144

their own country. Afterwards thinking that a coordinate command might be attended with many inconveniences, he recalled Roche from the fort; but the commissioners exclaiming against it as a breach of the articles of peace, and undertaking for his fidelity, notwithstanding the suspicions entertained of his conduct, and his own declarations that he could not defend the place, he was presently sent back to his command. It was easier to supply the fort with men than provisions; which were so scarce in the army, that the marquis of Ormond never could get forty-eight hours' provisions together at a time; and though he gave on this occasion all his own corn to be ground, to set an example to others, yet it was not so well followed as to deliver the army from that inconvenience. It may seem strange, that a place so near Waterford should be in danger of being lost for want of victuals and ammunition; yet this was really the case, nor could the earl of Castlehaven, with all his industry and credit, prevail with that city to supply the wants of the fort. They either were not sufficiently sensible of the importance of it for their own security, or they had resolved within themselves to submit upon the first summons to Cromwell; and it was not without difficulty that the lord lieutenant procured forty barrels of powder, and a sufficient quantity of provisions, to subsist the garrison and enable them to make a vigorous defence.

The citizens of Waterford were not the only persons affected with the terror of Cromwell's name; the commissioners of trust, astonished at the taking of Wexford, were on the point of deserting Kilkenny. Dr. Fennel was sent, whilst the lord lieutenant was on Oct. 17 at Waterford, to consult him on the subject of their removal. PHe, who thought himself concerned, not only in their safeties, but also in the decency of any action of theirs, 95 could not but dissuade them from such a resolution. He

represented to them, "that there was no occasion for any haste in the affair, since Ross was not yet taken; that if the place held out, it would be with so much dishonour and loss to the rebels as would secure Kilkenny, and that side of the Barrow, for that year at least; and if it were lost, it would still take them some time to pass from thence to Kilkenny, and in that time they might remove themselves, after having so prepared for their departure that there might appear in it nothing of confusion; that their removal would have the effect of a total discouragement to all in those parts, who would either bethink themselves of making timely conditions with the rebels, or else withdraw themselves and their substance, where neither would be of use for the support or countenance of the army; and that at the worst an hasty retreat could not be more unseemly than a too early one." By this representation, and what was urged in discourse with Dr. Fennel, they were reassured, and continued their residence at Kilkenny.

145

Cromwell's forces were not pleased with their winter campaign. The siege of Wexford had been very short; yet they complained already of hardships, and began to mutiny. To quiet them, he was forced to promise that the taking of Ross should be the last service he would put them on for that year, assuring them withal, that it would be delivered to him without any trouble. He marched from Wexford on the 15th with the gross of his army towards that place, sending a detachment at the same time to besiege Duncannon. The marquis of Ormond marched with his forces, much diminished by the loss of those cut off in Wexford and the desertion of all lord Inchiquin's foot, (who had run home into Munster,) and encamped over against Ross on the other side of the river. The governor came to his camp, and being supplied with all things necessary for his defence, desired an order under the lord lieutenant's hand for the defence

146

of the town as long as it was possible, and for the surrender of it, when it should be adjudged by a council of the chief officers to be indefensible. The council of war thought the request reasonable; the order was given; sir Luke returned to his garrison, and the marquis of Ormond went part of the way that night towards Kilkenny, in order to meet a party of Owen O'Neile's army, which was advancing thither under Hugh O'Neile. As he was on his journey, early the next morning (Oct. 22), he heard Cromwell's cannon, but had no apprehensions that the town would be so suddenly delivered, as it was, within twenty-four hours after the artillery began to play, upon condition that the garrison should march out with bag and baggage, and be ferried over into the county of Kilkenny.

Colonel Edward Wogan made a much braver defence in Duncannon; which place the lord lieutenant was confident would hold out, till general Ferral could join him with his Ulster foot, and put him in a condition of trying the fate of a battle, which it was resolved in a council of war to venture, rather than lose so considerable a place. With this view, and resolution to attempt the relief of Duncannon, all the foot were ordered to rendezvous at the pass of the Graig, six miles from Ross, and lord Inchiquin, being just returned from Munster, was ordered to repair to the quarters of the horse, and to march with them thither. The lord lieutenant stayed a few days longer in Kilkenny to make all possible provision for the subsistence of the army, now going to be increased by the Ulster forces. Before Ferral arrived, sir Luke Fitzgerald in a letter of Oct. 22 sent advice, that a party of one thousand two hundred foot and three hundred horse, which had been long expected by Cromwell, was to begin their march the next day from Dublin, and might easily be intercepted. Lord Inchiquin upon this intelligence represented that Cromwell could not stir from the county

where he was without that assistance, and it would be the 96 least hazardous way of ruining him to cut off that party; which he hoped to effect with all the horse, if his excellency approved of the enterprise. The marquis of Ormond was unwilling to defer the former resolution of attempting the relief of Duncannon, in regard Cromwell had begun to erect a bridge of boats at Ross to pass over all his army into the county of Kilkenny, and if the proposed enterprise miscarried, the ill success or ill consequences thereof would be still imputed to him by those who watched all opportunities to arraign his conduct. He went however to the Grange, six miles from Kilkenny, to confer with Inchiquin and the other general officers upon the subject, who thinking the enterprise feasible, and the commissioners of trust approving it, Inchiquin marched with all the horse and one thousand foot upon that expedition, the lord lieutenant during his absence remaining in the camp at the Graig, with great expectations of his success.

147

The design was not kept so secret but both Cromwell and the party from Dublin, which was strengthened by two troops of M. Jones's regiment under major Meredith and captain Otway, had intelligence thereof. This was one reason why those men after their long march from Dublin to Arcklow rested two days at this last place, to refresh themselves, and attend the more convenient meeting of a strong detachment of horse from the army, which was appointed to meet them at Glascarrig. This place lay in the midway between Arcklow and Wexford, and was intended for their quarters the night after their removal from Arcklow. But in their march all that day, having certain advice of the enemy's being in the country to attend them, and not meeting the horse as appointed, though the men were much tired, yet all the officers agreed it was best to march seven miles further before they rested; judging that thereby they should deceive

the enemy, whom by all their intelligence they conceived. to lie in some convenient place near enough to fall on their quarters the next morning. Upon this resolution the party made no stay at Glascarrig, but marched straight towards Wexford. Lord Inchiquin, who lay about two miles off, having notice hereof by his scouts, immediately pursued them with all his horse, and a few light foot, the rest being ordered to follow with what speed they could. There was a village in the way, at which the Dublin party intended to bait, the quarter-masters being sent before to take up the best conveniences. An halt being made on this occasion, several of the men fell asleep, which occasioned orders being sent to the officer who commanded in the rear to give a false alarm, the better to oblige the soldiers to march. This saved the whole party, that which was intended only for a false one proving fortunately a real alarm; for the officer charged with these orders, riding at some distance from his troop, and the moon shining very bright, espied the enemy marching after them in great bodies over the Strand. Inchiquin perceiving he had overtook their rear, which was all he intended to do till his foot came up, slackened his pace, and began to put his troops in order, being about three musket shot from the rebels. This afforded them time to recover from the distraction they were in at first, many of them taking no notice of the alarm, imagining it to be the false one. After a little time they got into some order; the horse being drawn up in six single divisions; one hundred and sixty musketeers placed on the flanks of the forward divisions of the horse, eighty on each flank; and the gross of the foot in the rear. This order they were constrained to use through the narrowness of the Strand, having on one hand a very steep and high sandbank, and on the other a flowing sea, which was much for their advantage; for though Inchiquin's horse were more in number, yet they could bring as many hands to fight, as he.