The Eve of All-Hallows Volume I Part 16

[53] Rapin's History of England.

Intrusting the government of England to his royal consort Queen Mary, the daughter of King James II., he proceeded immediately to Ireland, there in person to pursue the war with vigour; and very shortly landed, as has been already told, at Carrickfergus, where he was expected with impatience, and was met by his army, which in number amounted to forty thousand men, not only well appointed and provided with necessaries, but also well disciplined. They were attended by a commissariat corps, and a train of sixty large cannon, which completed the military force of William. The army consisted of English, Dutch, and Brandenburghers, who received their ill.u.s.trious leader with shouts and transports of joy.

Upon the landing of King William he was received by the Duke of Schomberg, the Count Menard Schomberg (son to the duke), by the Prince of Wirtemberg, Count Solms, Major-General Scravenmore, Lord Sidney, Sir David Bruce, and Sir John Lanier, &c. &c.

As soon as King James had positive intelligence of the arrival of the Prince of Orange, (who, strange to say, had been, as we before noticed, six days in Ireland without King James having been made acquainted with the event,) he then instantly commenced his march; and committing the guard of Dublin to Colonel Luttrel, who afterwards betrayed him,[54] and who then commanded a body of militia, His Majesty set onward in his march, attended by an army consisting of about six thousand foot, old experienced soldiers of the army of Louis XIV., the same which had lately accompanied him from France. These were destined to form a junction with the chief body of his troops, who were then stationed on the banks of the Boyne. These, when they should be united, although considerable, yet, in point of numbers, were still inferior to the army of the Prince of Orange.

[54] Life of King James.

Several months previous to the arrival of King James, Duke Schomberg had landed at Carrickfergus Bay, at the head of twelve thousand men; and without any opposition, a.s.sisted by six ships of war, he took possession of the town. Upon his advance into the country the position of the hostile armies were thus const.i.tuted:--Schomberg then occupied Dundalk, which he was forced to fortify; while Marshal Rosen threatened his right flank. King James had lost previous to his arrival, by the defeat of his forces, the fort and garrison of Charlemont, along with a large store of ammunition, seventeen pieces of bra.s.s cannon, &c.; and want of provisions caused the surrender of this important fortress. The troops of Marshal Rosen then found it necessary to march to the banks of the Shannon, until they should ascertain how matters went on at sea. For Louis XIV. had sent them a.s.surances that he would not only fit out a great fleet, but that as soon as the squadron which coasted in the Irish seas to guard the transport fleet, and to secure the Prince of Orange's pa.s.sage over, should sail into the channel to join the grand fleet of England, he would then send into the Irish seas a fleet of small frigates and privateers, to destroy the transports of the Prince of Orange.[55] This indeed would have proved fatal if it had taken effect; and the execution of the scheme seemed easy, if not certain. It would have shut up the Prince of Orange in Ireland until a new transport fleet could have been brought thither, which would have taken some months to complete; so that England, in the mean time, might have been lost before, by any possibility, he could have repa.s.sed the seas with his army.

[55] Rapin's History of England.

There can be no doubt whatever that the destruction of the transports of the Prince of Orange must also have caused the ruin of his army; for the stores both of bread and ammunition were still on board, from whence he was to draw his supplies. Conscious of this, he made his fleet sail slowly along the eastern coast towards the capital, spread out in sight of his army as it advanced in its march, to elevate the spirits of his soldiers by the grandeur of the spectacle, and to inspire them with confidence by the idea of security which it presented.[56] Upon all that coast there was not a safe port to cover and secure the fleets and transports of the Prince of Orange; and it was this induced the staff and officers of King James to oppose the measure of bringing the war to a speedy termination. Meanwhile King James's army was stationed on the banks of the Boyne, to defend the capital. King James had now arrived at the head quarters of his army; and with the reinforcements which he brought along with him, as well as by his royal presence, gave hope and confidence to his army. But there was an oversight in King James when an opportunity was presented of totally defeating Schomberg, which, by remissness or want of determination, he wholly lost. Schomberg, upon the arrival of King James, was in the occupation of Dundalk, which he was forced to fortify. Marshal Rosen threatened his right flank at the same time that King James, with thirty thousand men, was stationed on the banks of the Boyne, at Drogheda. It hence appears that King James had thus Schomberg shut up there in a _cul de sac_, all retreat being cut off;[57] Schomberg's army pining and diminishing by sickness, and enclosed in retrenchments; while King James, with a far superior army, stood in front. But strange to say, he permitted Schomberg to escape, and make good his retreat unmolested by any pursuit.

[56] Sir John Dalrymple's Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland, and Rapin's History of England.

[57] Colonel Keating's Defence of Ireland.

However, this inaction of King James arose, it would appear, from his positive determination to remain where he was encamped, and defend the Boyne, which he considered to be the key that mastered the pa.s.s to the capital. "We must," said the king, addressing himself to his council of war, and princ.i.p.ally to Tyrconnel, "_coute qui coute_ defend the Boyne.

Not to do this is to abandon Dublin; and by so doing we should lose our reputation, so that the people would desert us, and capitulate; and all our friends in England would be also dispirited; therefore I am fully resolved to have one fair and, I trust, decisive battle for my crown."[58]

[58] Rapin's History of England.

Lieutenant-General Hamilton advised King James at this council, "to send a detachment of dragoons to defend the ford of Slane, which was below the town of Drogheda, (which the English either knew not of, or did not regard of importance,) and to despatch eight regiments to defend the bridge of Slane."

But King James coldly said in reply: "I shall send fifty dragoons to protect the ford."[59]

[59] Ibid.

This reply put Hamilton into the utmost amazement, considering the importance of the place to be defended. But he remained silent.

In many respects the determination of King James to maintain the post he occupied, which certainly was well chosen, was as correct as his resolve was judicious; where encamped,

"His white pavilions made a show, Like remnants of the winter's snow, Along DONORE'S dark ridge."

"Stationed upon the commanding hill of Donore, which looked down upon the Boyne, his right approach was upon Drogheda, which he occupied, his front facing the Boyne, fordable, but still deep, and rising every tide, with strong banks, which, intersected by mounds of earth, and divided by hedges and ditches; hence his army presented a front of about three miles, extending towards the Slane, where he negligently failed to occupy a bridge, which had been advised by General Hamilton. The river Boyne forms towards the centre of where James was stationed a considerable projecting curve, and another in reverse higher up toward Slane."[60] This, as will be seen in a subsequent chapter, was of the utmost importance to the two contending princes. We must add, that the localities of the station added to the security of King James; for had his opponent succeeded in crossing the Boyne at this point, there was still a mora.s.s also to be pa.s.sed, and then succeeded by the barrier of a rising ground.

[60] Keating's Defence of Ireland.

Thus advantageously was encamped upon the 30th of June the army of King James.--He had thrown up some breast-works upon the banks of the fords which lay between the two camps; and he now gave orders that "if his troops were driven from these on the morrow, then to retire to the line of houses; if from the houses, to the hedges; if from the hedges, to the range of small hills; and if driven from these, to occupy the heights of Donore: and if they could not then make that station good, they were to retreat to Duleek, and stop further pursuit by defending the pa.s.s."

Throughout the whole of this eventful day, the precursor of the ever memorable first of July, salutation from the cannon's mouth had been interchanged between each contending army, and not without leaving numerous ostensible marks of slaughter in the camps of the two contending princes. But towards the close of day the thundering roar of cannon ceased at once on both sides; while in the rival camps of royal James and William was only then to be heard the "dreadful note of preparation" for the battle on the morrow.

King James having caused his army to pa.s.s him in single files, surrounded by his n.o.bles, generals, and staff, he thus addressed his army:--

"Soldiers, and comrades of my toil! to-morrow I purpose putting an end to all our hardships and privations by terminating the war; by boldly encountering those squadrons who are now yonder encamped, and whose standards, waving on the banks of the Boyne below, seem to invite us to the battle. We shall not disappoint them! nor, brave men, shall you be disappointed! They shall indeed feel what loyal men, determined in a just cause, can do and dare for their lawful sovereign. And G.o.d protect those who fight under the banner of justice;--who fight for their lawful king, and for all that is dear to men! As for myself I have been bred in the ranks of war, (if your king may for once be permitted to speak of what he has performed;) educated alike in the school of hardship as of war. I have fought in different realms--in Spain, in France, and Holland, I have fought and conquered with the brave Turenne, for whom I have ever felt the tenderness of a son. I have fought by land and by sea, and with those same Dutch that now invade us; aye, and beat them too we have to boot! at the mouth of their Texel--upon their own sh.o.r.es, I did it! But to-morrow we shall meet them again, and their vaunting leader, in the battle-field; when and where, I trust, under the auspices of heaven, that again and once more I shall rout them, and that too upon my loyal sh.o.r.es of Ireland! For strongly I feel that the blood of the n.o.ble Edwards and the Henrys still pulsates in these veins; and that the valiant blood of the fourth Henry of France, my glorious grandfather, still survives, and animates his descended son. Soldiers!

he too, like myself, met with ingrat.i.tude--with disloyalty! he, like me, was driven from his throne! But he had a Sully; and I can boast that I have a Tyrconnel! His loyal troops of Navarre restored him to his throne; and on to-morrow, with the benison of G.o.d, I shall witness my restoration to the ancient throne of the Stuarts, by my brave--my loyal Irish, and the gallant swords of my n.o.ble Frenchmen that now encircle me; and who, to a man, are fully determined to conquer or to die for me; and in that fate shall your king fully partic.i.p.ate with you all--to vanquish or to perish!"

Here shouts of "_Vive le Roy_," and of "G.o.d save King James," from the French, English, and Irish troops of the king, rent the air with loud and tumultuous huzzas; which bursting over the heights of Donore, were re-echoed by the waters of the Boyne below, and wafted to the camp of the Prince of Orange.

Meanwhile, in the camp of King James, the Duke of Tyrconnel was every where to be seen galloping from post to _piquet_. He ordered each soldier to wear in his cap a small c.o.c.kade of white paper upon the ensuing day of battle, that in the heat of the engagement they might thence distinguish each other from their foes.[61]

[61] Life of King James.

"The watch-word of to-night," said the duke, as he rode along the camp, addressing himself to the officers, "be '_Eblana_;' and our gallant war-cry on the morrow let it be--'James and Victory!'"

Here the whole army rent the air with shouts of applause; while Tyrconnel retired to his tent, impatiently awaiting the dawn of day.

From the moment of the arrival of the Prince of Orange in Ireland he had taken every pains, and had used every art, to inspire his army with confidence, and to ingratiate himself in their favour and love.[62] All the arts of a general and of a man of sense he put in practice to draw the attention of his soldiers from the misfortunes of the last year in Ireland, and from the danger of the present. The day upon which all his troops from different quarters met and united with him: he then ordered the whole army to pa.s.s him, and thus threw a march into a review.

Instead of keeping one station, he rode in among the regiments so soon as they appeared, to encourage the soldiers, and to satisfy himself of the state of every regiment. An order having been brought him to affix his signature for wine for his table, the prince said aloud:--"No, I will drink water with my soldiers!" He slept every night in camp, and was throughout the day on horseback; he flew from place to place to survey the army, or the country, intrusting nothing to others. While at one time he brought up the rere with an anxiety which fully engaged the affections of the soldiers; at another with a spirit which inflamed them, he was the foremost in advanced parties if danger seemed to threaten, or that the object to be known was of importance.[63]

[62] Story's Civil Wars of Ireland.

[63] Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland, by Sir John Dalrymple, vol. I. p. 135.

But it is now full time that we should attend in the camp of the Prince of Orange, and take a cursory view of some of the princ.i.p.al events of the remarkable 30th day of June, and notice his force, the occurrences of this day, and his preparations for the approaching battle.

At break of day the Prince of Orange, upon the 30th of June, being informed that the army of King James had repa.s.sed the Boyne, ordered his whole army to move forward at that early hour, in three lines, towards the river, which was distant from them about three miles. The advanced guards of horse commanded by Sir John Lanier; the Brandenburghers by Colonel Sir David Bruce. They moved onward in very good order, and by nine o'clock were within two miles of Drogheda. The Prince of Orange, who marched in front of them, observing that there was a hill to the east of the enemy, and to the north from the town, he rode instantly thither to inspect their camp, which he found to be stationed along the river in two parallel lines.[64]

[64] Rapin's History of England.

Here different observations were made as to the force and numbers of the enemy by Prince George of Denmark, the Dukes of Schomberg and Ormond, and other generals. Amongst them General Scravenmore appeared to despise their numbers, observing, at the same time, that they were but a handful of men, for he could not reckon above forty-six battalions that were then encamped.

But both the Prince of Orange and Prince George replied, that they might have a great many men in the town; and that there was also a hill to the south-east, beyond which part of their army might be encamped.

"However," rejoined the Prince of Orange, "we shall soon be better acquainted with their numbers--

'If fight King James, as well I trust That fight he will, and fight he must.'"

The Prince of Orange now proceeded in person to visit every outpost, every videt, every guard, and every _piquet_. He marked out his encampment, and fathomed the Boyne in order to ascertain where it was fordable for his army to pa.s.s, which he firmly resolved to do upon the following morning. While the prince was thus occupied, and advancing to take a nearer view of the situation of his enemy, and while the army was marching, he alighted from his horse, and sat down upon a rising ground, where he refreshed himself for about an hour. During which time a party of about forty horse of King James came on; but advancing very slowly, they made a halt upon a ploughed field opposite to the Prince of Orange.

They brought with them in the rere two field-pieces, which, undiscovered, they planted at the angle of a hedge, which screened the cannon. The prince was no sooner remounted than the party instantly fired at him, and with the first shot killed a man and two horses very near to the prince. This bullet was presently succeeded by another, which having first grazed upon the bank of the river, then upon rebounding struck the Prince of Orange in the right shoulder, tore away a piece of his coat, and stripped off the skin; afterwards in the recoil it broke the handle of a gentleman's pistol.

Lord Conningsby seeing what had happened, rode up hastily, and putting his handkerchief to the prince's shoulder, staunched the wound. The prince remounted his charger, and observed to Lord Conningsby, "_Il ne faloit pas que le coup ft plus pres_."[65] There was no necessity that the bullet should have come nearer!

[65] Histoire de Guillaume III. tome II. Amsterdam, 1703.

This accident having occasioned some disorder among the attendants of the Prince of Orange, caused the enemy to conclude that he was killed; who thereupon set up a great shout, and the report of his death reached Dublin, and even Paris. However, having his wound dressed, the prince remounted his horse, and showed himself to his whole army, to dissipate their apprehensions. He continued on horseback until four o'clock, dined in the open field, and then mounted his favourite _Sorrel_ again, (for so was the royal charger called,) although he had been abroad from one in the morning. About the hour of nine at night he called a council of war, and declared his determination to pa.s.s the river Boyne upon the next day. Which resolve Duke Schomberg at first opposed; but finding the king positive, he advised that part of the army, horse and foot, should be sent that night towards the bridge of Slane, in order there to pa.s.s the Boyne, and so advance between the enemy and the pa.s.s at Duleek. This advice, which if followed would perhaps have ended the war in one campaign, seemed at first to be relished; but it was afterwards opposed by General de Ginckle, and the other Dutch general officers. Duke Schomberg retired to his tent, where not long after the order of battle was brought him, which he received with discontent and indifference, observing, that _this was the first that ever was sent to him_. The opinion of Schomberg was right; not to occupy the important pa.s.s of Slane was certainly a strange omission in the tactics of the two contending princes.

The Prince of Orange ordered that every soldier should be provided with a sufficient stock of ammunition, and all the army to be ready to march at break of day. And every man was to wear a green bough, or sprig, pulled from the adjoining wood which overhung the ford, that they might ascertain friends from foes during the fury of the fight. His Highness, attended by torch-light, rode at the twelfth hour at night through his camp, making his observations, and ascertaining that all was in readiness for the important day that was now about to arrive. He gave orders to his equery "to saddle blithe _Sorrel_ for the field to-morrow!"

The watch-word of the prince that night was "Westminster." And as he was retiring to his tent he said to the Prince of Denmark, "Our watch-word to-night is '_Westminster_;' let our war-cry to-morrow be--'_Na.s.sau and Freedom!_'"

Having thus said, he saluted Prince George, and retired to repose.

END OF VOL. I.