St. Ruth now ordered preparations to be made for an assault, and desired the ramparts on the Connaught side of the town to be levelled, that a whole battalion might enter abreast to relieve the garrison when it was assailed.  But the Governor, D’Usson, opposed the plan, and neglected the order.  All was now confusion in the camp.  There never had been any real head to the royalist party in Ireland; and to insure victory in battle, or success in any important enterprise where multitudes are concerned, it is absolutely essential that all should act with union of purpose.  Such union, where there are many men, and, consequently, many minds, can only be attained by the most absolute submission to one leader; and this leader, to obtain submission, should be either a lawfully constituted authority, or, in cases of emergency, one of those master-spirits to whom men bow with unquestioning submission, because of the majesty of intellect within them.  There were brave men and true men in that camp at Athlone, but there was not one who possessed these essential requisites.

According to the Williamite historian, Ginkell was informed by traitors of what was passing, and that the defences on the river side were guarded by two of the “most indifferent Irish regiments.”  He immediately chose 2,000 men for the assault, distributed a gratuity of guineas amongst them, and at a signal from the church bell, at six in the evening, on the 30th of June, the assault was made, and carried with such rapidity, that St. Ruth, who was with the cavalry at a distance, was not aware of what had happened until all was over.  St. Ruth at once removed his army to Ballinasloe, twelve miles from his former post, and subsequently to Aughrim.  Tyrconnel was obliged to leave the camp, the outcry against him became so general.

St. Ruth’s ground was well chosen.  He had placed his men upon an eminence, and each wing was protected by a morass or bog.  The Williamites came up on Sunday, July 11th, while the Irish were hearing Mass.  In this instance, as in so many others, it is impossible to ascertain correctly the numerical force of each army.  The historians on either side were naturally anxious to magnify the numbers of their opponents, and to lessen their own.  It is at least certain, that on this, as on other occasions, the Irish were miserably deficient in all the appliances of the art of war, while the English were admirably supplied.  The most probable estimate of the Irish force appears to be 15,000 horse and foot; and of the English 20,000.  Ginkell opened fire on the enemy as soon as his guns were planted.  Some trifling skirmishes followed.  A council of war was held, and the deliberation lasted until half-past four in the evening, at which time a general engagement was decided on.  A cannonade had been kept up on both sides, in which the English had immensely the advantage, St. Ruth’s excellently chosen position being almost useless for want of sufficient