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 ; but Richard Cox, the King's under-secretary, set his mind at rest, by leading the deserter through their own camp, and showing how grossly he exaggerated their own forces. King William rested on a knoll within musket-shot of the ford, as his troops marched into their positions. There he narrowly escaped death—the enemy brought a small field-piece secretly into position; the first ball killed a man and two horses beside the King, and the second, grazing the bank, slanted on to the King's right shoulder, carried away a piece of his coat, and ruffled the skin. After this slight wound was dressed, the King remounted and rode through the lines, to dissipate the apprehensions of his troops. He continued on horseback until four o'clock in the afternoon, when he dined on the field, and in the evening mounted again, though he had been up since one o'clock in the morning. At nine he called a council of war, and declared his resolution to force the passage of the river next morning. Duke Schomberg at first opposed the proposition; and then advised that at least a large force should be sent that night towards Slane bridge to flank the enemy. His opinion not being regarded, he "retired to his tent, and not long after received the order of battle with discontent and indifference." As the night closed, the cannon ceased on both sides. Orders were given that the troops should be ready to march at break of day, with green sprigs in their hats, to distinguish them from James's men, who it was understood would wear pieces of white paper. William "rode about twelve at night with torches quite through the camp, and then retired to his tent, impatient for the approaching day." The 1st July rose bright and clear. As well us can be ascertained, William had 36,000 troops to oppose James's 30,000. William's were superior in discipline, materiel, and artillery; but James occupied a strong position. The following succinct account of the battle is given by George Story, one of William's chaplains, who was present. " Tuesday, the first of July, early in the morning, his Majesty sent Lieutenant-General Douglass, my Lord Portland, my Lord Overkirk, and Count Schonbergh, with above ten thousand horse and foot, up the river to pass towards the bridge of Slane; which the enemy perceiving, they drew out several bodies of horse and foot towards their left, in order to oppose us; our men, however, marched over without any difficulty, being only charged by Sir Neal O'Neal's regiment of dragoons, who were partly broke, and himself killed. As soon as Lieutenant-General Douglass and his party were got over, he sent an express to his Majesty to give him account of it; who then ordered the Dutch Guards, two French regiments, two Inniskilling regiments. Sir John Hanmer's, and several others that lay most convenient for that ground, to pass the river and attack the Irish on the other side, which they did with a great deal of bravery and resolution, first beating the Irish from their hedges and breast-works at Old-Bridge, and then routing the Duke of Berwick's troop of Guards, my Lord Tyrconnell's and CollonelColonel [sic] Parker's Horse, who all behaved themselves like men of English extraction, as indeed most of them were. During which time his Majesty passed the river below with the left wing of his horse, and charged the enemy several times at the head of his own troops, nigh a little village called Dunore, where they rallied again, and gave us two or three brisk attacks; but in less than half-an-hour were broke, and forced to make the best of their way towards Duleek, where there was a considerable pass, and whither the other part of the Irish army, that faced Lieutenant-General Douglas, had made what haste they could, when they heard how it had gone with their friends at Old-Bridge. Our army then pressed hard upon them, but meeting with a great many difficulties in the ground, and being obliged to pursue in order, our horse had only the opportunity of cutting down some of their foot, and most of the rest got over the pass at Duleek; then night coming on, prevented us from making so entire a victory of it as could have been wished for. On the Irish side were killed my Lord Dungan, my Lord Carlingford, Sir Neal O'Neal, with a great number of other officers, and about thirteen or fourteen hundred soldiers; and we lost on our side nigh four hundred." The baggage and stores of the defeated army fell to the victors, besides £10,000 of a military chest, much plate and valuables, and all the camp equipage of Tirconnell and Lauzun. Harris says: " King William received no hurt in the action, though he was in the height of it, and that a cannon ball took away a piece of his boot. His Majesty acted the part of the greatest general; he chose the field, disposed the attack, drew up the army, charged the enemy several times, supported his forces when they began to shrink, and behaved throughout with &hellip; conduct, courage, resolution, and presence of mind." The Irish army retreated in confusion to Dublin, and soon afterwards retired upon Athlone and Limerick, while 567