Volume I Part 16 (2/2)

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.

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