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In the beginning of June, A.D. 1646,
Owen Roe O'Neill marched against Monroe, with 5,000 foot and 500
horse. Monroe received notice of his approach; and although his
force was far superior to O'Neill's, he sent for reinforcements
of cavalry from his brother, Colonel George Monroe, who was stationed
at Coleraine. But the Irish forces advanced more quickly than he
expected; and on the 4th of June they had crossed the Blackwater,
and encamped at Benburb. O'Neill selected his position admirably.
He encamped between two small hills, with a wood in his rear. The
river Blackwater protected him on the right, and an impassable bog
on the left. Some brushwood in the front enabled him to conceal
a party of musketeers; he was also well-informed of Monroe's movements,
and took precautions to prevent the advance of his brother's forces.
Monroe crossed the river at Kinard, at a considerable distance in
the rear of his opponent, and then advanced, by a circuitous march,
from the east and north. The approach was anticipated; and, on the
5th of June, 1646, the most magnificent victory ever recorded in
the annals of Irish history was won.
The Irish army prepared for the great day with solemn religious
observances. The whole army approached the sacraments of penance
and holy communion, and thus were prepared alike for death or victory.
The chaplain deputed by the Nuncio addressed them briefly, and appealed
to their religious feelings; their General, Owen Roe, appealed to
their nationality. How deeply outraged they had been, both in their
religion and in their national feelings, has been already mentioned;
how they fought for their altars and their domestic hearths will
now be recorded.
O'Neill's skill as a military tactician is beyond all praise. For
four long hours he engaged the attention of the enemy, until the
glare of the burning summer sun had passed away, and until he had
intercepted the reinforcements which Monroe expected. At last the
decisive moment had arrived. Monroe thought he saw his brother's
contingent in the distance; O'Neill knew that they were some of
his own men who had beaten that very contingent. When the Scotch
general was undeceived, he resolved to retire. O'Neill saw his advantage,
and gave the command to charge. With one loud cry of vengeance for
desecrated altars and desolated homes, the Irish soldiers dashed
to the charge, and Monroe's ranks were broken, and his men driven
to flight. Even the General himself fled so precipitately, that
he left his hat, sword, and cloak after him, and never halted until
he reached Lisburn. Lord Montgomery was taken prisoner, and 3,000
of the Scotch were left on the field. Of the Irish only seventy
men were killed, and 200 wounded.
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