in Hank ; but thr i .ivalry 



under his immediate command, could not withstand 

 the impetuous attack of thc'r opponent*, and were for- 

 i- way. In thi dilemma, William rode up 

 to the F.nnitkillrners, and asking them " XV hat they 

 ' they immediately advanced, char- 

 the enemy in the most brave manner, ami thus af. 



.r for the cavalry to rally. The infar .-. 

 .fames now gave way ; and James him-i If, alarmed at 

 his danger, put himself at the head of a regiment of ca- 

 valry, and gained the pus of Duleck, three miles to 

 the atuth of the field of battle. The rest of his forces 

 having also passed through this defile, formed again, 

 and effected their retreat in good order. The loss of 

 the vanquished is said to have been 1500, and that of 

 the victor* 500. 



James fled with such rapidity, that he reached Dub. 

 Itn that night. He stopped there a very short time , 

 and after having advised his partizani to submit 

 liam. be continued his route, and embarked at XX'ater- 

 ford for France. Hi* army also retreated by Dublin ; 

 march towards Athlone and 

 v dissatisfied with James' conduct during 

 tbe battle. i his desertion of then after its un- 



l..f.i.. it.- IIHV 



i not attempt to pursue the defeated ar- 

 ray ceived the submission of the gam- 

 ton of Drogheda, be advanced slowly to the south, and 

 encamped about two miles from I > \ proclama- 

 tion was immediately issued, promising pardon and 

 protection to the lower outers of men who had remain- 

 ed at home, or thould return thither, and give u; 

 antts ; but expressly excluding from pardon toe lead- 

 ers of the rebellion. Commissioners were also appoint- 

 ed to seue all forfeitures rising from the rebellion. 



As the enemy's forces bad retreated to Athlone and 

 Umenc, it became necessary to take measures fur fol- 

 lowing and reducing them. Accordingly, aft. 



vol. in. PAR 



liam had permitted his army to rest a short time, he History. 

 detached ten regiments of infantry, and five of horse, """"V"'*' 

 towards Athlone, while he himself marched southward 

 with a larger force. Athlone was first attacked ; but 

 XX illiam's troops being repulsed, their commander judg- 

 ed it prudent to give up the enterprize, and to march 

 to join the King. The great object of the monarch s\tgt of Li- 

 was the reduction of Limeric. He began his approach- metic. 

 es to this city, which was very strong, on the <)th of 

 August. The garrison was commanded by Boileau, a 

 Frenchman, who took every measure that skill and ex- 

 perience could suggest for the defence of the place. 

 One of his first enterprizes was to intercept an es- 

 cort, and succeeding in this, he gave fresh spirit to his 

 troops, and an earnest to XX'illiam of the difficulties he 

 might expect to encounter. The King, however, was 

 naturally of a temper not easily damped or dispirited. 

 He proceeded in his plans, and, on the 18th of August, 

 was enabled to open his butteries. On the 27th, hav- 

 ing effected a breach, an assault was ordered ; but af- 

 ter this attempt had been carried on for the space of 

 three hours, XX'illiam was obliged to retreat, with a loss 

 of 500 killed and 1000 wounded; and soon after- 

 wards he ordered the siege to be raided, and his army to Rais*i 

 retreat to Clonmell. Thence he himself proceeded to 

 XX'aterford, and embarked for England. On his depar- 

 ture, the command of the forces was left to Count 

 Solmes and Ginckle, and the care of the civil govern- 

 ment to two lords justices. 



The Earl of Marlborough, afterwards so famous, had, 

 before XX'illiam raised the iiegc of Limeric, sailed from 

 Portsmouth with 5000 men; and, landing near Cork, 

 he reduced this place and Kinsale. This event, so pre- 

 judicial to the Cause of James, was almost immed ately 

 followed by the departure of Boileau and his l-'n ncii 

 leldisrs from Limeric, between whom and the Irish 

 there had long been much Jealousy. 



The Irish were not, however, dispirited by these 

 events. On the contrary, they prepared for an attack 

 on tbe gam- n at Mullingar, and, for this purpose, hud 

 rage for 5OOO cavalry for five days at Ath- 

 lone. Ginckle, on learning this, resolved to anticipate 

 the attack, and, marching at the head of 3000 men from 

 Mullingar, be attacked a considerable body of the Irish, 

 who were encamped at Ballymore. The attack suc- 

 ceeded ; the enemy fled ; but, rallying at a place called 

 Grenoge, they again gave battle, snd were again de- Battle of 

 feeted. and thrown into complete disorder. By this Grcnoge. 

 defeat, their plan of offensive operations against the A.D. 1691. 

 Eaguah garrisons was frustrated. 



The partisans of James would probably hare given 

 way to despair, had not their h<>|x-s been kept up by 

 tbe promise of supplies from France ; but only <'' 

 came, and among them >.nnt Until, who was cmpower- 

 ' lake the command of all his troops in 

 Ireland. This general, after having learnt the number 

 of the forces which he was to command, and oft 

 by which be would be opposed, denned it prudent to 

 set solely on the defensive; and he then fun- strength- 

 ened his posts on thi <>f the .Shannon, while 

 with bis main army he took his station behind Ath- 

 lone. 



Against Saint Ruth thus situated, Ginckle resolved Aihlnc* 

 to commence offensive operations. On the 18th of ' 

 June, be came in sight of the town ; a breach was soon 

 made in Uie wall of what is called tin I'.nglish town, 

 and that part was taken by storm ; but it seemed im- 

 possible to reach the Irish town, the bridge being bro- 



