Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 1.djvu/361

 place, he himself was at Tunbridge on a visit to Lady Russell. He was overwhelmed with grief on receiving the tidings from Messieurs Chardin and Le Coq, and returned to the house of mourning.

He continued to reside in Greenwich as the head of his family, dispensing hospitality and bounty. By unanimous advice he did not join the British army, but lived as a private gentleman, being continued in the enjoyment of his French property. But at the Battle of the Boyne, his only surviving brother was killed, and also Marshal Schomberg. The ardour of the Marquis De Ruvigny could no longer be kept down. Burnet says he offered his service to the king, “who unwillingly accepted of it; because he knew that an estate which his father had in France, and of which he had still the income, would be immediately confiscated.” He was enrolled in our army as a Major-General, and with universal approval was made Colonel of the Huguenot cavalry regiment, late Schomberg’s. Dumont de Bostaquet says that “the appointment was considered a most excellent one, but it occasioned great surprise that he should return to active service, — he, who had chosen private life, and whose engrossing occupation was to show kindness to the refugees, and, indeed, to perform acts of generosity to mankind in general. As he was in high estimation at court, and had not taken up arms in William’s cause, he was in full possession of his immense estates in France. It was thought that with unquestionable propriety, he would be satisfied to continue in this kind of life.”  

After anxious deliberation as to the Irish campaign of 1691, the chief command was given to one who had come over with William from Holland, at his “descent upon England,” and who had served in England and in the late campaign in Ireland. This was Lieutenant-General Godart, Baron De Ghinkel, now promoted to the rank of General. He had remained with the army in their winter quarters, and assumed the chief command at the camp at Mullingar on the 1 8th of May. Here the general officers rendezvoused. Ruvigny came from England, and appeared on the 24th; Major-General Hugh Mackay from Scotland on the 28th; Major-General Talmash arrived about the same time. These four officers, Ghinkel, Ruvigny, Mackay, and Talmash, most conspicuously distinguished themselves throughout the campaign, and the intimate friends of each have claimed the greatest honour for each of them. But the gallant individuals themselves do not seem to have been disturbed or trammelled by any unpatriotic and reckless jealousies. Mackay’s biographer says — “In councils of war, the general officers had occasional differences of opinion, which they supported sometimes even with warmth; but (to their honour be it recorded) these never interrupted the public service, nor disturbed the harmony of their private meetings.”

The first operation was the capture of Ballymore, in county Westmeath. Here Ruvigny is not mentioned; the Major-Generals commanded each for one day in regular rotation, and so the honour of conducting great operations fell to one or the other in a kind of lottery. On May 31st, Ruvigny, with a detachment of cavalry, was sent to possess himself of a Pass between Ballymore and Athlone, a frontier town situated in the provinces of Leinster and Connaught, and the counties of Westmeath and Roscommon.

The first great event of the campaign was the taking of Athlone. It was Mackay’s lot to conduct the fording of the Shannon, which he did most gallantly and successfully, though he had argued against the project in the council of war. The pleas urged in favour of it were highly characteristic of Ruvigny — “That no brave action could be performed without hazard, and the attempt would very likely be successful.” Mackay, on the other hand, urged, “We are sure to fail unless the enemy, through their own misconduct, are the victims of a surprise.” Success prevented adverse criticisms. The war had again assumed the aspect of a war of religions. The commander of the enemy was a conspicuous leader of the dragonnades against the Huguenots, Monsieur St. Ruth. The impression in the English army was that no quarter would be given to the French heretics, as the refugee soldiers were styled by the Popish Marshal.

Ghinkel proceeded to fortify Athlone. St. Ruth withdrew his army of 25,000 to a strong post, with great natural advantages, near the old castle of Aughrim, in county Galway. William’s army numbered 18,000 only, but eagerly accepted the challenge given by the retreating enemy on Sunday, July 12. The result of the battle during the day was doubtful, but by the evening it was favourable to the British, through the execution done by their artillery. It was almost resolved to