Battle of Carrickfergus (1597) - The Battle

The Battle

On the appointed day MacDonnell was sighted by the English on his approach to Carrickfergus Castle at the head of an extravagant army, including 1,300 troops and 500 Scots musketeers. Not wishing to be outdone, the governor came out with the bulk of his men, just five companies of foot - who were wearied from a recent expedition - and one of horse. He led them out four miles, until the Scots were encountered, and then halted to allow his troops to close up on the advanced guard. In the interval the officers debated, one veteran urging the governor to proceed with the parley. But when his troops drew up, the governor turned to his commander, Captain Merriman, and said, "Now, Captain, yonder be your old friends. What say you? Shall we charge them?" Merriman assented, and was supported by the commander of the horse, Moses Hill.

The order to charge was given, and the Scots fell back over the hilly terrain. But the English riders were not sure of their lead, and the governor was quickly isolated with a small party, which had managed to keep pace with him. On a counter-charge, the Scots surged around and broke the formation of the crown troops. The governor was wounded in the leg but tried to rally his men by remounting and charging down the slope. He was shot through the head and killed outright. Another officer was hit in the head and captured, another had his horse shot out, and another was shot through the shoulder.

The crown forces were dismayed, and although reinforcements - including the sick, so depleted was the garrison - sallied out from the castle and prevented a massacre, the death toll on the English side reached 180, with 30-40 wounded. Some managed to survive by swimming away in Larne Lough, with or without their horses, and fetched up on the shore of the peninsula of Island Magee.