The Fort at Blackwater
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 days.
This was a wooden fort built by the English Lord Deputy Thomas Burgh in 1597 who was very proud of his work. Burgh vowed to spare no effort to bring about the defeat of Hugh O’Neill, the Earl of Tyrone. Shortly after building the Fort, the Lord Deputy fell victim to fever. His isolated garrison on the Blackwater was indeed coming a problem and an eyesore but not for the Irish. There is little evidence of the fort today.
The cache is located close to the fort’s location and parking is alongside the cache. There is an information board giving further information of the history of the area.