Battle of Arklow (1649) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Arklow (1649)
Part of the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland
Date 1 November 1649 Location Near Arklow, County Wicklow Result English victory
Belligerents
Royalists Irish Confederation	Commonwealth of England
Commanders and leaders
Earl of Inchiquin Earl of Carlingford	Maj. Nelson
Strength
2,500 Cavalry	500 Cavalry 1,500 Infantry
Casualties and losses
Low	Low

The Battle of Arklow was a small fight that happened near Arklow in County Wicklow, Ireland. It took place on November 1, 1649. This battle was part of the Irish Confederate Wars, a big conflict in Ireland during the 1640s.

The battle was fought between two main groups. One side was the English Parliament's army, also known as the Parliamentarians or Roundheads. The other side was a combined force of Irish Royalists and Confederates. The Royalists supported the King of England, while the Confederates were Irish Catholics.

What Led to the Battle of Arklow?

Why Did the Irish Want to Fight?

By late 1649, the Irish forces had faced many tough defeats. They lost important battles like the Battle of Rathmines. Key towns such as Drogheda and Wexford were also captured.

Ormonde, a leader of the Irish forces, wanted to turn things around. He heard that English soldiers were marching from Dublin to Wexford. These soldiers were going to help Oliver Cromwell's troops in the south. This was a chance for the Irish to fight the Parliamentarians without risking too many of their own soldiers.

Who Led the Irish Forces?

The Irish leaders chose The Baron of Inchiquin and Theobald Taaffe to lead their troops. They commanded about 2,500 cavalry (soldiers on horseback).

Inchiquin really needed this battle to go well. Many people, especially Irish Catholics, did not trust him. This was because he had done some terrible things in earlier fights. Also, many of his own Protestant soldiers had recently switched sides to join the Parliamentarians. This battle was his last chance to prove himself.

How Did the English Plan Their March?

The English soldiers, led by Major Nelson, left Dublin at the end of October. As they marched through the Wicklow Mountains, they were bothered by small groups of fighters called tories. These attacks did not stop the English army much.

Inchiquin set up a trap south of Arklow. He chose a spot where hills came close to the sea. His men put a log barrier across the road to Wexford. Infantry (foot soldiers) hid behind it or in the bushes nearby.

However, Major Nelson heard a rumor about the ambush. He decided to take a longer, more secret route to avoid Inchiquin's army.

The Chase Before the Fight

Inchiquin quickly realized that Nelson was trying to avoid his trap. He moved his cavalry fast to catch the Parliamentarians. Most of Nelson's foot soldiers could not keep up. Because of this, they did not join the main fighting.

The Battle of Arklow

How Did the Fight Start?

Inchiquin's cavalry soon appeared. The English soldiers quickly got ready on a beach, with the sea behind them. As the Royalist and Irish forces prepared to attack, the Parliamentarian cavalry charged first. They hoped to surprise their enemy. But they were pushed back two times.

The Counter-Attack and Retreat

After the English cavalry failed their second charge, Inchiquin launched his own attack. His cavalry charged the Parliamentarian horsemen. The English cavalry were losing hope and were outnumbered. They quickly rode back towards their own foot soldiers. The Royalists and Irish chased after them.

The English foot soldiers were well-trained. They opened their ranks (lines) to let their own cavalry ride through. Then, they quickly closed the gaps.

The Turning Point

Inchiquin's charging cavalry suddenly found that the English horsemen had disappeared. Instead, they faced a wall of sharp pikes and muskets ready to fire. The English infantry fired their muskets from very close range. This caused a lot of damage to the Royalist-Irish cavalry. The beach became bloody, and Inchiquin's forces became disorganized.

Then, the Parliamentarian cavalry charged back. This forced the Royalist-Irish forces to retreat. Major Nelson and his army then continued their march to Wexford without any more trouble.

What Happened After the Battle?

Why Was Arklow Important?

The Battle of Arklow was a relatively small fight. The Irish forces failed to badly damage Nelson's New Model Army. This was a disappointing setback for them, but not a huge disaster for the overall war.

What Happened to Inchiquin?

For Inchiquin, the results were more serious. This battle was his chance to earn back the trust of both Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. His failure to defeat the smaller English force left him disgraced.

After the battle, Inchiquin went back to Munster, where some companies of soldiers were still loyal to him. However, these forces were defeated by another English commander, Broghill, in March of the next year. Soon after, Inchiquin left Ireland and went to live on the European continent.

See also

• Irish battles