with the plain before them, were ordered to charge; but
they soon came upon the concealed pitfalls, horses fell,
riders were thrown, and confusion spread among the
squadron. Then it was O'Neil in turn gave the signal to
charge; himself led on the centre, O'Donnell the left,
and Maguire, famous for horsemanship, the Irish horse.
The overthrow of the English was complete, and the victory
most eventful. The Marshal, 23 superior officers, with
about 1,700 of the rank and file fell on the field, while
all the artillery baggage and 12 stand of colours were
taken: the Irish loss in killed and wounded did not
exceed 800 men. "It was a glorious victory for the
rebels," says the cotemporary English historian, Camden,
"and of special advantage: for hereby they got arms and
provisions, and Tyrone's name was cried up all over
Ireland as the author of their liberty." It may also be
added that it attracted renewed attention to the Irish
war at Paris, Madrid, and Rome, where the names of O'Neil
and O'Donnell were spoken of by all zealous Catholics
with enthusiastic admiration.

The battle was over by noon of the 15th of August; and
the only effort to arrest the flight of the survivors
was made by "the Queen's O'Reilly," who was slain in the
attempt. By one o'clock the remnant of the cavalry under
Montague were in full career for Dundalk, closely pressed
by the mounted men of O'Hanlon. During the ensuing week
the Blackwater fort capitulated; the Protestant garrison
of Armagh surrendered; and were allowed to march south,
leaving their arms and ammunition behind. The panic spread