597:
four hundred pounds of gunpowder exploded in the
English central position, killing and wounding scores and shrouding the hill in a thick cloud of smoke. This disaster within the English ranks only encouraged the Irish to redouble their attacks. With little option, Wingfield ordered a retreat to Armagh. But the commander of the English rear either did not get the command or refused to obey it, or was unable to make an orderly retreat and instead launched a foolhardy second counterattack across the trench. O'Neill quickly crushed Cosby's attack. Only quick action by Wingfield and the English horse saved 500 men from the slaughter, but Cosby was taken prisoner by O'Neill's men.
556:
39:
427:. O'Neill's forces divided the English column and a large earthwork stalled its advance. Bagenal was killed by an Irish musketeer, and scores of his men were killed and wounded when the English gunpowder wagon exploded. About 1,500 of the English army were killed and 300 deserted. After the battle, the Blackwater Fort surrendered to O'Neill. The battle marked an escalation in the war, as the English Crown greatly bolstered its military forces in Ireland, and many Irish lords who had been neutral joined O'Neill's alliance.
610:
Armagh were besieged. The
English cavalry broke out and rode south, escaping the Irish. After three days of negotiation, it was agreed that the English Crown troops could leave Armagh as long as they left their arms and ammunition behind and that the garrison of the Blackwater Fort surrendered. The most badly wounded English soldiers were left in Armagh Cathedral, many with severe burns suffered in the gunpowder explosion, but O'Neill agreed to tend to them and have them transported to Newry when they were fit to travel.
593:. The trench had cut off Percy's men from their cavalry. Moreover, it hindered the English infantry's retreat as "falling over one another they filled the dyke and were trodden down where they fell". Marshal Bagenal led his men forward to help the shattered infantry, but as he descended the hill towards the trench he was shot through the head and killed. The English counter-attack continued but it was badly mauled by O'Neill, sending them spilling back over the trench.
542:, which was a lighter and more portable version of the musket. These were supported by pikemen, and targeteers; Gaelic soldiers with sword and buckler who'd been trained by Spanish advisors, gave close protection to Tyrone's skirmishers. O'Neill had several English and Spanish military advisors in his pay, as well as many Irish officers with experience in mainland Europe, who trained his troops in the use of modern weaponry. However, his army was not the same as the
568:
column as it crossed the River Callan. As the lead regiment pressed on, led by Sir
Richard Percy, dangerous gaps began to separate the English infantry. It was later remarked that the leading English troops marched as if they had "won the goal in a match at football". As Percy pushed further he crossed a boggy
589:
O'Neill's shot to rake the compact body of troops with close-range gunfire, and his horse and swordsmen started to open gaps in the pike defence. Under severe pressure, Bagenal ordered Percy to retreat back over the trench, but this could not be done in an orderly way and the lead
English regiment was
567:
army was made up of six regiments—two forward, two centre, and two rear, and with cavalry at centre. As soon as it left Armagh, it was harried with gunfire from Irish troops hidden in scrubland on both flanks of the column. While fire poured in from the sides, no resistance was met at the head of the
584:
under
Captains Turner and Leigh. The trench was not defended and O'Neill made no effort to stop them. Reaching the top of the third hill (Mullyleggan), Percy could see the Blackwater Fort. The beleaguered garrison could see their relief and threw their caps in the air "hoping to have a better supper
596:
Thomas Maria
Wingfield took over command of the English army. Matters went from bad to worse, as an English soldier attempted to refill his supply of gunpowder straight from the powder store in the supply train. Thrusting his hand into the powder, he still had his lit match from his firearm. Two to
579:
Percy's regiment climbed a second hill (Drumcullen), where he found a mile-long earthen trench and bank cutting across their line of advance. The trench was five-foot deep, the bank five-foot high and crested with thorns. Harried by gunfire from his flanks, Percy took his regiment down the hill and
600:
The rest of the
English Crown forces struggled back to Armagh. The Irish moved to cut off the English retreat at the River Callan, but point-blank fire from the English column's remaining cannon halted the Irish advance. Finally, the shattered English force caught a break, as Irish fire slackened.
489:
and was made up of woodland, bog and some fields. In Armagh, Bagenal was aware that the five miles to the besieged fort was laced with ambush positions, but believed his army could handle the hit-and-run tactics and that he would win any pitched battle. With the main road blocked, Bagenal chose to
546:
deployed by the
English. O'Neill developed a hybrid army which maximised his infantry's firepower while maintaining the key Irish advantage of mobility. The earl had less success modernising his cavalry, who carried their spears over-arm, either thrusting or throwing them at close quarters in the
609:
About 1,500 of the
English Crown forces were killed. This included 18 "captains" or officers killed. Three hundred soldiers deserted to the Irish alliance, including two Englishmen. Out of 4,000 soldiers who had set out from Armagh, just over 2,000 returned after the battle. Those who did reach
535:. This was not recognised within the East Breifne and Maelmora had no authority there as it had risen up in rebellion. Maelmora was the eldest son of Sir John O'Reilly, Lord of East Breifne, who had died fighting against the English in 1596. Maelmora was slain in the battle of the Yellow Ford.
588:
The rear
English regiments under Captains Cuney and Billing had been halted crossing the River Callan and the rest of the English army had stalled on Drumcullen hill. O'Neill sent more troops to attack Percy's men, forcing the English musketeers to withdraw into their pike stand. This allowed
455:
to it. In 1598, with the besieged garrison running low on supplies, the English government debated whether to abandon the fort, as it was too far into O'Neill's home territory to be sustainable. It was six and a half miles from the O'Neill stronghold of
601:
The Irish shot had exhausted their immediate supply of gunpowder. Captain Cuney later noted that if O'Neill's pike had come on as his shot, none of his men would have survived. After recrossing the River Callan, the English army returned to Armagh.
519:. Standard formation when marching through hostile territory was musketeers in outside columns, able to fire out, and pikemen on the inside able to relieve the musketeers in the event of a sustained charge against the column. Bagenal also had 350
616:
After the battle, the English Crown swiftly and greatly bolstered its military forces in Ireland. Many Irish lords who had been neutral undertook to join O'Neill's alliance. Thus, the overall outcome of the battle was an escalation of the war.
572:, the 'Yellow Ford' from which the battle takes its name. It was an area of raised ground allowing access across the bog to the hills ahead. Bagenal's following regiment lagged behind, burdened with supplies and artillery, one of which was a
473:, requesting of him to come to his assistance against this overwhelming force of foreigners who were coming to his country. O'Donnell proceeded immediately, with all his warriors, both infantry and cavalry, and a strong body of forces from
506:
for a decade (beginning in 1587 as his father's deputy), gaining extensive experience fighting against the Maguires and other Irish lords. He had a bitter grudge against O'Neill, who some years earlier had eloped with his sister
477:, to assist his ally against those who were marching upon him. The Irish of all the province of Ulster also joined the same army, so that they were all prepared to meet the English before they arrived at Armagh".
480:
Bagenal's army marched from Dublin to Armagh. Meanwhile, O'Neill's troops had dug trenches in the countryside between Armagh and the Blackwater fort, blocked the roads with felled trees, and set up brushwood
708:"'Their skill and practise therein far exceeding their wonted usage': the Irish military revolution, 1593–1603". James O'Neill. Ch. 14 in Eve Campbell, Elizabeth FitzPatrick and Audrey Horning (eds),
242:
76:
992:
538:
The strength of O'Neill's army is estimated to have been 5,000. O'Neill's army was unlike earlier Irish armies, as possibly 80% of his men were armed with
613:
According to the English, 200 to 300 of O'Neill's army were killed, though that is likely to be an overestimate to mitigate the scale of the disaster.
576:(a cannon weighing 2,500–3,000 pounds) drawn by oxen. It was getting bogged down "every ten score end" and eventually got stuck and was abandoned.
235:
511:. He was familiar with the territory. He commanded 3,500 footsoldiers. Bagenal's footsoldiers were armed with the standard weapons of the day:
369:
38:
527:. The cavalry were commanded by Sir Calithenese Brooke. A troop of cavalry was commanded by Maelmora O'Reilly, who was deemed to be lord of
1002:
228:
853:
810:
666:
1022:
460:. Sir Henry Bagenal argued the fort should be re-supplied, and in early August 1598 was appointed to lead the expedition.
997:
440:
278:
185:
664:, a report dated 16 August 1598. For other contemporaneous reports giving numbers in the range 3,000 to 4,000 see
448:
420:
177:
298:
283:
1012:
469:: "When O'Neill had received intelligence that this great army was approaching him, he sent his messengers to
388:
252:
1017:
910:
James O'Neill, 'Like sheep to the shambles? Slaughter and surrender during Tyrone's Rebellion 1593–1603',
273:
1007:
482:
465:
308:
293:
636:
987:
30:
697:
851:
The 200 to 300 figure is the estimate of Lieutenant William Taaffe, reported on 16 Aug 1598. See
436:
555:
470:
343:
318:
313:
181:
710:
Becoming and Belonging in Ireland AD c. 1200–1600: Essays in identity and cultural practice
641:
358:
323:
288:
808:
For many contemporaneous sources about the numbers killed, some of them inconsistent, see
8:
950:"Like sheep to the shambles: Slaughter and surrender during Tyrone's Rebellion 1593–1603"
860:
817:
673:
392:
132:
126:
532:
328:
268:
896:
James O'Neill, 'The cockpit of Ulster: war along the River Blackwater, 15693–1603',
220:
626:
338:
333:
168:
155:
569:
353:
348:
854:"O Estado Que Nunca Foi: Guerra e a Formação do Estado na Irlanda do Século XVI"
811:"O Estado Que Nunca Foi: Guerra e a Formação do Estado na Irlanda do Século XVI"
667:"O Estado Que Nunca Foi: Guerra e a Formação do Estado na Irlanda do Século XVI"
573:
416:
404:
139:
69:
424:
981:
941:"Bad result for the away side: The Battle of the Yellow Ford, 14 August 1598"
559:
Last vestiges of the scrub woodland which flanked the Yellow Ford battlefield
543:
512:
508:
396:
384:
151:
91:
78:
905:
The Nine Years War, 1593–1603: O'Neill, Mountjoy and the military revolution
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528:
491:
631:
698:
Hibernian Magazine, Volume 2, 1861 – The O'Reillys at Home and Abroad
564:
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962:
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940:
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than the dinner they had that day". But their hopes were stillborn.
842:
O'Neill, 'Like sheep to the shambles', Irish Sword, no. 126, p. 376
486:
474:
400:
963:"The cockpit of Ulster: war along the River Blackwater 1593–1603"
539:
520:
516:
926:
Dúiche Néill: Journal of the O'Neill Country Historical Society
503:
444:
443:
five miles northwest of the English government's garrison town
408:
65:
502:
Bagenal was the English army commander in chief (marshal) of
452:
924:
John McGurk, 'The Battle of the Yellow Ford, August 1598',
590:
412:
43:
View along the Yellow Ford battlefield looking north-west
660:
The number 3,500 comes from Captain Charles Montague's
250:
979:
490:march along a series of low hills and cross the
439:, Thomas Burgh, built a new fort on the river
236:
16:Part of the Nine Years' War in Ireland (1598)
960:
947:
938:
243:
229:
37:
993:Battles of the Nine Years' War (Ireland)
554:
980:
914:, vol. 31, no. 126 (2018), pp 366–80.
224:
13:
497:
411:to the Blackwater, the column was
14:
1034:
1003:Military history of County Armagh
967:The Ulster Journal of Archaeology
939:O'Neill, James (14 August 2016).
932:
485:. The countryside was hilly with
662:Report of the Accident at Armagh
961:O'Neill, James (January 2013).
900:, vol. 72 (2013–14), pp 184–99.
845:
836:
802:
789:
948:O'Neill, James (August 2018).
776:
763:
750:
741:
728:
715:
702:
691:
654:
580:over the blockade, led by the
387:on 14 August 1598, during the
1:
1023:16th century in County Armagh
898:Ulster Journal of Archaeology
797:The Nine Years War, 1593–1603
723:The Nine Years War, 1593–1603
647:
550:
430:
604:
449:Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone
395:army of about 4,000, led by
7:
620:
447:. Soon after it was built,
10:
1039:
928:, no. 11 (1997), pp 34–55.
883:
466:Annals of the Four Masters
294:Dublin gunpowder explosion
998:Battles involving England
956:– via academia.edu.
943:– via academia.edu.
712:(Cork, 2018), pp. 293–312
637:Tudor conquest of Ireland
381:Battle of the Yellow Ford
367:
264:
204:
191:
145:
119:
47:
36:
28:
24:Battle of the Yellow Ford
23:
403:to relieve the besieged
919:The Flight of the Earls
167:Maelmora O'Reilly
560:
523:and several pieces of
437:Lord Deputy of Ireland
146:Commanders and leaders
558:
435:In 1597, the English
205:Casualties and losses
642:Battle of Glenmalure
279:Ford of the Biscuits
866:on 18 December 2008
823:on 18 December 2008
747:CSPI 1598–9, p. 237
679:on 18 December 2008
88: /
889:G.A. Hayes McCoy,
736:The Nine Years War
561:
163:Calisthenes Brooke
1013:O'Donnell dynasty
1008:Conflicts in 1598
893:, Belfast, 1990.
547:traditional way.
533:Queen Elizabeth I
463:According to the
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219:
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115:
114:
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974:
957:
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859:. Archived from
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816:. Archived from
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627:Siege of Kinsale
407:. Marching from
399:, was sent from
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988:1598 in Ireland
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921:, Dublin 2002.
917:John McCavitt,
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498:Opposing forces
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405:Blackwater Fort
391:in Ireland. An
389:Nine Years' War
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833:, chapter VI.
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210:~1,500 killed
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868:. Retrieved
861:the original
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825:. Retrieved
818:the original
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783:
778:
770:
765:
757:
752:
743:
735:
730:
725:, Chapter 7.
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681:. Retrieved
674:the original
661:
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612:
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582:forlorn hope
578:
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529:East Breifne
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492:River Callan
479:
464:
462:
434:
421:Hugh O'Neill
417:Gaelic Irish
380:
378:
370:Participants
314:Cahir Castle
303:
274:Enniskillen
186:Hugh Maguire
178:Hugh O'Neill
170:
157:
125:
120:Belligerents
29:Part of the
18:
912:Irish Sword
876:, page 351.
870:18 November
827:18 November
760:, pp. 75–76
683:18 November
632:Gallowglass
483:breastworks
419:army under
344:Castlehaven
319:Curlew Pass
304:Yellow Ford
95: /
982:Categories
973:: 184–199.
648:References
551:The battle
441:Blackwater
431:Background
324:Moyry Pass
289:Clontibret
80:54°24′04″N
795:O'Neill,
769:O'Neill,
756:O'Neill,
734:O'Neill,
721:O'Neill,
605:Aftermath
525:artillery
471:O'Donnell
458:Dungannon
359:Dungannon
258:(Ireland)
133:Loyalists
83:6°41′10″W
72:, Ireland
799:, p. 77.
621:See also
540:calivers
487:drumlins
475:Connacht
401:the Pale
192:Strength
64:between
60:Location
884:Sources
773:, p. 76
738:, p. 75
521:cavalry
517:muskets
451:, laid
393:English
339:Kinsale
334:Donegal
329:Lifford
269:Belleek
171:†
158:†
127:England
591:routed
504:Ulster
445:Armagh
425:Tyrone
413:routed
409:Armagh
354:Dursey
349:Dunboy
200:~5,000
197:~4,000
154:
108:Result
66:Armagh
864:(PDF)
857:(PDF)
821:(PDF)
814:(PDF)
677:(PDF)
670:(PDF)
574:saker
513:pikes
509:Mabel
453:siege
415:by a
872:2008
829:2008
685:2008
570:ford
563:The
515:and
379:The
215:~low
68:and
52:Date
531:by
423:of
984::
971:72
969:.
965:.
952:.
494:.
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831:.
687:.
244:e
237:t
230:v
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