saw that something was wrong, and took instant advantage of it. Glad to escape from the encounter of the cavalry, he pushed towards the centre, where the battle had been suspended. His appearance upon that ground was taken by both British and Irish as a signal of victory. It was the natural conclusion, though a false one. They considered, no doubt, that he had fought and conquered his way; and could not know that his arrival there was only one of those chances of battle, that baffle all human calculation.

The infantry of the centre had caught some confused reports of a great calamity having happened on the left; and the appearance of Talmash made them conclude naturally enough that their left had been forced and beaten. Under this impression they fell back. Talmash called to the British infantry to advance. The column that was still unbroken on the edge of the bog moved forward and restored the battle. The soldiers of the centre division that had been dispersed were collected, and again crossed the bog. These were supported by several new battalions, which were now pushed across the

morass.

The Irish infantry continued to retreat, disputing bravely every inch of ground; but there was now no hope of restoring the battle. No one had assumed the command on the death of St. Ruth. The cavalry were still without orders;

and at length were compelled to follow the general movement of the army, and retreat. They rode off the ground in despair and indignation; for the confusion that now prevailed seemed past all cure. As night came on, the retreat of the Irish became a route. The infantry had learned the death of St. Ruth; and believing that they were abandoned by the cavalry, always the right arm of their force, they thought no longer of resistance. The cavalry however halted on the summit of Kilcomoden, to cover the retreat. The night put

an end to the pursuit.

The extraordinary circumstance of the Irish army being left totally without orders after the death of St. Ruth has never been explained.. The command should have devolved upon Sarsefield; but none of the accounts of this battle tell us of his appearance; and it seems doubtful whether he was at all in the field. He had been upon bad terms with St. Ruth since that general's arrival; and the Frenchman's misconduct at Athlone had given occasion for the slumbering disgust which existed between them to break out into open animosity. St. Ruth had not consulted Sarsefield upon his order of battle. He did not invite him to the council of war; and when the order was settled, he did not send it to him. It is, therefore, very probable that Sarsefield had no command assigned

mere circumstance of his being unacquainted with the order of battle would, at the period of St. Ruth's death, have been no material disadvantage; for it was apparent that he had but to beat the British cavalry under Talmash, and the battle was won; and Sarsfield, if he had been on the ground, would not have failed to have led his cavalry to the charge. But the dissension of these two commanders was necessary to the overthrow of the Irish; without this, the death of St. Ruth might not have sufficed.

Up to the death of St. Ruth, the loss of the British, in killed and wounded, had been very severe from this period their loss was trifling, and that of the Irish very great. The British counted over two thousand men killed and wounded, including seventy-three officers killed and one hundred and eleven wounded. The loss of the Irish was estimated by the British writers at seven thousand men, killed and wounded, including seventeen generals and colonels killed, and one hundred and four officers taken prisoners.

On the following day Ginckle encamped on the heights of Kilcomoden, and buried his dead. The slain of the Irish were left unburied on the field of battle, and were devoured by the wild dogs and the birds of prey. the inhabitants of the country, for some miles around, had removed from the vicinity of the British army.

All

CHAP. XIII.

SIEGE OF GALWAY.

GINCKLE was more active after the battle of Aughrim than William had been after the Boyne.

Detachments were immediately sent to summon Loughrea, Melick, Portumna, Banaher, and other small posts, while the terrible impression of the decisive victory at Aughrim was fresh upon them. And it is remarkable that, after such a victory, Ginckle should have granted the terms he did to those small places. They all surrendered to the British general on condition of "security for person and property; the inhabitants and civil authorities to remain unmolested; and the garrisons to march out with arms and baggage, and to be at liberty to proceed to Limerick or where else they might choose."

The garrison of Banaher alone, consisting of sixty men, agreed to lay down their arms, and to return to their homes. They were marched into the British camp, where they deposited their arms, and were presented with five shillings

mere circumstance of his being unacquainted with the order of battle would, at the period of St. Ruth's death, have been no material disadvantage; for it was apparent that he had but to beat the British cavalry under Talmash, and the battle was won; and Sarsfield, if he had been on the ground, would not have failed to have led his cavalry to the charge. But the dissension of these two commanders was necessary to the overthrow of the Irish; without this, the death of St. Ruth might not have sufficed.

Up to the death of St. Ruth, the loss of the British, in killed and wounded, had been very severe from this period their loss was trifling, and that of the Irish very great. The British counted over two thousand men killed and wounded, including seventy-three officers killed and one hundred and eleven wounded. The loss of the Irish was estimated by the British writers at seven thousand men, killed and wounded, including seventeen generals and colonels killed, and one hundred and four officers taken prisoners.

On the following day Ginckle encamped on the heights of Kilcomoden, and buried his dead. The slain of the Irish were left unburied on the field of battle, and were devoured by the wild dogs and the birds of prey. All the inhabitants of the country, for some miles around, had removed from the vicinity of the British army.