Page "Battle of the Boyne" Paragraph 15

The battle itself was fought on 1 July for control of a ford on the Boyne near Drogheda, about NW of the hamlet of Oldbridge ( and about WNW of the modern Boyne River Bridge ).

William sent about a quarter of his men to cross the river at Roughgrange, about west of Donore and about SW of Oldbridge.

The Duke of Schomberg's son, Meinhardt, led this crossing, which Irish dragoons in picquet under Neil O ' Neill unsuccessfully opposed.

James, an inexperienced general, thought that he might be outflanked and sent half his troops, along with most of his artillery, to counter this move.

What neither side had realized was that there was a deep, swampy ravine at Roughgrange.

Because of this ravine, the opposing forces there could not engage each other, but literally sat out the battle.

The Williamite forces went on a long detour march which, later in the day, almost saw them cut off the Jacobite retreat at the village of Naul.