Beyond this, along his whole front, a vast bog extended, in most places impassable for horse or foot.

On the borders of the bog, on the left, stood the ruins of the little castle of Aughrim, occupying the only spot of firm ground which led to the camp.
To pass the bog at this point, it was necessary to go close by the castle wall, where there was a broken path only wide enough for two men to pass abreast.

The passage on the right of the bog was more open, but it was marshy and unsafe.
This position was much stronger than that which the Irish had held at the battle of the Boyne, and whereas, on that occasion, they had been very inferior in numbers to their assailants, they were now superior by some regiments in number.

In the point of artillery the English had here, as at the Boyne, an overwhelming superiority.
Ginckle moved forward slowly and with caution, halting on the river Suck until he had been joined by every available soldier in Ireland.
On the morning of the 12th of July, the British army halted on the edge of the bog, that, like a great belt, encircled the Irish within it.

The morning was foggy, and the mist did not clear off until towards noon.