Battle of Newtownbutler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Newtownbutler |
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| Part of the Williamite War in Ireland | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Williamites |
 Jacobites |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Colonel Wolseley |
The 1st Viscount Mountcashel  |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Low | 2,000 killed, 400 men and 40 officers captured (Williamite claim) 800-900 killed, wounded and missing (modern estimate) |
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The Battle of Newtownbutler was an important fight in Ireland in 1689. It happened near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the Williamite War in Ireland. In this war, two sides fought for control of the country. One side supported King William III and Queen Mary II. The other side supported King James II.
Contents
Who Was Fighting in the War?
The Williamite War in Ireland was a conflict between supporters of two different kings.
- The Williamites supported King William III and Queen Mary II. Many Protestants in Ireland were Williamites.
- The Jacobites supported King James II. Many Catholics in Ireland were Jacobites.
This war was part of a larger European conflict.
The Fight in Western Ulster
In a town called Enniskillen, local Protestants formed their own fighting group. These Williamite civilians were very strong and well-organized. They did not follow orders to retreat to Derry. Instead, they launched surprise attacks against the Jacobite forces.
From their base in Enniskillen, they raided Jacobite areas. They took supplies from Trillick and burned Augher Castle. They also raided Clones.
A Jacobite army of about 3,000 soldiers marched towards Enniskillen. This army was led by Justin McCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel. His force included infantry (foot soldiers) and dragoons (soldiers who rode horses but fought on foot).
On July 28, 1689, Mountcashel's army camped near Enniskillen. They attacked Crom Castle, a Williamite outpost. Crom Castle is about 20 miles (32 km) from Enniskillen. It is also about 5 miles (8 km) from Newtownbutler.
How the Battle Unfolded
Two days later, about 2,000 Williamite soldiers from Enniskillen faced the Jacobite army. These Williamite fighters were led by Colonel Berry, Colonel William Wolseley, and Gustave Hamilton.
The Jacobite dragoons, led by Anthony Hamilton, rode into a trap. Berry's men ambushed them near Lisnaskea. The dragoons were defeated and lost many soldiers.
Mountcashel's main force managed to push back Berry's cavalry. But then, they faced the main Williamite army under Wolseley. It is believed that Mountcashel had many soldiers who were not well-trained or well-armed.
Mountcashel decided to stop and prepare his men for battle. This happened about a mile south of Newtownbutler.
The Outcome of the Battle
Williamite records say that many Jacobite soldiers ran away as soon as the fighting started. They claim that up to 1,500 Jacobites were killed or drowned in Upper Lough Erne. It is said that out of 500 men who tried to swim across the lake, only one survived.
Lord Mountcashel, the Jacobite commander, was captured. About 400 other Jacobite officers and men were also taken prisoner. They were later exchanged for Williamite prisoners.
However, modern estimates suggest the Jacobite losses were lower. Around 800 to 900 Jacobite soldiers were likely killed, wounded, or went missing. Some soldiers from Mountcashel's regiment may have fled into the bogs near Lough Erne. Some tried to swim and drowned, which likely led to the stories of many hundreds drowning.
Lord Mountcashel was shot and wounded, but he survived. He later escaped from Enniskillen. He went on to lead the Irish Brigade in the French army. A Jacobite colonel, Sir Thomas Newcomen, 5th Baronet, was killed in the battle.
The Williamite victory at Newtownbutler was very important. It meant that when the Duke of Schomberg landed in County Down in August 1689, he faced no opposition.
The Battle of Newtownbutler is still remembered today. The Orange Order in Ulster commemorates it. It is also mentioned in a traditional song called "The Sash".
This battle was also significant because the regiments on both sides went on to have long histories. On the Williamite side, there was the Innsikilling Regiment 27th Foot. On the Jacobite side, there were the Clare and Mountcashel/Lee/Bulkeley regiments of the Irish Brigade. These two Irish regiments even fought against each other again later at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.
See also
