 At the time, most casualties of battles tended to be inflicted in the pursuit of an already-beaten enemy; this did not happen at the Boyne, as the counter-attacks of the skilled Jacobite cavalry screened the retreat of the rest of their army, and in addition William was always disinclined to endanger the person of James, since he was the father of his wife, Mary.The Jacobites were badly demoralised by the order to retreat, which lost them the battle.Many of the Irish infantrymen deserted, abandoning clothing in their escape.