The Irish standard., 1886-05-08
MINNEAPOLIS PAUL, SATURDAY. g.

ing the force was successfully achieved
Monroe's cavalry crossed the river. and
his artillery played on the Irish lines
from an advantageous height, but the
fusillade was not very destructive, as
the range was not by any means accGr-
ately attained.
Several hours We're spent in these at
tempts, but not break was made in
the Irish position. Monroe's forces be-
gan to grow weary; and Owen Roe had
a terrible task in hand endeavoring to
check the impetuosity OF his men, who,
CALLED by the artillery fire, several
times implored him to allow them to
charge the height on which the guns
were mounted. He told them to be
patient until the horsemen he had sent
out In the morning to check the Cole
raine force should return, and until
the sun, then beginning to dip west
wards, should be in the face Of their
enemies and on their own backs. About
seven O'Clock the cavalry returned.
They We're mistaken by Monroe for
some Of his brothers forces, but a
slashing assault on his own troopers,
which drove them pell-mell and panic
stricken on his infantry, soon unde-
ceived him. O'Neill saw the confusion,
and looked towards the sky. The hour
had come. He gave the signal, and
like hounds slipping out Of leash the
impatient Irish surged forward at his
signal. They advanced in two lines, OF
four and three columns each, with the
cavalry on their wings. Only one regi-
ment was kept in reserye-that OF Fer
managh, commanded by Colonel Rory
Mcguire. The right wing was COM
manded by Colonel O'Farrell Colonel
Phelim O'Neill fought on the left.
O'Neill addressed few words Of en-
thusiastic exhortation to his men, the
chaplain, Rev Bostius Egan, gave them
the Apostolic Benediction. advance, F"
cried O'Neill, ''and give not fire until
you are within pike length.'' The col
onels sprang from their horses and,
sword in hand, led on their men. With
the wild hurrah that has re-echoed on
so many battlefield the Irish dashed
at their ancient foemen. Down the
hill they surged in compact masses, ac-
cross the hollow which lay between.
and up the height from which Monroe's
cannon kept playing on them in VAIN.
Though the iron hail fell on them in
deadly shower not man wavered.
Squadron after squadron OF British
horse charged at them, only to be driy~
Ell back like the foam from the PROV Of
a noble vessel. Half O'Neill's men
were armed with the pike: half with
the musket. The pikemen speared the
cavalry with unerring thrust not a
shot was fired by the musketeers until
they saw the white OF their enemies
eyes. .-.
The charge was terrific. Long and
stubbornly did the English and Scotch
resist, but the superior valor Of the
Irish was not to be denied. One final
charge of cavalry was ordered by Mon
roe. 1t was hurled back with such
route and confusion that all order was
lost amongst the infantry. The splen-
did army became a wreck. Every where
the victorious Irish were spearing,
sabring, and shooting down, its flying
members. The commanders saved their
lives by swimming the Blackwater.
Monroe escaped to Armagh, but with
out hat or wig. But the vast bulk of
his forces We're cut down. The dead
bodies of 3,248 Scotch and English lay
on the field. Twenty-Five officers and
two hundred men were taken prison
ers. Twenty stands of col0rs and i'm
mense stores Of provisions and am
munition fell into the yictors' hands.
1t seems almost incredible, but it is
nevertheless a we'll attested fact that
the Irish loss on that memorable day
was only seventy killed and two hum
dred wounded. So this was the way in
which 5000 Irishmen beat 10000 Brit
1shers on that memorable day in June,
on the banks of the laughing Oonagh
and the bright Blackwater.-united
Ireland.