O'Neill's Main Trench
In 1597, field commander Lord Burgh on behalf of the Dublin government had built a new fort on the river Blackwater. The fort was intended to facilitate later military excursions into county Tyrone. Soon after it was built the Earl of Tyrone (O'Neill) laid siege to it. In 1598, with the besieged garrison still intact but running precariously low on supplies, the Dublin government debated at length whether to abandon the fort, for the reason that its location was too far into O'Neill's home territory to be sustainable. Commander Henry Bagenal, experienced at fighting Ulstermen, argued the fort should be re-supplied and was appointed to lead the expedition. About 4,000 troops were assigned to the expedition, a large number in those day
In the fields around here was the main Irish trench. These are the main killing Fields of the Battle. O'Neill knew that regardless of the route the English Army took out of Armagh, they would eventually have to cross the drumlins and marshy bogs between the Callan and the Blackwater rivers. There was really only one way Henry Bagenal could take his men and O'Neill made sure that he dominated the area. In what could only be described as an engineering feat with the available technology, O’Neill’s men dug a massive trench across the bog right in the line of the English march. The trench was over four feet deep and banked up with earth and thorns. The trench did not stop infantry, but it did stop the horses. The English vanguard were allowed to cross with relative ease to their doom.
When Henry Bagenal's regiment reached the trench he could see that the regiment ahead of him was in trouble. He was also told by Captain Wingfield, his second in command, that the rear were under fierce attack at the Callan. Wingfield advised him to try to bring all the army back together. Henry Bagenal and his officers rode back and forth trying to assess the situation. Under attack from all sides and unsure what to do, Henry Bagenal was shot dead by an lrish musketeer. Local folklore states that he was shot by a beardless youth from the townland of Creaghan nearby.
With Henry Bagenal dead, Captain Wingfield, the second in command, took over and in a great military feat, managed to reorder the survivors. Using the English cavalry to defend them from the relentless Irish attack he brought the defeated army back over the Callan to the relative safety of Armagh Cathedral. The fields around here contain the remains of possibly 2000 men.
The cache is 8mm diameter 30mm long cylinder with parking close by although it is at a T junction. This is on the side of the main road so take care.