ermined to give them battle, though his
forces did not exceed eighteen thousand, and the Irish were posted in a
very advantageous situation. St. Ruth had made an admirable disposition,
and taken every precaution that military skill could suggest. His centre
extended along a rising ground, uneven in many places, intersected with
banks and ditches, joined by lines of communication, and fronted by a
large bog almost impassable. His right was fortified with intrenchments,
and his left secured by the castle of Aghrim. He harangued his army
in the most pathetic strain, conjuring them to exert their courage
in defence of their holy religion, in the extirpation of heresy, in
recovering their ancient honours and estates, and in restoring a pious
king to the throne, from whence he had been expelled by an unnatural
usurper. He employed the priests to enforce his exhortations; to assure
the men that they might depend upon the prayers of the church; and that,
in case they should fall in battle, the saints and angels would convey
their souls to heaven. They are said to have sworn upon the sacrament
that they would not desert their colours, and to have received an order
that no quarter should be given to the French heretics in the army of
the prince of Orange. Ginckel had encamped on the Roscommon side of the
river Sue, within three miles of the enemy: after having reconnoitred
their posture, he resolved, with the advice of a council of war, to
attack them on Sunday the twelfth day of July. The necessary orders
being given, the army passed the river at two fords and a stone bridge,
and, advancing to the edge of the great bog, began about twelve o'clock
to force the two passages, in order to possess the ground on the other
side. The enemy fought with surprising fury, and the horse were several
times repulsed; but at length the troops upon the right carried their
point by moans of some field pieces. The day was now so far advanced,
that the general determined to postpone the battle till next morning;
but perceiving some disorder among the enemy, and fearing they would
decamp in the night, he altered his resolution and ordered the attack to
be renewed. At six o'clock in the evening the left wing of the English
advanced to the right of the Irish, from whom they met with such a warm
and obstinate reception, that it was not without the most surprising
efforts of courage and perseverance that they at length obliged them to
give ground; and eve