Volume Ii Part 1 (2/2)

At this point of the battle, the brave, the intrepid Callimote, who in person commanded his valiant corps of Huguenots--he who had been the faithful partner of the toils and victories, and partaker of the glories of Schomberg in former battles--at this moment was cut down by one of Hamilton's horse. He had indeed received a mortal wound! He fell, but was soon upraised by his brave soldiers; and while they bore him away, bleeding even to death, in their arms, still strong and deep in agony was heard the hero's voice. He called aloud to his brave companions in the battle, ”_A la gloire, mes enfans--a la gloire!_” and while thus exclaiming, he died in the arms of his valiant comrades! Thus n.o.bly sunk this valiant man. He died a hero, and fell as the brave should fall, shouting even in death the cry of victory! Meanwhile Duke Schomberg was distinctly seen spurring onward his n.o.ble charger even in the deepest part of the Boyne, encouraging and calling aloud upon the Huguenots to rally, and accompanying this with his gesture, his voice, and his sword.

His strenuous and manly exertions were beheld and heard in vain, for no succour advanced!

Hamilton's cavalry, a second time breaking through the ranks of the flying Huguenots, wounded Duke Schomberg in the engagement, and hurried him along; when his own troops firing at the duke through mistake, he fell lifeless from his war-horse.

Hamilton's terrific charge on the part of the Irish, and the relief brought to reinforce the Duke of Schomberg's squadron, on the other, gave time to both sides to rally, and prepare for a renewed engagement.

The Duke of Tyrconnel performed prodigies of valour. He here had a second horse shot under him while sustaining this dreadful conflict.

We must now come to the _third_ part of the battle, as it was arranged (as we have before premised) by the Prince of Orange.

During the two former attacks every where was to be seen the blue and orange plumes of Na.s.sau waving over flood and field! Now also every where was he to be seen quickly to rush into danger, riding rapidly from place to place, examining every regiment and troop, exhorting and inspiring them by look, gesture, and action. The soldiers were well pleased at this attention; they were flattered and animated, every man considering himself under the immediate inspection of his royal leader, while every motion and manoeuvre his counsel, conduct, and courage directed.

The Prince of Orange led on the left wing of the army, accompanied by Prince George of Denmark, and they pa.s.sed the Boyne at the ford of Old Bridge, between the army of James and the town of Drogheda; and it was not without difficulty that this measure was accomplished. Here the charger of the Prince of Orange got entangled in a bog or mora.s.s at the other side of the river, where he had landed, and where he was forced to alight until one of the royal attendants succeeded in extricating ”Sorrel” (for so was the royal charger named) from his entanglement in the mora.s.s, and a.s.sisted the prince to remount.

As soon as all the troops had pa.s.sed over the Boyne water, and were put in some order, the Prince of Orange commanded them to march; and constantly was he seen upon the alert, with his large conspicuous triangular hat and nodding plumes, urging ”Sorrel” in full gallop at the head of his cavalry, his sword drawn, and his wounded arm freed from the scarf which had supported it. He waved his sword on high, and encouraged and inflamed the soldiery to battle.

At this sight the troops of King James manifested a disposition to retreat. King James, however, endeavoured by every method and persuasion he could use to rally his men, while loudly he repeatedly called out to them,

”On, on ye brave!”

while to his general officers he expressed his fixed determination ”to make a bold and resolute effort for the recovery of his throne; for _that all the hopes of his restoration depended upon the result of that day_!”

The Prince of Orange now despatched twelve battalions and nine squadrons to strengthen his right wing, and placed himself at the head of the left wing of his army. The right, as we have before observed, was commanded by Count Menard Schomberg; the centre by Field-Marshal Duke of Schomberg, and the left by William.

In the meantime all the forces of King James, except the detachment which had retired to Duleek, promptly gathered from all quarters, and formed a firm and formidable phalanx around their king. Here the battle raged loud and stormy, but with various success, for about an hour, representing both to the eye and ear all the horrors of civil and foreign war commingled. Here waved in the breeze the silver lilies of France; there undulated the silver harp of Erin, the golden lion of old merry England; and the Scottish unicorn, with the bordure of the thistle; next the Belgic lion in refulgent gold; then the dark, black eagle of Brandenburgh, with the ominous raven of Denmark, all waving in the morning breeze, and in the fierce discordant attack shaken to and fro, like the woods of some ancient forest. Here, and every where, resounded the languages of France, England, Holland, Denmark, Germany, and Ireland--all spoken promiscuously. May we then not observe, what a scene was there combined! withal the various and varied nations, their troops' uniforms consisting of various and discordant hues, all combining and forming the different tints of the rainbow, including many _ultra_ and even _plus-ultra_ dyes of the arc of heaven!--green, blue, black, yellow, scarlet, and some undefinable colours. The varied look that caught the eye, and the varied language that irresistibly reached the ear, rendered this ever most remarkable battle-scene truly another Babel! While Frenchmen fought against their fellow-subjects in some quarters of the field--while in others brave Britons contended against Britons--and, alas! the sons of unhappy Ireland fought against each other in opposing ranks!--Oh, the reflection was dreadful!

At this period of the battle Tyrconnel defeated the English, who were commanded by General De Ginckle, and who thereupon suddenly retreated.

The Prince of Orange, perceiving what Tyrconnel had done, rallied the English cavalry, and remonstrated with them upon their flight. When thus urged, they rushed again upon the charge, and not without some success.

The Prince of Orange brought up his Dutch cavalry and the Enniskilliners to support the charge; his Highness then wheeled to the left, and the Enniskilliners, through mistake, did the same. Upon this the prince galloped furiously to the right, and drew up his Dutch troops. The Enniskilliners upon this became conscious of the mistake which they involuntarily had committed, and they instantly reoccupied their ground, and fought resolutely.

At this momentous crisis of the battle, the brave Tyrconnel strained every nerve to support the troops under his command. He galloped in front, and from flank to rere, while every where he exhorted, encouraged, and animated the troops, as onward he galloped through the ranks.

”Rise, might of Erin, rise!

Now on the foes' astonish'd eyes Let thy proud ensigns wave dismay!

Here let the thunder of thy battle roll, And bear the palm of strength and victory away!”

Here Tyrconnel encountered the Brandenburgh cavalry, with their gallant colonel at their head, who, not un.o.bserved by Tyrconnel, throughout that well-fought field performed prodigies of valour. The duke and colonel met, and closed in single combat, managing the broad sword with equal--nay, with consummate skill; when a private of the Brandenburghers, perceiving that the duke had the advantage of his leader, presently levelling his carbine, and aiming at Tyrconnel, he suddenly fired it off. The duke escaped, but his n.o.ble charger fell, and flung with tremendous force to the earth the hero whom he had borne. In an instant the colonel was on his feet, and raised his gallant opponent in his arms.

”Brave and truly n.o.ble colonel! accept my warm and grateful thanks for this truly generous and heroic act; and permit me, at the same time, to know to whom I am so much, so highly indebted?”

”n.o.ble duke,” rejoined the valiant stranger, ”for such I know you to be, indeed you much overrate my service. However, at some future time, more propitious than the present, my name shall be divulged to you; at the present moment I have reasons quite sufficient to cause me to decline the explanation which you require. But you shall have two pledges, and from a true knight, for the fulfilment of my promise, solemnly made in the battle-field!”

He then loudly called to his equerry: ”Ho! Malcolm, bring Fergus from the rere!” While on the instant the equerry advanced, bringing a n.o.ble Hanoverian charger of a beautiful cream colour, who loudly snorted, neighed, and proudly pawed the ground. The stately animal was ready caparisoned for the field.

The colonel next took a ring from off his finger; it was an antique cameo, exquisitely sculptured; the gem was a ruby of immense value; the subject was the genius of Victory crowning Hercules.

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