Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits
Part of the Nine Years' War
The Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits, 7 Aug. 1594: 1: Irish shot engage and halt the head of the column but are eventually forced to give ground due to a determined English pike charge. 2: Irish shot force in the English loose shot and disorder the pikemen. 3: Irish pikemen and Scots charge into the disordered rear forcing it onto the main battle and then the van. 4: English army makes it to low ground. Under fire from the surrounding heights, the English attack south but are forced to cross further upstream. 5: Incongruously the Irish horse played no part in the battle
Date 7 August 1594 Location Arney River, County Fermanagh, Ireland 54°16′37″N 7°38′20″W / 54.277°N 7.639°W / 54.277; -7.639 Result Irish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England	Irish alliance
Commanders and leaders
Sir Henry Duke Sir Edward Herbert	Hugh Maguire Cormac O'Neill
Strength
646	1,000+
Casualties and losses
56 killed 69 Wounded	Low

The Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits happened in Fermanagh, Ireland, on August 7, 1594. It was an early fight in the Nine Years' War. An English army column of about 650 soldiers, led by Sir Henry Duke, was attacked. They were ambushed and defeated by an Irish force. This Irish force was led by Hugh Maguire and Cormac MacBaron O'Neill near the Arney River.

The English soldiers were trying to bring supplies to Enniskillen Castle. This castle had been surrounded by Irish forces since May. During the battle, the English lost at least 56 soldiers. Another 69 were wounded. They had to quickly retreat.

This battle got its unusual name because of the English supplies. Many of their supplies were hard biscuits. These were left behind, scattered and floating in the river. The battle showed that the English army could be easily ambushed. This was especially true in the wilder parts of Ulster, with its thick woods and bogs.

Why the Battle Happened

English Control in Ireland

The English government was trying to take more control over Ireland. This was part of the Tudor conquest of Ireland. They introduced a new system called "surrender and regrant." This meant that Irish lords had to formally agree to be loyal to the English Crown.

Fermanagh, a region ruled by Irish lords, was made into an English county. English laws started to replace traditional Irish laws, known as Brehon Law.

Hugh Maguire's Resistance

Hugh Maguire was the Irish lord of Fermanagh. He did not like these new English laws. They reduced his power over his neighbors. He also had problems with the local English sheriff, Captain Humphrey Willis.

In the summer of 1593, Maguire started a rebellion. He raided lands controlled by the English leader in Connaught, Richard Bingham. The English government in Dublin sent soldiers to Fermanagh. Sir Henry Bagenal, a high-ranking English officer, led these troops.

The Siege of Enniskillen

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, a powerful Irish lord, also brought his forces into the fight. He helped Bagenal defeat some of Maguire's soldiers. This happened at the Battle of Belleek in October 1593.

In February 1594, English forces captured Maguire's main town, Enniskillen. Captain John Dowdall led this attack. After the Irish soldiers surrendered, they were killed. Maguire then agreed to make peace, with Tyrone's help.

However, the peace did not last long. Maguire, along with Cormac MacBaron O'Neill (Tyrone's brother) and Red Hugh O'Donnell, soon surrounded Enniskillen again. This was known as the Siege of Enniskillen. The English sent a relief force to help the soldiers trapped inside the castle.

The Battle Unfolds

The English March

The English relief force was led by Sir Henry Duke and Sir Edward Herbert. It included experienced captains like Humphrey Willis and John Dowdall. They had 600 foot soldiers and 46 horsemen. Duke and Herbert thought this was not enough. They asked for more soldiers, saying they needed at least a thousand. But no extra soldiers came.

The column left Cavan on August 4. They were carrying many supplies, so they moved slowly. They expected to take four days to march 29 miles north to Enniskillen. The English foot soldiers included pikemen (who used long spears) and "shot" (soldiers with muskets and calivers).

Irish Preparation

The Irish forces surrounding Enniskillen learned about the English relief force. They moved to stop it. They had about 1,000 men, including horsemen, kern (lightly armed Irish soldiers), and caliver-men.

On the evening of August 6, the English camped three miles south of a river crossing (a ford) on the Arney River. That night, Irish gunfire bothered the English camp. Constant small fights meant the English soldiers did not get much rest. They were tired when they set out on August 7.

The Ambush at the Ford

As the long English column marched north, Irish kern attacked them from both sides. They threw javelins. The ground near the Arney ford was very wet and boggy. This forced the English horsemen to get off their horses.

The English foot soldiers, who were guarding the supply wagons, walked right into an ambush. Around 11 o'clock, the front of the column reached the ford. Suddenly, intense Irish gunfire hit them from hidden spots on the other side of the river.

The English advance stopped. At the same time, Maguire and MacBaron attacked the back of the column with most of their soldiers. English "shot" soldiers spread out to fight the Irish. But heavy Irish fire pushed them back to their main lines.

English Retreat

The English pikemen at the back of the column were hit by many close-range gunshots. Their formation broke apart. Irish pikemen and Scottish hired soldiers then charged the rear. This forced the English soldiers to run into the middle of their own column.

The English pikemen at the front charged across the ford. They pushed back the Irish "shot" soldiers. This gave the English some space to regroup north of the river. The rest of the column quickly ran across the ford, leaving their supplies behind.

The English were then shot at from the surrounding hills. An English counter-attack failed when its leader, Captain Fuller, was killed by an Irish javelin. Most of their supplies were gone. So, Duke and Herbert decided their only choice was to retreat.

However, their retreat back to the ford was met with more gunfire. The English army was falling apart. They had to run along the river and cross at another ford upstream. They threw away their weapons and armor. Luckily for the English, the Irish did not chase them. Most of the Irish soldiers were busy looting the abandoned supplies. This is how the battle got its name, Béal Átha na mBriosgadh, or The Ford of the Biscuits.

The English commanders, Duke and Herbert, reported that 56 soldiers were killed and 69 were wounded.

What Happened Next

After the Battle

The English forces, badly hurt, retreated west to Sligo.

A second English relief mission, led by William Russell, managed to reach Enniskillen. They brought supplies to the castle. However, Enniskillen did fall to the Irish in May the next year. The soldiers inside were killed, even though they had been promised their lives if they surrendered.

Tyrone's Role

Some historians believe that Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, encouraged Maguire to rebel again. This was because Tyrone's brother, Cormac MacBaron O'Neill, was involved. Tyrone might have hoped to make the English government offer better deals without him officially joining the fight.

Others think Maguire's rebellion was a way to distract the English. It kept their attention and soldiers in Fermanagh. This gave Tyrone time to get stronger in other parts of Ulster. Then, in early 1595, Tyrone started a full rebellion. This began the main part of the Nine Years' War, which lasted until 1603.

It was also reported that many of the Irish "shot" soldiers wore Tyrone's special red uniform. A woman captured by the Irish later said that Tyrone met with Maguire. This meeting was at nearby Liscallaghan (modern-day Fivemiletown). There, Tyrone received items taken from the battle. Six months later, Tyrone openly rebelled. This started the full Nine Years' War, which ended with the Treaty of Mellifont in 1603.