the estuary of the Laggan. According to the loyal veteran’s arrangements, guns were fired from post to post on the road, as the carriage came in sight, until the Castle of Belfast in its turn fired a royal salute, and His Majesty arrived in the town. There on Sunday, the 15th, the king’s chaplain, Dr. Royse, preached before the Court and staff on the text, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms” (Hebrews xi. 33). Schomberg introduced Dr. Walker, minister and one of the Governors of Derry, at the head of a Protestant deputation.
The army was assembled at Loughbrickland. On the 24th of June, the march southward commenced. The king, who by letter had twice pressed Schomberg to fight the enemy during the last campaign, was determined to give battle without delay, and in a way that should astound the natives, and create a sensation among all the newsmongers of the three kingdoms. But it must be remembered that His Majesty was at the head of a finer army, superior both in numbers and discipline, a large portion of whom had been entirely trained by the Duke of Schomberg, and kept together by that Duke’s money.[1]
When on the 30th June they came in sight of the valley of the Boyne, the army halted. The enemy were on the opposite side of the stream. William resolved to make Oldbridge, on the banks of the river, his centre, and to charge straight forward through the water upon the enemy, and to do so the very next day. At first the Duke of Schomberg, at a council held at nine o’clock at night, opposed such precipitation; but, submitting to the King’s wishes, he made this suggestion: “Send part of the army, both horse and foot, this very night towards Slane Bridge, and so get between the enemy and the Pass of Duleek.” The suggestion was favourably received, but was rejected by a majority of votes, whereupon the Duke retired to his tent. The order of battle was sent to him soon afterwards, and, with some tokens of vexation, he remarked: “This is the first time an order of battle was sent to me.” The next morning, however, he entered upon his command, as second to the King, with great vivacity, and conspicuously displaying his blue ribbon of the Order of the Garter. It might, however, have been guessed, that if he could only see his master victorious, he would choose to die in the battle, suspecting, as he did, that some of his comrades were bent on destroying his influence with his prince.
Schomberg gave the word of command. The cavalry plunged into the water. To the left the Marquis de Ruvigny’s younger son, Lord de la Caillemotte, led on the Huguenot infantry. It was some time before the enemy could face the English and Dutch cavalry. When at last the Irish cavalry charged, they made their strongest effort against the Huguenot line, which had not been provided with defensive weapons of sufficient length. The gallant Le Caillemotte was carried off mortally wounded, and, at the same time, encouraging his men who were wading through water that reached to their breasts. And now (to borrow Lord Macaulay’s description) “Schomberg, who had remained on the northern bank, and who had watched the progress of his troops with the eye of a general, thought that the emergency required from him the personal exertion of a soldier. Those who stood about him besought him in vain to put on his cuirass. Without defensive armour he rode through the river, and rallied the refugees whom the fall of Caillemotte had dismayed. ‘Come on,’ he said in French, pointing to the Popish squadrons; ‘come on, gentlemen, there are your persecutors.’ [Allons, messieurs, voila vos persecuteurs.][2] These were his last words. As he spoke, a band of Irish horse rushed upon him, and encircled him for a moment. When they retired he was on the ground. His friends raised him, but he was already a corpse. Two sabre wounds were on his head, and a bullet from a carbine was lodged in his neck.”
The body of Schomberg was embalmed an put in a leaden coffin. The preparations for embalming were equivalent to a post mortem examination, and they proved him to be in perfect health and soundness, like a man in his bodily prime. It was announced that he would be buried in Westminster Abbey, but after the victory of the Boyne, Dublin, having been evacuated by James, and receiving William peaceably and loyally, had the honour of enshrining the hero’s ashes. He was buried beneath the altar in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
- ↑ Although Schomberg’s strategy was apparently eclipsed by the king’s system of dash and risk, yet in the following three particulars the great general’s memory was vindicated:—
(1.) As to the notion that the Irish were contemptible foes, over whom victory might be obtained by one impetuous rush. The king’s rush upon Limerick failed.
(2.) As to his reports against English officers intent upon plunder only. An officer had been warned of the secret sortie out of Limerick of the detachment which intercepted and destroyed the king’s siege train of artillery, but did not attend to the warning, because he was engrossed with securing some cattle as booty.
(3.) Count Solmes was Schomberg’s favoured rival for the chief command. Schomberg thought him unfit for the command of a division. In 1692 the battle of Steenkerk justified Schomberg’s estimation of him.
- ↑ Colonel Barré, M.P., quoted the words thus:— “Au devoir, mes enfants; voila vos ennemis.”
