Cromwell’s defenders who say that he warred mildly and mercifully in England, according to English ideas, and that he fought the Irish only as they fought each other, must be hard driven when they set up such a defense.  The fact that Murrogh O’Brien, at the capture of Cashel, murdered the garrison who had laid down their arms, and three thousand of the defenseless citizens, including twenty priests who had fled to the cathedral for refuge, affords no excuse whatever for the perpetration of equal atrocities by Cromwell, and no impartial historian can deny that these massacres are a foul and hideous blot in the history of a great and, for the most part, a kind and merciful man.

Upon arriving before Drogheda on the 2d of September Cromwell at once began to throw up his batteries, and opened fire on the 10th.  His artillery was abundant, and was so well served that early the same afternoon two practical breaches were made, the one in the east, in the of St. Mary’s Churchyard, the other to the south, in the wall of the town.  Sir Arthur Ashton had placed Harry in command at St. Mary’s Churchyard, and seeing that the wall would soon give way under the fire of the enemy’s artillery, he set his men to throw up an earthwork behind.

Seven hundred of the Roundheads advanced to the assault, but so heavy was the fire that Harry’s troops poured upon them that they were forced to fall back with great slaughter.  At the other breach they were also repulsed, but attacking again in great force they made their way in.  Near this spot was an ancient tumulus, called the Hill Mount.  The sides of this were defended by strong palisades, and here the Royalists, commanded by Sir Arthur Ashton himself, opposed a desperate resistance to the enemy.  These, supported by the guns on the walls, which they turned against the Mount, made repeated attacks, but were as often repulsed.  The loss, however, of the defenders was great, and seeing that fresh troops were constantly brought against them they at last lost heart and surrendered, on promise of their lives; a promise which was not kept, as all were immediately massacred.

Up to this time Harry had successfully repulsed every attack made upon the other breach, but at length the news of the Roundheads’ success at the Mount reached both assailants and defenders.

With exulting shouts the Roundheads poured over the wall.  The garrison, headed by Harry and the other officers, strove hard to drive them back, but it was useless.  Cromwell and Ireton were in the van of their troops, and these, accustomed to victory, hewed their way through the ranks of the besieged.  Many of them lost heart, and, throwing down their arms, cried for quarter.  With shouts of “No quarter!” “Hew down the Amalakites!” “Strike, and spare not!” the Roundheads cut down their now defenseless foes.  Maddened at the sight, the besieged made another desperate effort at resistance, and for awhile fought so stoutly that the Roundheads could gain no ground of them.