[1][2] A British force commanded by John Wolfe and consisting of roughly 400 troops (consisting of detachments from the 5th Dragoon Guards, a Highland regiment and the yeomanry) and two pieces of artillery were dispatched from Trim on 18 June to locate and defeat a rebel force commanded by William Aylmer.

When Aylmer received news of the approaching force, he rallied his men and decided to engage them head on, choosing to make a stand at Ovidstown Hill, which was situated approximately three miles south-west of Kilcock.

However, this attempt failed when a detachment of Highland light infantry attacked both rebel flanks, driving them back and routing them.

Attempting to take advantage of the respite that these events gave him, Aylmer ordered his men to launch a charge before the British could finish deploying their cavalry and artillery.

The dragoons and yeomanry continued to run down the fleeing rebels after the battle, inflicting further casualties on Aylmer's men.