St. Ruth's Fatal Gamble: The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland
In 1685, James, Duke of York, ascended to the thrones of England, Ireland, and Scotland. As the first catholic monarch in 150 years many believed that his reign would be short and that he would be succeeded by his eldest daughter Mary, a protestant, who was married to her cousin William, Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the United Dutch Provinces.

James’ close ties to King Louis XIV of France served to fuel the fires of discontent, and when a male heir was born in June 1688 a number of nobles and clergymen, fearing a backlash of Catholic absolutism, invited William of Orange to take the throne. William duly invaded, and after a desultory campaign, James fled the country for refuge in France, it being claimed that his flight constituted a legal abdication but while William sought to consolidate his position in England and Scotland, the Earl of Tyrconnell – James’ viceroy in Ireland – began to prepare for his master’s restoration.

Actively supported by King Louis XIV who viewed any military activity in Ireland as a useful diversion to keep his enemies occupied, James’ supporters enjoyed early success, but defeats at Newtownbutler, Derry and – above all – at the Boyne destroyed James’ confidence, and he fled his kingdoms for a second and final time. William’s army pursued the enemy to the gates of Limerick but failed to capture the city before winter set in, giving the Jacobites a much needed respite in which to reorganize and resupply themselves, during which time military supplies and a coterie of advisors led the by the Marquis de St Ruth, arrived from France.

After failing to halt the Williamite crossing of the Shannon in the summer of 1691, St. Ruth, running out of room in which to maneuver, elected to take up a defensive position and invite an enemy attack, occupying Kilcommadan Hill near the Galway village of Aughrim.

Although his own army was now at the end of a tenuous line of communication and supply, Godard van Reede, commanding the Williamite army, accepted the challenge and the two forces clashed on Sunday 12th July 1691.

The strength of the Jacobite position was such that their opponents could initially make no headway, but an unordered redeployment of troops opened up a dangerous gap in their lines and when St. Ruth attempted to correct the error he was killed by enemy cannon fire.
1127687164
St. Ruth's Fatal Gamble: The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland
In 1685, James, Duke of York, ascended to the thrones of England, Ireland, and Scotland. As the first catholic monarch in 150 years many believed that his reign would be short and that he would be succeeded by his eldest daughter Mary, a protestant, who was married to her cousin William, Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the United Dutch Provinces.

James’ close ties to King Louis XIV of France served to fuel the fires of discontent, and when a male heir was born in June 1688 a number of nobles and clergymen, fearing a backlash of Catholic absolutism, invited William of Orange to take the throne. William duly invaded, and after a desultory campaign, James fled the country for refuge in France, it being claimed that his flight constituted a legal abdication but while William sought to consolidate his position in England and Scotland, the Earl of Tyrconnell – James’ viceroy in Ireland – began to prepare for his master’s restoration.

Actively supported by King Louis XIV who viewed any military activity in Ireland as a useful diversion to keep his enemies occupied, James’ supporters enjoyed early success, but defeats at Newtownbutler, Derry and – above all – at the Boyne destroyed James’ confidence, and he fled his kingdoms for a second and final time. William’s army pursued the enemy to the gates of Limerick but failed to capture the city before winter set in, giving the Jacobites a much needed respite in which to reorganize and resupply themselves, during which time military supplies and a coterie of advisors led the by the Marquis de St Ruth, arrived from France.

After failing to halt the Williamite crossing of the Shannon in the summer of 1691, St. Ruth, running out of room in which to maneuver, elected to take up a defensive position and invite an enemy attack, occupying Kilcommadan Hill near the Galway village of Aughrim.

Although his own army was now at the end of a tenuous line of communication and supply, Godard van Reede, commanding the Williamite army, accepted the challenge and the two forces clashed on Sunday 12th July 1691.

The strength of the Jacobite position was such that their opponents could initially make no headway, but an unordered redeployment of troops opened up a dangerous gap in their lines and when St. Ruth attempted to correct the error he was killed by enemy cannon fire.
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St. Ruth's Fatal Gamble: The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland

St. Ruth's Fatal Gamble: The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland

by Michael McNally
St. Ruth's Fatal Gamble: The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland

St. Ruth's Fatal Gamble: The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland

by Michael McNally

Overview

In 1685, James, Duke of York, ascended to the thrones of England, Ireland, and Scotland. As the first catholic monarch in 150 years many believed that his reign would be short and that he would be succeeded by his eldest daughter Mary, a protestant, who was married to her cousin William, Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the United Dutch Provinces.

James’ close ties to King Louis XIV of France served to fuel the fires of discontent, and when a male heir was born in June 1688 a number of nobles and clergymen, fearing a backlash of Catholic absolutism, invited William of Orange to take the throne. William duly invaded, and after a desultory campaign, James fled the country for refuge in France, it being claimed that his flight constituted a legal abdication but while William sought to consolidate his position in England and Scotland, the Earl of Tyrconnell – James’ viceroy in Ireland – began to prepare for his master’s restoration.

Actively supported by King Louis XIV who viewed any military activity in Ireland as a useful diversion to keep his enemies occupied, James’ supporters enjoyed early success, but defeats at Newtownbutler, Derry and – above all – at the Boyne destroyed James’ confidence, and he fled his kingdoms for a second and final time. William’s army pursued the enemy to the gates of Limerick but failed to capture the city before winter set in, giving the Jacobites a much needed respite in which to reorganize and resupply themselves, during which time military supplies and a coterie of advisors led the by the Marquis de St Ruth, arrived from France.

After failing to halt the Williamite crossing of the Shannon in the summer of 1691, St. Ruth, running out of room in which to maneuver, elected to take up a defensive position and invite an enemy attack, occupying Kilcommadan Hill near the Galway village of Aughrim.

Although his own army was now at the end of a tenuous line of communication and supply, Godard van Reede, commanding the Williamite army, accepted the challenge and the two forces clashed on Sunday 12th July 1691.

The strength of the Jacobite position was such that their opponents could initially make no headway, but an unordered redeployment of troops opened up a dangerous gap in their lines and when St. Ruth attempted to correct the error he was killed by enemy cannon fire.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781913336066
Publisher: Helion and Company
Publication date: 06/02/2020
Series: Century of the Soldier
Pages: 312
Product dimensions: 6.75(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Michael McNally was born in London in 1964. An acknowledged expert on the Williamite War in Ireland, he has also written on diverse subjects such as the Battle of the Boyne, the Varusschlacht, Colditz Castle, the battles of Coronel, the Falklands, Ramillies and more recently Fontenoy. He also assisted with the research into US President Obama’s Irish heritage.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

List of Maps ix

Author's Note x

Foreword xi

Acknowledgements xiii

Introduction to the Second Edition xiv

Campaign Map xvi

1 A New Modelled Army 17

2 War for Ireland 30

3 Changes in Command (December 1690-March 1691) 43

4 An Army Reborn (March-June 1691) 53

5 The Captains Take the Field (May-June 1691) 62

6 A Challenge Accepted (1-11 July 1691) 87

7 Like Waves Upon The Shore (c.10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 12 July 1691) 95

8 To Grasp the Thorns of Victory (c.4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., 12 July 1691) 112

9 Aughrim of the Slaughter (c.6:30 p.m-Nightfall, 12 July 1691) 137

10 The Butcher's Bill 154

11 Preparations for a Siege 162

12 The Walls of Limerick 173

13 The Damnable Treaty 184

14 The Flight of the Geese 194

Envoi 202

Battlefield Maps 204

Appendices

I Bill of Lading from Nantes dated 10.03.91 210

II Bill of Lading from Nantes dated 13.03.91 211

III Letter from Bouridal to the Marquis de Louvois 31.03.1691 212

IV Letter from Bouridal to the Marquis de Louvois 09.04.1691 213

V Casualties amongst the Jacobite Officers at Aughrim 214

VI Letter from Felix O'Neill to Helena, Countess of Antrim 217

VII Articles for the Surrender of the City of Galway 219

VIII Letter from Fumeron to the Marquis de Louvois 24 July 1691 222

IX Contemporary Diary of the Siege of Limerick, 1691 224

X Jacob Richards' Diary of the Siege of Limerick, 1691 235

XI French Account of the Siege of Limerick 245

XII The Treaty of Limerick - The Civil Articles 252

XIII The Treaty of Limerick - Military Articles 255

XIV Military Supplies in Limerick Before and After the Siege 260

XV Jacobite Rank and File Electing to Serve in France 261

XVI Letter from Patrick Sarsfield to George Clarke 263

XVII Letter from Patrick Sarsfield to Lt General van Reede 264

XVIII Letter from Major General Wauchope to George Clarke 265

XIX Address of King James II to the Officers of the Irish Army 267

XX Order of Battle of the Jacobite Army in Exile Spring 1692 268

XXI The Jacobite Order of Battle at Aughrim 271

XXII The Williamite Order of Battle at Aughrim 273

Colour Plate Commentaries 277

Bibliography 285

Index 292

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