Here shouts of "Vive le Roy," and of "God save King James," from the French, English, and Irish troops of the king, rent the air with loud and tumultuous huzzas; which bursting over the heights of Donore, were re-echoed by the waters of the Boyne below, and wafted to the camp of the Prince of Orange.
Meanwhile, in the camp of King James, the Duke of Tyrconnel was every where to be seen galloping from post to piquét. He ordered each soldier to wear in his cap a small cockade of white paper upon the ensuing day of battle, that in the heat of the engagement they might thence distinguish each other from their foes.[61]
"The watch-word of to-night," said the duke, as he rode along the camp, addressing himself to the officers, "be 'Eblana;' and our gallant war-cry on the morrow let it be—'James and Victory!'"
Here the whole army rent the air with shouts of applause; while Tyrconnel retired to his tent, impatiently awaiting the dawn of day.
From the moment of the arrival of the Prince of Orange in Ireland he had taken every pains, and had used every art, to inspire his army with confidence, and to ingratiate himself in their favour and love.[62] All the arts of a general and of a man of sense he put in practice to draw the attention of his soldiers from the misfortunes of the last year in Ireland, and from the danger of the present. The day upon which all his troops from different quarters met and united with him: he then ordered the whole army to pass him, and thus threw a march into a review. Instead of keeping one station, he rode in among the regiments so soon as they appeared, to encourage the soldiers, and to satisfy himself of the state of every regiment. An order having been brought him to affix his signature for wine for his table, the prince said aloud:—"No, I will drink water with my soldiers!" He slept every night in camp, and was throughout the day on horseback; he flew from place to place to survey the army, or the country, intrusting nothing to others. While at one time he brought up the rere with an anxiety which fully engaged the affections of the soldiers; at another with a spirit which inflamed them, he was the foremost in advanced parties if danger seemed to threaten, or that the object to be known was of importance.[63]
But it is now full time that we should attend in the camp of the Prince of Orange, and take a cursory view of some of the principal events of the remarkable 30th day of June, and notice his force, the occurrences of this day, and his preparations for the approaching battle.
At break of day the Prince of Orange, upon the 30th of June, being informed that the army of King James had repassed the Boyne, ordered his whole army to move forward at that early hour, in three lines, towards the river, which was distant from them about three miles. The advanced guards of horse commanded by Sir John Lanier; the Brandenburghers by Colonel Sir David Bruce. They moved onward in very good order, and by nine o'clock were within two miles of Drogheda. The Prince of Orange, who marched in front of them, observing that there was a hill to the east of the enemy, and to the north from the town, he rode instantly thither to inspect their camp, which he found to be stationed along the river in two parallel lines.[64]
Here different observations were made as to the force and numbers of the enemy by Prince George of Denmark, the Dukes of Schomberg and Ormond, and other generals. Amongst them General Scravenmore appeared to despise their numbers, observing, at the same time, that they were but a handful of men, for he could not reckon above forty-six battalions that were then encamped.
But both the Prince of Orange and Prince George replied, that they might have a great many men in the town; and that there was also a hill to the south-east, beyond which part of their army might be encamped.
"However," rejoined the Prince of Orange, "we shall soon be better acquainted with their numbers—