Army and Munro's Covenanters. However, the alliance was opposed by the Gaelic Catholic faction led by Ó Néill and split the Confederates; Jones sent his elder brother Henry to negotiate a truce with Ó Néill, who also released their younger brother Theophilus, captured in Kells, County Antrim in December 1646. Despite this split, by the end of May the Royalist/Confederate alliance controlled most of Ireland. After capturing Drogheda and Dundalk in June, Ormonde moved onto Dublin, hoping to prevent its use by the expeditionary force being assembled in England by Cromwell. On 22 July, he arrived outside the town with 11,000 men; four days later Jones received reinforcements from Chester under Robert Venables, increasing his strength to 4,000 infantry, and 1,200 cavalry. Although outnumbered, the Parliamentarian troops were experienced veterans, while their opponents were largely poorly trained and equipped. On 2 August, Jones defeated Ormonde at Rathmines, a victory described as the 'decisive battle of the Engagement in Ireland.' One of the Royalist officers captured at Rathmines was Richard Elliott, son of Michael's sister Mary; Jones demonstrated the bitterness engendered by over eight years of war by executing his nephew. He also displayed typical energy in immediately seeking to take advantage of this success by marching on Drogheda, but the town refused to surrender and he had insufficient troops to storm it. He returned to Dublin, where Oliver Cromwell landed on 15 August with 12,000 troops, and appointed him Lieutenant-general of the cavalry, with John Hewson becoming Governor. Leaving his brother Theophilus in command of the Dublin garrison, Jones supported Cromwell in the capture of Drogheda and Wexford. He fell ill during the unsuccessful Siege of Waterford in late November and was taken to Dungarvan, where he died on 10 December 1649. In a letter reporting his death to Parliament, Cromwell wrote "What England lost hereby is above me to speak". Jones was a close associate of Lord Broghill, later a senior member of the Commonwealth government, whose father was the Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. In a gesture of their personal friendship, he was buried in the Boyle family vault at St. Mary's Church in Youghal, with Cromwell giving the funeral oration. 24 Church Street, the house where he died in Dungarven, has a plaque commemorating the fact. References Sources Year of birth uncertain 1649 deaths People of the English Civil War People of the Irish Confederate Wars