On the previous day at nearby Oulart, several thousand rebels led by Fr John Murphy had massacred a detachment of the North Cork militia, amounting to 110 officers and men.

This attack was driven back by sustained army and loyalist musket fire and by the Yeoman Cavalry, forcing the rebels to hide behind the ditches.

At this moment is it suggested that Fr John Murphy recommended that the cattle being herded at the rear be brought forward, and used in place of a heavy cavalry charge.

Miles Byrne suggests that "…thirty or forty of the youngest and wildest of the cattle brought from the rear of his column, goaded on by some hundreds of brave, decided pikemen…" rushed at the lines of infantry outside the Duffry Gate.

They were setting up a formidable encampment of 10,000 men on the nearby heights of Vinegar Hill and were able to roster forces to garrison Enniscorthy, whose streets were littered with dead and dying while flames continued to rage.