Ormond now pressed the siege of Dublin with hopes of its speedy surrender ; but these hopes were utterly dissi pated by the arrival from England of a reinforcement to the garrison of 2000 infantry and 600 cavalry, and the intel ligence that Cromwell was about to land in the south of Ireland. Much difference of opinion existed in a council of war summoned on this occasion. Inchiquin was sent into the south with part of the forces ; but in what manner to carry on the siege with diminished forces, was a matter of serious consideration, and no small difficulty. At length it was resolved to seize the castle of Baggatrath, by which means the enemy's cavalry would be excluded from their only pastures, and means might be taken to stop up the port of Dublin.
For this purpose a detachment was sent off, but it was led astray by the treachery of the guide ; and Ormond found himself under the necessity of hazarding an engage ment. Before, however, he had commenced the attack, his army was itself suddenly attacked, and thrown into ut ter confusion, by Jones. Eighteen hundred prisoners were taken, and 600 men were slain, Ormond himself retiring to Kilkenny with the remains of his army.
As some counterbalance to this misfortune he received overtures from O'Neil, which being accepted, and that leader having joined him with 6000 foot and 500 cavalry, Ormond resolved to make another attempt against the capi tal. Scarcely, however, had he formed this plan, when he learned that Cromwell had landed in Dublin, with 8000 in fantry, 4000 cavalry, a formidable train of artillery, and every thing else necessary to carry on the war with vigour, promptitude and effect. The first effort of Cromwell was the reduction of Drogheda ; in it Ormond placed a chosen garrison of upwards of 2000 men, commanded by a Catho lic, on whose bravery and skill he placed the utmost confi dence. As it was the grand purpose of Cromwell to strike terror into his opponents by the boldness and rapidity of his operations, he issued orders to take the town by assault, and though the garrison resisted with the most determined bravery, and twice repulsed the assailants, yet they could not stand the third attack, at the head of which Cromwell placed himself. The town was taken by storm, and the garrison and Roman Catholic priests found in it, were put to the sword. Losing no time in reaping the advantages of success and of the dismay which it had created, he took Trim and Dundalk without opposition ; and while he him self marched towards the south, the whole of the north, except the castle of Carrickfergus, submitted to his au thority.
Cromwell having reduced Wexford, notwithstanding Or mond had thrown a garrison into it, pursued that general, who had retired to Ross, and afterwards having crossed the Barrow, compelled him to retreat further to Kilkenny. In
deed Ormond, unless reinforced, was utterly incapable of standing against Cromwell ; and the only source from which he could look for reinforcements was by an agreement with O'Neil. This general was himself dangerously ill ; but having come to an accommodation with Ormond, he sent his army, consisting of a very large body of troops, to join him. Ormond immediately resolved to give battle to Cromwell, but the latter had proceeded to Waterford, which he was besieging. Into this place Ormond threw reinforcements, but a detachment front his army having lad ed in their attempt to reduce Carrick on the Suir, he did not deem It prudent to attack Cromwell.
Hat ing received intelligence, however, from the inhabi units at Waterford, that they could no longer hold out, he resolved, at all hazards, to attempt their relief ; and he sue ceeded in throe ing in a second reinforcement, and in oblig ing Cromwell to raise the siege. Ilad he been supplied by the inhabitants with boats, and thus enabled to cross the river, he would have pursued Cromwell ; but not only were these refused him, but his request that his soldiers should be permitted to lodge in huts under the walls was reject ed ; and it was even proposed to seize his person. .1 his extraordinary display of ingratitude arose from the mflu (Alec of some bigotted and ignorant priests in Waterford, aided and fostered by the Marquis of Antrim, who wished to supplant Ormond in the chief:governorship.
Cromwell, on his retreat from Waterford, took up his winter quarters in Munster ; the principal garrison in this province having declared in his layout., in consequence of the insults they received from the Catholics. Ormond, not supposing that his opponent would leave these quarters till the spring, had dispersed his troops in various places ; but as soon as Cromwell learned this, he suddenly advanced, in the depth of winter, and laid seige to Kilkenny, which most probably he would not have reduced, had it not been for the treachery of the mayor and citizens. His next object was Clonmell. This place was garrisoned by 1200 troops under Hugh O'Neil ; and such was their intrepidity, that in his first assault Cromwell lost 2000 men. This obliged him to commence a blockade ; and O'Neil, after a siege of two months, being exhausted of his provisions and ammu nition, and yet unwilling to surrender, contrived to with draw his troops, with which he arrived safe at Waterford.