Saint-Ruhe and Tyrconnell initially planned to fall back on Limerick and force Ginkel into another year of campaigning. Saint-Ruhe issued an order to disperse to Galway and Limerick and sent several of his subordinate commanders, including d'Usson, onward. However, as deserters began to rejoin the army at Ballinasloe, Saint-Ruhe revised his strategy. Wishing to redeem his humiliation at Athlone, he appears to have instead decided to force a decisive battle. He reinforced the morale of the rank and file by stressing the religious aspect of the conflict and by "creating a personality cult around himself with bloodthirsty promises of what the army would do to its foes".