The cavalry charged down upon them, broke
and scattered them, and drove them into the morass, followed by the Irish
infantry, who were better acquainted with the ground, and more accustomed
to traversing bogs. The soldiers were driven into the deepest and most
difficult portion of the morass, and a great slaughter took place.

The British artillery were planted on the edge of the morass, but so
mingled were the two parties that they were unable to fire. Great numbers
of the English were killed. Colonels Earl and Herbert, with many officers
and men, were taken prisoners, and the remnant of the British were driven
completely across the bog, to the shelter of their own cannon.

While this was passing in the centre, another division of Ginckle's army,
consisting of English and French infantry, had crossed the bog by a
passage more to the right. They also had met with no opposition in
passing, and it was only when they reached the hedges, on the firm
ground, that the Irish showed themselves, fired, and retreated. This
division, more cautious than that of Earl, could not be tempted to
pursue, but contented themselves with maintaining their ground under a
heavy fire, awaiting anxiously the arrival of the British horse. They
could see, however, no sign of them, but could perceive the Irish cavalry
descending in large masses, preparing to charge, while the infantry were
forming for an advance.

So far the Irish had been successful at every point. They had repulsed
every attack made by the British left; had crushed the brigade, composed
of the flower of the British infantry, which had assaulted the centre;
and were now preparing to destroy the division which stood, unsupported,
on their side of the bog.

At this moment, a tumult was heard on the left wing of the Irish, the
direction from which the British division expected relief, and the Irish,
aware of the importance of the pass of Aughrim, suspended their attack to
await the events there.

Saint Ruth had directed the operations of the battle with as much skill
as he had prepared for the assault. He had taken up his position on a
point of the hill whence he had a complete view of the whole field of
battle, and had moved his troops, with calmness and judgment, to meet
each of the attacks made upon them; and when he saw the destruction of
the English regiment in the centre, he exclaimed, in the full confidence
of victory, "Now I will drive the English to the walls of Dublin!