Weapons and Tactics

The Williamite forces at the Boyne outnumbered the Jacobites and this numerical advantage was compounded by superior equipment. Both armies favoured red coats which lead to a lot confusion in the battle.

The standard infantry weapon in the Jacobite army was the match lock musket, a more primitive weapon than the flintlock which was replacing it. Most of Williams infantry were equipped with flinklocks. The Jacobites had some flintlocks.

The pike was still used in the Williamite war but was at the end of its day. Well equipped units would have one pike to every six muskets. Some Williamite units had no pikes. The weapon that replaced the pike the bayonet was just coming into use. Many Williamite units were equipped with bayonets.

The standard infantry tactic of the time was to form units into seven ranks. The front three ranks would fire together. The first rank crouched, the second kneeling and the third standing. The fourth, fifth and sixth rank would then step forward and fire while the first three were reloading. The pikes stayed at the back unless cavalry approached. In many battles of the period lines of infantry adopted fixed positions and fired at each other until on side or the other broke.

In addition to the standard infantry units, there were two specialised infantry units. Grenadiers and Dragoons. Grenadiers were troops who in addition to being equipped with a musket, were also armed with a bag of grenades. Dragoons were mounted infantry, they rode into battle on horses but dismounted to fight.

Cavalry were equipped with swords and pistols. In addition to providing scouting and reconnaissance, cavalry were used as shock troops on the battlefield. At the Oldbridge when Tyrconnells infantry began to give way he called in the cavalry to attack, unsuccessfully. Cavalry were expected to cover the rear of a retreating army. They also collected intelligence on enemy movements and tried to prevent the enemy cavalry from doing the same.

Artillery had quite a short range so it was most often used to give covering fire to or break up an attack. It was used in this way at the Boyne where Williams guns were deployed close to the river to cover the attack. The Jacobite artillery was also deployed close to the river.