Lieut: General Jones's letter to the Councel of State, of a great victory which it hath pleased God to give the forces in the city of Dublin under his command, on the second of this instant August, against the Earl of Ormond's and the Lord Inchiquin's forces before that city.: Together with the list of all the prisoners and ammunition taken, and the narrative of Captain Otway, who was in the fight. Die Saturni, 11⁰ Augusti, 1649. At the Councel of State at White-Hall; ordered, that the letter from Lieutenant General Jones ... be forthwith printed and published: ... Gualter Frost Secr'

Right Honorable,

THe Lord hath blessed this your Army with good success against Ormond and his, for which Gods most holy Name be ever glori∣fied. The account of that service is thus briefly: On the first of this instant, the Enemy began his approaches to this place more then formerly, and that night was Ormond, Preston, and the chiefest of that Army, at a Work begun at Baggotsrath, about a quar∣ter of a mile hence Eastward of the City, upon the Sea, thence they purposed to run forward to our Tren∣ches on the Land-side, and to raise their Forts towards the Water, for hindering the landing of those supplyes and Forces expected. They had before cut off the wa∣ter-running from the higher grounds into the City, whereby our Mills had been driven, and in their present work would they have cut us off from all forage for our cattle: To this end was that very night, a Brest-work by them made crosse the high-way, neer Baggotsrath, whereabouts was the onely grazing-place left for us. As for the Castle of Baggotsrath,, I caused it to be be∣fore demollished, so as it was not capable of a Garri∣son, foreseeing what our prejudice might be in their possessing it.

On thursday the second, we discovered a party of the Enemies, drawn to Baggotsrath, about fifteen hundred foot, besides horse. We found a necessity for removing them, and that speedily: and seeing the nearness of the Enemies camp at Rathmynes, (less then a mile from Baggotsrath) where they might be readily relieved with greater force as occasion might require; therefore did I advance with so much a greater strength, about twelve hundred horse, and four thousand foot.

The Enemies work at Baggotsrath we soon entred,

yet not without strong dispute: most of the Enemies foot there were slain and taken, their horse having de∣serted them, after the first charge.

Our horse and foot pursuing their advantages, we be∣came at last wholly engaged with their whole Army, whom after two hours fight, we totally routed.

We slew on the place, and in the chase, about four thousand; and have two thousand five hundred and se∣venteen prisoners, most of them Inchiquines English, and of our run-aways. We got one whole Cannon, three Demi-Cannons, one long-square gun, carrying a ball of twelve pound, one Saker-drake, and one Mor∣ter-piece, (all these brass) and some Trayn-carriages, and about two hundred draught Oxen for the Trayn.

The Strength of the Enemy was by themselves since acknowledged Nineteen thousand; Ormond narrowly escaped: Of our men there are not twenty missing, many wounded. The greatest loss fell on the horse, wherein my Regiment hath much suffered, which I hum∣bly desire may be considered, together with my former losses in the same kinde in former Services, and there∣fore that larger Recruits may be given me: To which end I have employed thither this Gentleman Captain Otway, one faithful and forward, whom I make bold to recommend unto your favor.

This whole work is the Lords doing, and it is mar∣vellous in our eyes: By whose especial providence it was that we should thus engage, we our selves at first not so far intending it: Neither did the Enemy ex∣pect our so doing; nor would they have willingly en∣gaged with us, if it might have been by them avoided, they reserving themselves for the coming up of Clan∣ricard with his Connaght forces about Three thousand, and the Lord of Ardes with his Seven thousand Scots,

all ready for marching; Inchiquine also being looked for, who had the week before gone towards Munster, with two Regiments of horse, for appeasing some stir∣rings there by Owen Roe, raised in his absence. Never was any day in Ireland like this, to the confusion of the Irish, and to the raising up the spirits of the poor English, and to the restoring of the English Interest, which from their first footing in Ireland was never in so low a con∣dition, as at that very instant, there not being any one considerable landing place left you, but this alone, and this also (without this the Lords timely and most graci∣ous goodness and providence to us) almost gone.

Yet is not all this any ground of Security, whereby may be kept back or delayed the Supplies designed us; for most of our Garisons are yet to be taken in, and the Enemy to be speedily followed, that they recover not (which yet they may do to a considerable number) and that they either possess not themselves of this Har∣vest, or hinder us of it. For our selves as at present, we are not in condition to prosecute this great Victory as we should and would, wanting pay for our men, and ne∣cessary provisions, which would be now made over to us speedily and plentifully, this being the time, and the occasion being now offered for a full ending of this War, by its vigorous prosecution, the opportunity whereof is not to be in any case omitted; besides the security therein rendred to your affairs there, whereun∣to all these movings might have been dangerously car∣ried, as they were by Ormond and his Party intended. All which I leave to your most wise consideration, and as ever, remain

Your Honors most faithful Servant, MIC: JONES.

Dublin, Aug. 6. 1649.