Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Diary of Bonnivert, 1690 (Author: Gédéon Bonnivert)
entry 7
Thursday, the 26th of June, we marched at two of the clock in the morning, and went over the high hills to Newry. It is not to be imagined how strong naturally many passages are that way; and besides that, many strong though small forts made by King James, which made me admire many
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times what should have made him quit those passages,26 which might have ruined most part of our army with the loss but of few of his own. That day was the first of my seeing the King riding in Irish Land, and he had then on an orange colour sash. We crossed the river at Newry, which was formerly a strong place, but now burnt and destroyed, and encamped upon the side of a hill, where water was very scarce. We left Dundalk on our left hand — it stands by the sea, and we encamped in very rugged ground. There, as soon as we had order to dismount, I left my horse to shift for himself, and I, tired with heat and want of drink, fell fast asleep for the space of four hours. Awaked as I was afterwards, I looked for my horse, but no horse to be found— in short, I went up and down for about four hours longer ere I could hear any tidings of him. Night was approaching; we were nigh the enemy, and were looking every minute to be commanded to horse, but being in this agony, as God would have it, I spied, upon the side of a bank, my saddle all in pieces. I soon after found my gentleman too, but, however, it was not without great trouble. Therefore, I advise all horsemen in such case never to part with his horse, but if he falls asleep tie the reins fast to his arm. The Inniskilling Dragoons came there to us. They are but middle-sized men, but they are, nevertheless, brave fellows. I have seen 'em, like masty dogs, run against bullets.27