Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-31

THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE.

The event celebrated by the Orange pro-
cesson i'll New York was the battle of
the Boyne, in which William ILL.,, Prince
OF Orange, defeated, James III. 1t hap
pened in 1890, and has nearly or quite
passed from the memory of all except Irish
men, who seem to delight in the eternal
preservation of every possible cause for all
1eud. The Boyne is river in the east of
Ireland, flowing Principally through the
counties of Meath and Louth. The fol
lowing is Macaulay's description of the
battle.
THE first of July dawned, day which
has never since returned without exciting
strong emotions of very different kinds in
the two populations which divide Ireland.
The sun rose bright and cloudless. Soon
after four, both armies were in motion.
William ordered his right wing, under the
command of Meinheart Schomberg, one of
the Dukes sons, to march to the bridge Of
Slane, some miles up the river, to cross
there, and to turn the left flank of the Irish
army. Meinheart Schomberg was arrested
by Portland and Douglass. James. antici-
pating some such design, had already sent
to the bridge a regiment of dragons, COM
manded by Sir Neil O'Neil ONeil be-
a.
he soon receiving mortal wound his men
fled and the English right wing passed
the river.
This move made Lauzun uneasy What
if the English right wing should get into
the rear of the army of james? About
four miles south of the Boyne was place
called Duleek, where the road to Dublin
was so narrow, that two cars could not pass
each other, and where on both sides of the
road lay morass which afforded no firm
footing. If Meinhart Schomberg should
occupythis spot, it would be impossible for
the Irish to retreat. They must either
conquer, or be cut off to man. Disturbed
by this apprehension, the French general
marched with his countrymen and with
Sarsfields horse in the direction of Slane
Bridge. Thus the fords near Oldbridge
were left to be defended by the Irish alone.
1t was now near ten O'Clock. Will
liam put himself at the head of the
lett wing. which was composed ex-
clusively OF cavalry, and prepared to pass
the river not far above Drogheda. the
center of his army, which consisted al
most exclusively of foot, was entrusted
to the command of Schomberg. and was
marshaled opposite to Oldbridge. AT
Oldbridge the whole Irish infantry had
been collected. The Meath bank bristled
with pixies and bayonets. A fortifcation
had been made by French engineers out
of the hedges and buildings and a breast
work had been thrown up close to the
water side. Tyrconnel was there; and
under him were Richard Hamilton and
Antrim.
Schomberg gave the word. Somles'
Blues were the first to move. They march
ed gallantly, with drums beating, to the
brink of the Boyne Then the drums
stopped; and the men, ten abreast, de-
scended into the water. Next plunged
Londonderry and Enniskillen. A little to
the left of Londonderry and Enniskillen,
Caillemont crossed, at the head of long
column of French refugees. A little to
the left of Caillemont and his refugees,
the main body of the English infantry
armpits in water. Still further down the
stream the Danes found another ford In
few minutes the Boyne, for quarter of
IA mile, was alive with muskets and green
boughs.
1t was not till the assailants had reached
the middle of the channel that they be-
came aware of the whole difficulty and
danger of the service in which they were
engaged. They had rs yet seen little
more than half the hostile army. Now
whole regiments of foot and horse seemed
to start out of the earth. A wild shout of
defiance rose from the whole shore; DUR
ing one moment the event seemed doubt
tul; but the Protestants pressed resolute-
ly forward; and in an other moment the
whole Irish line gave way. Tyrconnel
looked on in helpless despair. He did
not want personal courage; but his mill
tary skill was so small that he hardly ever
reviewed his regiment in the Phoenix Park
without committing some blunder; and to
rally the ranks which were breaking
all around him was no small task for
general who had survived the energy of
his body and of his mind, and yet still
had the rudiments of his profession to
learn. Several of his best officers fell
while va;nly endeavoring to prevail on
their soldiers to look the Dutch Blues in
the face, Richard Hamilton ordered body
of foot to fall on the French refugees,
who were still deep in the water. He led
the way, and, accompanied by several
courageous gentlemen, advanced, sword
in hand, into the river But neither his
commands nor his example could intuse
courage into the mob of cow-stealers. He
was lett almost alone, and retired from the
Dahk In despair. furtnef DOWN the river
Antrim's division ran like sheep at the APP
proach of the English column. Whole reg
iments flung away arms, colors and
cloaks, and scampered off to the hills
without striking blow or firing shot.
1t required many years and many heroic
exploits to take away the reproach which
thatignominious rout left on the Irish name.
Yet, even before the day closed, it was
abundantly proved that the reproach was
unjust. Richard Hamilton put himself at
the head of the cavalry, and under his
command, they made a gallant though I'M
successful attempt to retrieve the day.
They maintained a desperate fight in the
bed of the river with Solmes' Blues. They
drove the Danish brigade back into the
the stream. They fell impetuously ON the
Huguenot regiments, which,. not being
provided with pixies, then ordinarily used