with his coming and desired his Orders about Landing the two Regiments on board by the second from Red-Castle about Two in the Afternoon having some information of their being gone out to fight the Enemy at Clady he wrote the following Letter From on Board the Swallow near Red-Castle at Two in the Afternoon April the 15th 1689. SIR HEaring you have taken the Field in order to fight the Enemy I have thought it fit for their Majesties Service to let you know there are two well disciplin'd Regiments here on Board that may joyn you in two days at farthest I am sure they will be of great use in any occasion but especially for the encouragement of Raw men as I judge most of yours are therefore it is my opinion that you only stop the Passes at the Fords of Finn till I can joyn you and afterwards if giving Battle be necessary you will be in a much better posture for it than before I must ask your pardon if I am too free in my advice according the remote prospect I have of things this seems most reasonable to me but as their Majesties have left the whole direction of matters to you so you shall find that no man living will more chearfully obey you than your most humble Servant John Cuningham Having no Answer to either he sent a third Messenger from Culmore-Castle about Nine at Night to desire his Orders which he was ready to execute but he received no answer from Governour Lundy till that Evening of which in its due order This day a considerable party of the Irish Horse Marched from Strabane to Clady some of their Foot being there before them our men had the week before broke down some Arches of the Bridge and had made a Breast-work at the end of it Our Forces at Derry Marched about Eight or Nine in the Morning towards Long-Causey Lifford and Clady many Troops and Companies were gathering from several parts to joyn them in all above 10000. A party of the Enemy that attempted to Ford the River at Castle-Fin was repulsed by a party of Collonel Skeffingtons Regiment posted there Another small party of our men about 30 Dragoons of Collonel Stewarts Regiment Commanded by Captain Murray after most of the few Foot posted there were beat off opposed the Enemies coming over at Cladyford till all their Ammunition was spent But there was no more Ammunition sent them nay so strangely had the Governour managed things that most part of the Ammunition was but coming from Derry about three or four Miles out of it when some part of our Forces were fleeing thither upon their retreat And Major Stroud who had some Horse near the Ford was so ill plac't that he could not bring them on where they were so exposed to the Enemies shot thô he earnestly endeavour'd it so that they were forc't to retire from the Bridge the Enemy perceiving this and observing the scatter'd condition of our men several Troops of their Horse rush't into the River and swam through one Major Nangle and another Officer were drown'd When they got over they were as Gordon O-Neal since told me in terrible fear least we should have fallen upon them for the Waters being high they had scarce a dry shot left But Governour Lundy was so far from putting the Protestant Forces into any posture to oppose them that upon notice of their entring the Ford he gave Orders to all thereabouts to flee to Derry himself leading the way but sent none to other parts of the Army which never met in any considerable body Upon this News of the Irish Horse being got over the Foot posted at Lifford that were shooting at a Party of Irish cross the River at Strabane were called off and retired to the Pass at Long Causey Collonel Franc. Hamilton stopt those that fled there and drew 'em up in good order behind that Pass expecting the Irish would take that way and Lundy would come thither from Rapho But the Irish Horse chiefly pursued those that took the way to Rapho where they did great Execution on Coll. Mountgomery's Regiment of Foot there being no tolerable care taken to bring 'em off And they had been all cut off if they had not got into Boggs and Marishy places to secure themselves from the Enemies Horse The Forces at the Long Causey staid there till towards evening but fearing the Enemy might come from Rapho to intercept their passage to Derry they retired thither So inexcusable was the Conduct of the General both in abandoning so many Passes and those so easily defensible by a few men if they had been either supplyed with Ammunition or constantly reliev'd and in never so much as attempting to draw the Forces into a Body when there were in the Field above 10000 men who whatever he pretended to the contrary wanted more care and resolution in their Leader than Courage in themselves But whether this ill Conduct must be ascrib'd to negligence or design the Reader must be left to judge by his following actions Governour Lundy being come into Town order'd the Centinels to shut the Gates so that many Officers Soldiers and private Gentlemen were forc'd that Night to lye about the Walls and the reason that he since publickly gave for it is not unworthy the Readers notice viz. To preserve the Provisions which he knew to be sufficient for 3000 men for 3 Months after the rate of 4 pounds of Fish 3 pounds of Flesh and 8 quarts of Meal per Week for each Man And though this was very far from being a just Acconnt yet how very different a one he gave the Officers of the two Regiments on board will appear by what follows Governour Lundy this Night sent back Major Tiffin Captain Lyndon and Captain Cornwall Commander of the Swallow Frigat as appears by a Certificate annext at the end with the following Answer to Coll. Cuningham's Message To Coll. John Cuningham SIR I Am come back much sooner than I expected when I went forth for having numbers placed on Fin-water as I went to a Pass where a few might oppose a greater number than came to the place I found them on the run before the Enemy who pursued with great Vigour and I fear March on with their Forces so that I wish your men would March all Night in good order least they be surprized here they shall have all the accommodation the place will afford in this hurry pardon me for this brevity the rest the bearer will inform you I rest Sir London-Derry April 15. 1689. Your faithful Servant Robert Lundy If the Men be not landed let 'em land and march immediately Sir Since the writing of this Major Tiffen is come here and I have given him my Opinion fully which I believe when you hear and see the place you will both joyn with me that without an immediate supply of Money and Provisions this place must fall very soon into the Enemys hands If you do not send your
the Enemies Horse being hot in the pursuit of them Our Foot that were at the Mill had done great Execution on the Enemy but observing the Horse were generally fled except a small Party which continued with Coll. Murray they came down to the Strand-side and lined the Ditches And the Enemies Horse that pursued ours having no other way to come back but that our Men fir'd so thick on them at their return that very few of all that Party escap'd This day when this dispute was begun the Enemy in the Afternoon brought the Cannon they had ply'd us with down to the Point opposite to our Men on the Strand and play'd over warmly at them though without any Execution 'till one of our Guns from the Walls disabled their Gun and kill'd the Gunner and others We could have no certain account how many of the Enemy were kill'd they were said to be above 200 We lost 9 or 10 viz. Lieut. Mac Phedris Cornet Brown Mr. Mackee one Harkness and 5 or 6 more private Soldiers several were wounded We got only one Standard but considerable spoil of Horse Arms Cloaks Saddles Watches Money c. This Prey did not a little quicken the Appetites and animate the Resolutions of the Soldiers in their Sallies afterterwards the manner whereof to suggest that here was usually this That when any Officer of note with a few more attending him was about to go out all that were willing to hazard themselves in the Enterprize followed them as Volunteers The Persons of note said to be kill'd on the Enemys side were General Mammau Major Taaff Major Waggon Major General Pusignian Quarter-Master Cassore Capt. Fitzgerald April 23. The Enemy planted two Cannons in the lower end of Strong 's Orchard near 80 Perches distant from the Town on the other side the Water over against Ship-key-street these threw Ball of about ten pound weight each with these they play'd so incessantly on that street piercing the Garrets and Walls that some were hurt and few durst stay above stairs The Besieged having made a Blind in that street to preserve the People repay them from the Walls in the same coyn and kill'd Lieut. Fitz-patrick Lieut. Con Oneal 2 Serjeants some Soldiers and as was reported 2 lusty Friars April 25. Collonel Murray with some Horse and a good Party of Foot sally out and beat the Besiegers that had got into the Ditches out of them Some few of our Foot had pursued too far A Party of the Enemies Horse coming suddenly about the end of the little Hill forc'd 'em to retire back to the rest of our Party who observing the Enemies Horse to advance so quick towards them took themselves to the Ditch by the way side and fired so briskly and continually on them that they were forc'd to flee Our men pursue them down to Penny-burn-mill and press'd so hard upon them that their Dragoons who were beat from the old Mill near an English Mile up the same water that Penny-burn-mill stands on left their Horses and came down to assist their Foot and some Horse who were in hazard at Penny-burn-mill Our Men kept them at warm service till towards the Evening and return'd when wearied without any loss A party of Men that went out late to be a rereguard to our Men at the Mill were beat in by a party of Horse that were dispatch'd with each a Footman behind him from the Enemies Camp but without loss This day Collonel Murray Major Nath. Bull Capt. Obrey Capt. John Kennedy Capt. Arch. Sanderson Capt. Mich. Cunningham Capt. Will. Beatty and Capt. Will Moor and others behaved themselves with great bravery The Dispute at both the Mills was very sharp and lasted some time What number of the Enemy was kill'd we could not learn We lost but two Men and had 8 or 10 wounded who recovered This Night Major Parker left this City and deserted their Majesties Service here on this occasion A rereguard of Foot had been left to defend our Men from a Party of the Enemy which we on the Walls saw coming on them These Major Parker was too slow and negligent in bringing off according to his Orders whereby they were exposed to great danger from the Enemy For this misbehaviour he was threatned with a Court-Martial which he took this course to avoid The Enemy planted their Mortar-pieces first in Strongs Orchard on the other side of the water and threw into Town some small Bombs which did not much hurt Our Ammunition was put into several places as the Church dry Wells Cellars c. At this time that there might be a good understanding and harmony among the Besieged it was agreed to by Governour Baker that the Conformists should have the Cathedral-Church the one half of the Lord's day during the whole time of the Siege and the Non-conformists the other half the latter entering at 12 had two Sermons there every Afternoon besides two or three other Meetings in other parts of the City In their Assemblies there were every Lords-day considerable Collections for the relief of the poor People and the sick and wounded Soldiers who had otherwise perisht for any care was taken of them And they had the use of the Cathedral every Thursday Governour Baker together with Coll. Walker who was also complemented with the Title of Governour but always understood with reference to the Stores the oversight whereof was besides his Regiment the only trust committed to him by the Garrison to examine the Stores and continue the old Store-keepers in their several places till our Stores began to fail and then all was put into one Store-house which was carefully kept by Mr. Jo. Harvey and his Brother Samuel all the time of the Siege There were persons appointed to search all Cellars and what Provisions they found there which had been plentifully laid in by private Gentlemen and others of the Country they brought to the Store and these were the support of the Garrison Some of the chief Officers spoke to the N. C. Ministers to be Chaplains to their Regiments as others to some of the Conformists Collonel Walker invited my self to be his the generality of his Officers as well as Soldiers being Nonconformists yet the Nonconformist Ministers received no allowance out of the Stores Some of them had brought to Town a considerable stock of Provisions of their own which was taken to the publick Store-house and others of them lived on their own money The Conformist Ministers generally were maintained by the store for some time and after that had 2 s. 6 d. a week paid them while the others had no such allowance which had like to have been resented to a high degree in the Garrison if some that considered our present circumstances had not been careful to prevent it About the 27th of April Captain Darcy mentioned before one that was brought from Scotland by Captain Hamilton before the Siege and left Prisoner here having fled from England where he was one
first maintained by Sir Arthur Rawden his Lieutenant Collonel Mr. Hawkins concurring with him but afterwards the Countrey contributed to the Expence The Consult had ordered the surprizal of Carickfergus some Protestants in the Town were acquainted with it and the design laid Febr. 21. in the night 1000 foot march from Belfast towards it under the Command of Lieutenant Collonel Bremicham and Major Baker but the Weather being bad and the way tedious it was clear day before they reach'd the Town when they were within a mile of it Bremicham stop'd 'em on pretence of two passages in a Letter he had from the Lord Mount Alexander Sir William Franklin and Mr. Hamilton of Tillimore The one was That he should do nothing in Carickfergus without Mr. Henry Davis's Advice who was then in the Town The other that they would be with him at the hour of Action The Garrison thro this delay had so much notice of their approach as enabled 'em to put themselves in some posture of Defence The Earl of Mount Alexander Sir Arthur Rawden and other Gentlemen came with 4 or 500 Horse not doubting the success of the Foot but found the foremost party of 'em and those on the Walls firing at one another Mark Talbot Lieutenant Collonel to the Earl of Antrim came out to know the reason of this Attempt He was told the stores of Carickfergus had been always under a Protestant Governour That being now in other hands they came to demand it for the Prince of Orange especially to prevent the Insolencies and Robberies of the Souldiers They also offer'd terms to the Garrison which Talbot promised to acquaint the Earl of Antrim with Upon his return it was agreed That Collonel Cormack Oneal who had then his Regiment in Town should disband it and lay down his Commission and he and they having Protections to return to their several dwellings That the Garrison should be kept by a few of the Earl of Antrim's Regiment who should never have above a weeks Provisions at once That the Protestants in Town should have a Guard as well as the Papists of equal number without any disturbance from the Castle That the value of what had been plundered should be restored That all Letters from the Papists to Dublin should be sent open to the Consult at Hillsborough and particularly such a Letter sent from the Earl of Antrim and Cormack O Neal by one of their number to give the Lord Tyrconnel an Account of that Affair as he Protestants should approve of A Letter was accordingly sent sign'd by both sides but Fryar O Haggerty was upon Mr. Randal Brice's Recommendation suffered to be the Bearer who understood as much as any in the Garrison could dictate to him and gave the Lord Tyrconnel the following too true Account of the Condition of the North viz. That they were untrain'd and had few experienced Officers That the most part were without Arms and such as had 'em their Arms were unfixt and unfit for service They were very much scattered and their number not near what had been written and was confidently reported in Dublin that they wanted all Ammunition and necessary Provisions for appearing in the Field The Lord Tyrconnel who had deferred for 20 days to send down his Army after it had been first agreed on in Council upon this Information resolved to dispatch the most Considerable and best trained part of it under the Command of Lieutenant General Hamilton From the 23d of February to the 11th of March several Skirmishes happened between the Irish Garrison at Newry or the Rapparees and the Frontier Garrisons of the North. The latter being frequently employ'd to rescue Preys of Cattel which those Ravenous Beasts seiz'd and endeavour'd to carry away Two Letters from Dublin one of the 22d the other of the 25th of February arrived in the North one giving an account of the preparations making against 'em at Dublin the other relating the disarming the Protestants there But their confident expectation of Succors from England and their conceit of Tyrconnels fears made them too slow in their measures They did indeed send to C. Lundy at Derry to bring down what he cou'd spare of the Forces of Derry Tyrone and Donnegal to their assistance and offer'd him the Command of their whole Army C. Lundy promised to bring with him 1000 men well appointed out of each of the three Counties with a train of Artillery and to be with 'em on a certain day which was about a Fortnight before the Descent of the Irish Army Upon which the Consult ordered Hillsbrough to be stockt with all necessary provisions for an Army But C. Lundy failed their expectations in this as he did in every thing else afterwards that concerned their common safety The 9th of March Captain Leighton returned with a Letter see in the end from his Majesty to the Earl of Mount Alexander to be communicated to the rest of the Nobility and Gentry approving their endeavours for their own defence c. He brought over also Commissions for all the Regiments in the Counties of Antrim Down Ardmagh and Monaghan except two that were not raised when Captain Leighton left the North and assured 'em of speedy relief telling them some of the Cannon and Ammunition were shipt and 15000 men ready at the Waterside c. Upon his coming King William and Queen Mary were Proclaimed in the Towns that were in the North-East part of Ulster with all the expressions of Duty and Affection which became their high obligations to their Majesties as well as their hopes from 'em and in some before his Arrival The same day Mr. Osborn arrived at Hillsborough with a Message which the Lord Tyrconnel had permitted him to deliver But the real design of his coming was to prevent their being surprized with the descent of the Irish Army to give 'em the best information and advice in order to their defence to which he earnestly urged 'em a fuller account whereof the Reader may see in his Vindication 11th of March the Irish Army came to Newry Sir Arthur Rawden being then at Loch-bricklan sent to the Consult for more Forces to defend that place But being that Night informed that the whole Irish Army would be there next Morning and the Consult acquainting him that they had no Forces ready to be sent and advising him to retire to Dromore he ordered the inhabitants that Night to pack up their Goods sent his Foot to Guard them and with his Horse secured their retreat The Inhabitants went on to Belfast and the Sea Coasts 12th of March the Garrison at Rathfryland with the Inhabitants abandoned the place and came to Dromore and that Night the Irish Army came to Loch-bricklan This day Cap. Hugh Mac-Gill brought his Troop of 80 Dragoons from the Ardes to Dromore Sir Arthur Rawden sent to Hillsbrough for an 100 good Musketeers but they came not nor the other Forces expected from other parts 13th of March the Irish Army
of King James's party had a pass given him by our Governour to go with Horse and Arms which he accordingly did Lieutenant Collonel Whitney had sold him some Horses which were said to be none of his own Upon which and other misdemeanours Whitney was confined and afterwards tried by a Council of War and found guilty of being no friend to this Garrison for which he was under confinement during the time of the Siege About this time Captain Lance is chosen Collonel to Colerain Regiment which Parker had deserted and Captain Monro is chosen Collonel to Whitneys's Regiment So that now all the Regiments had their Collonels which continued so during the whole time of the Siege Governour Bakers Regiment of Foot consisting of 26 Companies Collonel Mitchelburn's of 17 Companies Collonel Walker's of 14 Companies Collonel Monro's of 12 Companies Collonel Lance's of 13 Companies Collonel Hamill's of 15 Companies Collonel Croston's of 12 Companies Collonel Murray's Regiment of Horse consisting of 8 Troops Besides these Men that were Regimented there were several Volunteers in Town who did good service as Captain Joseph Johnston who was very careful to have good Padrolls kept Captain William Crooke and Mr. David Kennedy and many others who were frequently out upon Service the first of these having his Leg broke with a piece of a Bomb whereof he died About the beginning of May Collonel Mitchelburn was suspected by Governour Baker and the Garrison The Governour confined him to his Chamber betwixt whom there was some little scuffle when he was apprehended He continued under the rules of Confinement but was never tried by a Council of War What the grounds of the suspition were is too tedious to relate but he was afterwards nominated by Baker Governour during his sickness About the same time Governour Baker fearing lest Enemies within the Town should work Mines in Cellars near the Walls took with him Mr. William Mackie one of the Citizens that was very active and industrious for defence of the Town And they two search't all Cellars near the Walls under pretence of examining the Provisions but found nothing of what they feared Few days pass'd while the Enemies Camp were coming nearer to us but Collonel Murray Captain Noble Captain Dumbar Captain Andr. Adams afterwards Major Captain Wilson Captain Arch. Hamilton Captain Beatty Captain Sanderson Junior whose Father Captain Alexander Sanderson was very useful in the Garrison So were also Major Alex. Stuart Major John Dobbins Cap. Char. Shaw Cap. Sam. Wright Cap. James Mac-Cormick Cap. Bashford Cap. Cuningham Lieut. Dunlop Lieut. Maghlin or some of them went out with small parties and sometimes private Soldiers only and they seldom returned without doing some execution on the Enemy or bringing in some small prey Captain Noble and others found several Letters in the Pockets of the slain giving them some Intelligence particularly about the surrender of Culmore We were informed that Lundy as he passed by sent a Message to them that Derrry was surrendred This added to the discouragement they were under having little Ammunition and 8 of the Guns being before sent up to Town by Captain Jemmet on Lundy's orders is said to have inclin'd them to follow the Example May the 5th About the Middle of that Night the Besiegers under the Command of Brigadeer Ramsey came to the Wind-Mill and beat in our Out-Guards which were but few and possessed themselves of that place and before Sun-rising had a Line drawn from the Bog to the Water it was old Ditches which they quickly made up Early on May the 6th Governour Baker and other Officers were about detaching 10 out of every Company to attack them but the men were impatient and run out of their own accord some at Bishops-gate others at Ferry-Key-gate their number being thus encreased they advanced on the Enemy who were come into the Ditches and old Walls and beat them from Ditch to Ditch till they were got into the Line they had made where they so continually fired on them that they forced them to quit the Line they had drawn and flee for it Our men pursued them so close that they came to Club-Musquet with it But their Foot and Dragoons flee in great confusion Ramsey endeavoured to rally them but to no purpose For he and several other Officers were killed on the place our men pursued them beyond all the Ditches to the top of the Hill and drove Foot and Horse all before them They returned about 12 a Clock The Enemy lost on the place about 200 many of them shot in the Face Forehead and Breast over their own Line as they were firing a great number also died of the wounds they then received In this action we got 4 or 5 Colours several Drums Fire-Arms some Ammunition and good store of Spades Shovels and Pick-axes Of the Enemy these Persons of Note were killed viz. Brigadeer Gen. Ramsay Capt. Barnwell Capt. Fox Capt. Flemming Lieutenant Kelley Lieutenant Welsh Ensign Barnwell Ensign Kadel And the Persons following were taken Prisoners Lord Nettervile Sir Gerrard Aylmer Lieutenant Collonel Talbot Lieutenant Newcomen We lost but 3 or 4 private Men and some wounded particularly Lieutenant Douglass who afterwards died May the 7th Governour Baker desires the Enemy to send some private Soldiers and an Officer to bury their dead which they did after a very careless manner This week Governour Baker with the advice of some Officers resolves on drawing a line cross the Windmill hill from the Bogg to the Water They set Men to work and soon finish'd it and afterwards secur'd it with Redoubts the better to defend our Men from a Cannon the Enemy planted on the other side the Water directly opposite to the end of the Works our Men had made there He also orders every Regiment to be by turns on Guard Night and Day at this new line on the Windmill hill but afterward the Guard was kept by Detachments out of each occasioned by a suspicion of an Officer on that out-guard About this time the 2 Captains Closses left us and took Protection May 10. Lieutenant Mitchel went away also and came again with Major Gen. Kirk into the Lough About the same time Mr. John Brisben a Curate left the Town and took Protection A Party of our Men about 200 under the Command of Lieutenant Coll. Blair were gone out and were posted among the Ditches doing some Execution on the Enemy A great Party of the Enemy were coming down on them whom our men in the hollow could not see but those on the Walls seeing them Coll. Murray rides a long Bog street and tho a Party of the Enemy behind a Ditch fir'd incessantly at him he went on to the place to warn them of the danger so that they came off safely Capt. Rickaby was shot in the Arm. The Besiegers soon after plac'd a Camp at Ballingry and another at Penny-burn-mill and a third at the Orchard beyond the water They kept the Guards so strictly along the water
present the joyful Prospect not only of the Siege being soon rais'd but of being furnisht with Provisions which then grew very scarce as appears by the Allowance our Men then had from the Stores They were already Reduc't to such Straits that where they could find a Horse a Grazing near the Windmil they would kill and eat him But when we saw them lye in the Lough without any Attempt to come up it cast a cold damp on our too confident hopes and sunk us as low as we were rais'd at the first sight of them Upon the appearing of the Ships the Enemy seem'd to be in a mighty Consternation We observ'd a great Motion in their Camp of pulling down Tents as we heard in order to decamping And many of their common Soldiers as the Country people inform'd us changed their red Coats and ran away But the Terror was soon over when they saw them make no great Attempt to come up tho they had both Wind and Tide to assist them And the Enemy quickly began to draw down their Cannon and soon after to raise Batteries at Charlesfort where they planted some of their Guns to oppose the Ships coming up to our Relief And some time after they begun to make a Boom cross the River from that Fort to Brook-Hall directly opposite to it This first Boom was made of Oak-Beams chain'd together with Iron and great Cables twisted about them For a week together we saw them making some Preparations for this Boom cross the River as drawing of Timber c. We afterwards saw several Boats on the Water busied about it but as the Country people since inform'd us it was not intirely finisht till about a fortnight after the Ships appear'd in the Lough But this Boom when finisht was useless to their design because it did not Float and it was broke by the great Tides After this they made another of Fir-Beams chain'd as the other was This Floated and serv'd their purpose better But this latter Boom or what was lest of it the Mountjoy of Derry broke June 16th Coll. Walker had propos'd to agree with the Enemy to take 500 l. ransom for Lieut. Coll. Talbot A sort of Council was held in Gov. Baker's Chamber wherein this was carried but Gov. Baker perceiving it to be ill resented in the Garrison declin'd it But Coll. Walker urg'd it with some violence and threats against those that oppos'd it and order'd the Bier that should carry him away to be this day brought to his Lodging at which the multitude were so enrag'd that Mr. Walker should take so much on him that they took the Bier and made a fire of it in the Main-guard They search'd for Mr. Walker who had fled for sanctuary to Baker's Chamber in the Bishop's House Not finding him immediately they took all the Prisoners that were able to walk from their several Lodgings and carried them to Gaol They had searcht Mr. Walker's own Lodging whence they took the Beer Mum Butter which they found to the Store And being inform'd that Mr. Walker was in the Bishops-house they pursued him some threatning to shoot him others to send him to the Gaol Governour Baker to whom they pay'd a great deference came out though indispos'd to pacifie them engag'd there should be no ransom taken for the Prisoners entreated them for his sake to pass by what Mr. Walker had done and suffer the Prisoners to go to their own Lodgings again all which they with some difficulty consented to at Governour Baker's entreaty What construction the multitude put on this Practice of Mr. Walker's I think not fit to mention We afterwards offer'd to release Lieut. Coll. Talbot on Condition they would permit a Messenger to go and return from the Ships but this would not be granted and soon after Talbot died and put an end to this Dispute About this time the Feaver Flux and other Distempers grew rife and a great mortality spread it self through the Garrison as well as the Inhabitants insomuch as it was observ'd that 15 Captains or Lieutenants died in one day And the Garrison being in great strait for want of Provisions some of the Citizens and others concern'd for the publick good met call'd the Captain of the Gunners Alexander Watson and order'd the Gunners who for the most part liv'd in Town to make diligent search for Provisions which they did to good purpose for digging up Cellars and other places they got much Provision under the ground which some that went away and others during the Siege had hid And many that saw how sincerely concern'd they were for the safety of the place brought forth their Provisions of their own accord By this means the Garrison was furnisht with Bread though the allowance was little 'till the end of the Siege Our Iron-bullet was much spent but this defect was supplied with Lead-bullets made with pieces of Brick in the middle of them Will. Brown Adjutant to Governour Baker's Regiment was industrious and dexterous in this piece of Service There was Oats Shilling and Malt in Town which could not be used for want of Mills therefore Capt. Gregory and some other Work men took care to have a Horse-mill built as also to have Carriages made for the Guns some of which were so out of order that sometimes we could not use them when we wanted them About this time since the Enemy had so barr'd us up from getting any Messenger sent to the Ships for Intelligence the Besieged built a Boat none being here to go down by Water Lieut. Crookshanks took care of this and some of our men in the night attempted to go down in it but they were beat back by the Enemies shot from each side of the Water June 17. or thereabouts Gover. Baker's Distemper encreases and he becomes dangerously ill and Coll. Mitchelburn was deputed by Baker Governour during his Sickness June 18. Coll. Murray Capt. Noble Capt. Dumbar Capt. Homes two Lieutenants and about 20 more went up the Water in the Night in our New Boat 't was given out to rob the Fish-houses in the Isse but the real Design was to land a Messenger or two in a Wood about 4 Miles up the River to send to Inniskillin But the Enemy soon took the Alarm and as the Boat pass'd by Evans Wood they fir'd a great Gun planted there at her which narrowly miss'd her As our Men went further up the Enemy fir'd at them on both sides the shore But when they came up to Dunnelong Wood where they design'd to land their 2 Messengers the Boys were so terrified that they durst not venture ashore and it being now early in the Morning our Men discovered two large Boats behind them which the Enemy had set out and mann'd with Dragoons to cut off their return Our Men made towards them and soon came to a very sharp engagement for after their shot being spent on both sides one of the Enemys Boats came up close to theirs thinking