them a Weeks Pay and there was a Party appointed to conduct them to Newry The Inniskilliners Decamp Saturday he 2 d the Duke ordered the Inniskilliners both Horse and Foot to march towards Home since News was brought to the Camp that Sligo and James-Town were taken by the Irish For Sarsfield with a considerable Body coming that way those at James-Town not thinking it tenable quitted it and marched to Sligo losing some of their own Party and killing some of the Irish who prest upon them in their Retreat Sligo taken by the Irish Sarsfield with his Army next Day came before Sligo which made Colonel Russel retreat to Ballishannon and he advised the Foot also to quit the Town There was a French Captain with the Detached Party of Granadeers that went from our Camp and Colonel Lloyd with some Inniskilliners these staid in the Town and from thence retreated to the two Forts at the end of it Lloyd into one and the French-man with his Granadeers into the other Colonel Lloyd went away that Night and lost several of his Men in his Retreat But the French Captain had carried in Provisions and found three Barrels of powder in the Fort. The Nights were dark and he fearing the Enemy might make their Approaches to the Fort undiscovered he got a great many Fir-Deals and dipping the Ends of them in Tarr they made such a Light when set on Fire and hung over the Wall that he discovered the Enemy coming with an Engine they called Sow but having killed the Ingineer and two or three more the rest retired and he burnt the Engine When Day appeared the Enemy were forced to quit a small Field-piece they had planted in the Street our Men plyed them so with Shot from the Fort and then making a Sally several of them were killed But their Provisions being gone and there being little or no Water in the Fort our Men surrendred it one the 3 d Day upon Honourable Terms viz. to march out with their Arms and Baggage At their coming over the Bridg Col. Sarsfield stood with a Purse of Guineas and proffered to every one that would serve King James to give him Horse and Arms with Five Guineas Advance but they all made answer that they would never fight for the Papishes as they called them except one who next Day after he had got Horse and Arms and Gold brought all off with him So steadfast were the poor Men in what they had undertaken that tho they had indured a great deal of Hardship yet would dye rather than be Faithless There were several also that were taken Prisoners as they stragled from the Camp or upon flying Parties and tho they indured all the Miseries of a severe Restraint yet they could by no means be wrought upon to take up Arms against the Interest they had come thither to venture their Lives for Nay even those that were a dying in the Camp were wont to express no other Sorrow than Plague on these Papishes that we must dye here and not have leave to go and fight them The French Captain's Name as I remember was Monsieur de St. Sauvem he died afterwards at Lisburn of a Feaverr The Castle of Sligo is one of the most Ancient in Ireland it was formerly the Seat of the O Connors who would not for a great while yield to King Henry the Second calling themselves the Ancient Kings of Ireland But to return from this Digression On Saturday in the Evening it was ordered that a Colonel and a Brigadeer should go the Rounds and stay in the Camp all Night to see the Guards all right to enquire what Officers lay out of the Camp and to acquaint the General with it and because they found there was abundance of sick Men that neither could march nor was there Room for them in the Ships therefore Waggons were ordered to be ready at the Bridg-End next Morning to carry them all to Carlingford and Newry The Colonels Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors of each Regiment were ordered to be there and see their sick Men taken care of and to give them Money there was also an Officer out of each Regiment appointed with a Guard to attend them A great many Sick Next Morning the poor Men were brought down from all places towards the Bridg-End and several of them died by the way the rest were put upon Waggons which was the most Lamentable Sight in the World for all the Rodes from Dundalk to Newry and Carlingford were next day full of nothing but dead Men who ever as the Waggons joulted some of them died and were thrown off as fast The General very seldom used to be from the Church but that day he was for some hours at the Bridg-end to see all the care taken for the Men that could be and was very much displeased that all the Field-Officers were not so careful as he had given Command they should The Ships were then filling with Sick and as many dying on that side they were ordered to goe into Deep-water and sail with the first fair Wind for Belfast The Weather all this while was very dismal and yet we were obliged to stay till both the Ships were got into Deep-water and the sick gone by Land lest when we were gone the Enemy should spoil our Ships and kill our Men. Monday the 4 th of November it was ordered that all who had any sick Men on Board should send an Ensign with ten Men to take care of them and if the Men wanted any thing they were to send to Mr. Shales for it The Tents that were by the Water-side were to be taken on Board to keep the sick Men warm and every Regiment was to have the same number again that they brought thither The Fifth it was confirmed that the Enemy were gone to Quarters and the Sixth we had Orders to march Next day Stuart Herbert Gower Zanchy formerly my L. Lovelace's towards Newry Hanmer Deering Drogheda Beaumont Wharton Bellasis before the Duke of Norfolk's and Roscommon were to march towards Armagh Maj. Gen. Kirk and the Dutch were to go by Newry and so down to Antrim The Souldiers were ordered six days Bread and a Fortnights Subsistence I remember next Morning as we were marching off word was brought to us that the Enemy was approaching and God knows we were in a very weak Condition to resist them those that were best being scarce able to carry their Arms however they were very hearty and began to unbuckle their Tents at the News and said If they came they should pay for our lying in the Cold so long but it proved only a small Party who took two or three of our Men Prisoners as they were stragling Thursday the 7 th of November the Regiments above-named marched the Hills as we went along being all covered with Snow for what was Rain in the Valley was Snow on the Mountains several that were not able to march up were forced to be
or about the City of Dublin after the 25 th of December next And now His Majesty designing for Holland and having thoughts of making my Lord Sidney one of the Secretaries of State sent for him over who on Monday the 15 th of December Embarqued with a Fair Wind for Chester leaving every one sorry for his departure in that by his Affable and Courteous Demeanor and his Diligence in His Majesties Service he had gain'd the Hearts of all People And on the 24 th Sir Charles Porter one of the Lords Justices came from England who on the 29 th was sworn Lord Chancellor receiving the Purse and Great Seal from the late Commissioners Part of the Army march to Lanesborough We had now a part of our Army on their March towards Lanesborough-Pass Commanded by Major General Kirk and Sir John Laneir the Foot were my Lord Lisburn's Regiment my Lord George Hambleton's part of Col. Brewer's some of Major General Kirk's and several others A Party of the Militia also were ordered from Dublin and those in the Country were to be up on all hands At the same time Lieutenant General Douglas was to march towards Sligo and fall upon the Irish on that side On Wednesday the 31 st of December part of our Army under Colonel Brewer went towards Lanesborough The Enemy appeared on the Bog on this side the Town being as they say nigh Three Thousand and had cut several Trenches cross the Causeys that go through the Bog towards the Town these they disputed for some time but losing some of their Men they retired into Town and from thence to beyond the Shanon defacing the Fort on this side and breaking the Bridge behind them You 'll say they were not very closely pursued that had time to do all this However our Men took possession of the Town and Fort as they had left it and if we had had the Boats we might have gone over the Enemy quitting the other side for at least Three Days but then we were too small a Party and before the rest of our Men came up Three Regiments of the Irish were posted on the other side the River and then little hapned of moment only some small Firings and sometimes they made Truces Colonel Clifford and the other Irish Officers drinking Healths over to our Men and those on our side returning the Complement When this Party marched to Lanesborough there was a Detachment of 300 Men out of L. Drogheda's Sir Jo. Hanmer's and Col. Hambleton's Regiments ordered from Bi r to joyn them and so to cross the Country from Bi r to Mullingar But in their March they were set upon by about Fifteen Hundred of the Irish Army and Rapparees Our Party had but Thirty Dragoons with them and the Enemy brought several Squadrons of Horse and though we were attack'd for at least Five Hours together and that at several places of great disadvantage yet they fought their way through and went that Night to Mountmelick having lost only Six Men and Captain Jeffreys of Sir John Hanmer's Regiment but the Irish got all our Baggage This Party was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bristow and Major Caulfield Rapparees in the Bog of Allen The Rapparees by this time were got to the end of the Bog of Allen about Twelve Miles from Dublin this Bog is the largest in Ireland for it reaches through a great part of the Country from hence as far as Athlone and is at least Forty Miles in length having several Islands full of Woods in the midst of it These robb'd and plundered the Country all about for they had an Island on this end of the Bog which they fortified coming out in the Night and doing all the Mischief they could This being so nigh Dublin it made a great noise so that Colonel Fouks with his own Regiment part of Colonel Cutts's and some of the Militia marched out towards them and coming near them in the Night at a place called Tougher Greggs at the entrance of the Bog of Allen he stay'd there till it was light and then advanced upon the Causey having Three Field-Pieces along with him Defeated by Col. Fouks The Irish at first seem'd to defend the Place but as we went forwards they quitted their Posts leaving our Men to fill up the Trenches they had made cross the Causey being Twelve in number Colonel Fouks marched his Horse over and so went to the Island of Allen where he found Lieutenant Colonel Piper who had passed thither on the other side at the same rate The Irish betook themselves to the Woods and we only got some little things they had left It 's thought they had a Thousand Foot thereabouts besides some Horse though most of them that made this Disturbance at this place were only Two Hundred Boys with an old Tory their Commander Who were admitted to administer the Oath and why And now the Lords Justices and Council issue out Two more Proclamations one forbidding all Persons whatsoever except the Lord Mayor Recorder and Sheriffs of Dublin to administer the Oath or give Certificates to the Papists Because some took upon them for Money to certifie they had sworn when they did not or else gave them the Oath without the word Allegiance as did Sir Humphrey Jervace who was imprisoned and fined Three Hundred Marks for it afterwards The other Proclamation required all that had bought any of the Train-Horses or Utensils to bring them in by such a Day For the Carters and Waggoners were very careless and either sold the Horses or suffered them to be stole Maj. Gen. Tetteau marches from Cork with a part of the Army About the time that Lieutenant General Douglas and Major General Kirk marched from the North and South Major General Tetteau marched also in the West towards the County of Kerry and if they all had pusht forwards at one time it had been a great advantage to our Affairs next Campaign All things seem'd to favour the Attempt especially the Weather better never being seen for the Season Major General Tetteau marched from Cork December 28. and on the 29 th was joyned by Brigadeer Churchill Sir David Collier Colonel Coy and a part of Colonel Matthews's Dragoons and the day following they marched through the Country which the Irish had for the most part burnt after they had carried away whatever they could month January On New Years-Day our Men attackt a Fort at a place called Scronclard which was intended to hinder their passage that way We took it in Two Hours though it 's said the Enemy imploy'd 500 Men for Two Months to build it This show'd their Diligence though not their Courage these Two Vertues are sometimes divided between us and them but not always both on either side Near Brewster's Field we discovered some of the Enemies Scouts whereupon Seventy of Eppingar's Dragoons and Colonel Coy's Horse having the Advance-Guard came near a Party of the Enemy of One Hundred
the Forage or at least make it unserviceable to the Enemy But to return to our own Camp Coll. Coy sent abroad with a Party Monday the 9 th in the Afternoon Coll. Coy went out with a Party of 200 Horse to scour the Country but met with none of the Enemy for they were in a doubtful Condition what measures to take The 10 th Little hapned of moment only the General rid out to observe the Countrey the Popish Chappel in Town was made a Store-house and amongst other Papers of like nature I found one that sometime before had been given to the Priest To pray for the Shoule of Brian Rhode The 11 th There came a Gentleman from the Enemy who told the Duke that their Numbers were not so great as was reported and the Trumpet returned that was sent formerly to the Duke of Berwick for they kept him on purpose for some days that he might not give an Account of their Condition till their Army was got together Thursday the 12 it was given out in Orders That Forage should be fetched from beyond the Town towards the Enemy and that if any Soldier would thresh Corn and bring it to the Commissary he should be paid for it the full value The Majors were ordered to see the Arms of their respective Regiments kept clean and the Soldiers to leave off firing in the Camp because that some unskilful Fellows had done mischief to our own men That none of the Soldiers should Rob or Plunder the Country-people and that there should be a Reserve-Guard appointed in every Regiment consisting of a Captain Lieutenant Ensign and fifty men to be always ready to draw out upon all Occasions Bread brought to the Camp Friday the 13. Two Hundred and Four Load of Bread came to the Camp and four Ships came to Carlingford A Report was in the Camp that our Horse who went a foraging in the morning were engaged with the Enemy which occasioned the General to ride out and all the Collonels that were in Town were ordered to the Camp but the Business was only thus A Party of the Enemies Horse appeared at a distance whilst a Party of ours and some of Collonel Levisons Dragoons were tying up their Forage upon their Horses our Men seeing the Enemy appear threw down their Forage drew up and march'd to meet them as our Men advanc'd they drew back till they were out of sight when our Men had got up their Forage again the Enemy appeared a second time and so a third till a greater Party of Horse went out After this the Duke always ordered a Party of One Hundred Horse to cover the Foragers whilst they were at work The Duke goes to Carlingford but few Ships as yet arrived Next day the Duke went to Carlingford longing to see the Fleet but only four Ships were come and those the night before the Weather then was very tempestuous and orders were given out how the men should receive their Bread this was very good News to them for it had been very scarce ever since we left Belfast but to say truth the Bread we had then and during our stay at Dundalk was full as good in its kind as any we have had since In the Evening we had News The Irish come and encamp at the Bridge of Slane that the Irish Army was come as far as Ardee and part of them to the Bridge of Slane within three Miles of us where they encamped and where their whole Army staid afterwards for some time This Evening it was given out in Orders That none that went a foraging should pass the Horse Out-guards and that the Horse might cut Wood for their Stables and also the Foot for their conveniency so that this was the first publick appearance of our staying here News of the Danes coming Then the Report of the Danes coming was first spread abroad and that we deferred meeting the Enemy upon that account about this time also landed Collonel Viller's Regiment of Horse having suffered much in a Storm and lost one hundred and four Horses In two or three days most of the Wood about Town as also most of the Fruit-Trees in my Lord Bedloe's Orchard were cut down And Sunday the 15th It was ordered that a Collonel should go the Rounds every night and the Officer of the Guard to give him the Word Our Entrenchments begun The Right Wing was to furnish Monsieur Cambon Quarter-master-General with two hundred Men to work at the Trenches at the west-West-end of the Town next the Enemy where we planted several Field-Pieces and it was not easie for the Enemy to break in upon us that way the Majors were ordered a pound of Powder for each Man and to take care it should be delivered as there was occasion Monday the 16th Six Hundred Men were ordered to work at the Trenches which the Duke saw then convenient to draw round his Camp since he had an Enemy that was too strong for him very near and therefore he must put it out of their power to force him to fight for Wo be to that Army which by an Enemy is made to fight against its will And this is the Advantage of an Entrenched Camp that none can compel you to give Battel but when you please This Method has been practised very much of late especially by the French and yet it is no new thing it being very much in use amongst the Romans yet before the vanquished Pirrhus King of the Epirots they never used any Entrenchments but lay in the open Fields but having found that Princes Army entrenched they liked it so well that ever afterwards they practised it themselves A Battalion mounts to the Trenches But not to digress too far a Battalion was ordered to march next night into the Trenches at the West-end of the Town which was Major-General Kirks no Officers nor Soldiers were to stir out of the Camp all the Collonels were to send for their Detachments that were abroad except that at Newry The Captain that commanded at Bedloes Town that was an House of my Lord Bedloe's about half a mile to the North-West of Dundalk where we had a Guard if the Enemy appeared was to march to the Camp through Dundalk and that a Party of one hundred Foot lye by the Horse-Guard that Night This day or the next came Collonel Tiffins and the rest of the Iniskillin Foot and encamped towards the North-West of the Town but within the Trenches on very safe Ground as did also their Horse What Brigadees of Foot we had Our Brigadeers of Foot were Sir Henry Bellassis Sir John Hanver Brigadeer Stuart and Mounsieur La Millinere we had only one Brigadeer of Horse who was Collonel Villers The General 's Orders for the ordinary Guards Then the General gave the following Orders to be observed and Detachments to be made out of all the four Brigades of Foot as followeth viz. One Brigade was to