that belonged to Mr. Dixy Dean of Kilmore and made Prisoner the Deans Eldest Son who was Captain of a Troop of Horse Edward Charleton his Cornet and about eight or ten of his Troopers upon news of which all the Garrisons about broke up some setting fire to their own Houses and the whole Country fled to us without knowing who or what number of men were come against them The Lord Gilmoy animated by their running away and thinking by their example to drive the whole Countty before him came with his Souldiers to Belturbet and next day sent a party to besiege Crom in the County of Fermanagh a Castle standing on Loghearn about sixteen miles distant from Inniskillen it was under our protection and has been ever since our Frontier Garrison towards Dublin and his Lordship thinking to frighten that Garrison to a Compliance with his Demands sent two Canon made of Tin near a yard long in the Chase and about eight Inches wide strongly bound about with small Cord and covered with a sort of Buckram near the colour of a Canon These two mock Canon he drew towards Crom with eight Horses a peece making a great noise as if they were drawn with much difficulty As soon as they came before Crom he threatned to batter the Castle with these two great battering Guns and had the vanity to fire one of them which burst and had like as t' was said to have spoiled the Gunner But those within the Castle depending upon aid from Inniskillen denied to surrender and fired out at them from the Castle killing several Gilmoy continues the Siege and on Friday the 22th of March sent a Letter to the Governour of Inniskillen in the nature of a Summons acquainting him that King James was come to Dublin and that he was come with an Army to reduce that Country to his obedience and that by his Commission he had power to grant them better Conditions than they might ever expect from him afterwards if they were reduced by force Upon receipt of this Summons our Governour called his Officers together to consult what was fit to be done and all of them did unanimously conclude not to desert Inniskillen nor to submit to any but to King William and Queen Mary whom they had now Proclaim'd and accordingly return'd Lord Gilmoy an answer that they ow'd Allegiance to none but them nor wou'd they submit to any but to their Majesties or those Commissioned by them and so did prepare themselves the best they cou'd to defend the Town and to use what means they cou'd to relieve Crom. On Saturday the 23d of March early in the morning many of the County of Cavan-men left Inniskillen and march'd towards Derry in obedience as they said to Colonel Lundies orders And the same day in the afternoon our Governour drew out all the Horse and Foot he had under his Command to the common Hill near Inniskillen keeping them all day at their Arms expecting every hour to hear that the Lord Gilmoy was on his march towards us and resolved to give him battel before he came near the Town for ever since we took up Inniskillen we judged it adviseable rather to fight the Enemy at a distance from it than to let them lay Siege to it and we have hitherto done accordingly But seeing no Enemy appear all that day and our Scouts returning and bringing us word that Gilmoy came only the length of Lisnaskea a Village ten miles distant from the Town and that upon the news of our drawing out against him was retreated back with his men to the Siege of Crom. Our Governour therefore in the Night sent a detachment of about two hundred of his best armed men some by Land and some in Boats towards Crom hoping they might get into the Castle in the Night but it being day before they got there the Enemy used all the Endeavours they cou'd to keep our Boats from Landing at the Castle firing many Vollies at them but being bad marks-men killed only one old Boatman and did our men no farther harm but our men shot several of them dead from the Boats Landed at the Castle and having joyned those that were within they sallied out together and beat them from their Trenches killed between thirty and forty of them got the Fire arms of those that they killed took their two mock Canon one of which was left at Crom and the other brought to the Castle of Inniskillen got two suits of Armour and several other things of value and immediately after this the Lord Gilmoy quit the thoughts of any farther Siege against Crom and retreated to Belturbet At this time one Brian Mac Knaghor Mac Guir who had been a Captain in the Irish Army was a Prisoner with us at Crom. Him the Lord Gilmoy had a desire to release and the next day sent an Express to Captain Crighton the proprietor of the Castle of Crom and is Governour thereof proposing to exchange Captain Dixie for this Captain Mac Guir and desiring if the change were approved of that Capt. Mac Guir might be sent to him promising upon his Honour to return us Captain Dixie for him The exchange was very acceptable to the Govern our and all that were in the Castle of Crom but yet wou'd conclud nothing until they had the consent of the Governour of Inniskillen and the other Officers that were there and so sent an Express from Crom to Inniskillen for their Resolution The Messenger was immediately sent back to Captain Crighton with Orders from the Governour to go on with the Exchange Accordingly Captain Crighton sent Mac Guir to the Lord Gilmoy desiring that Captain Dixie might be returned to him according to his promise under his hand which Letter is in the hands of the Governour of Inniskillen But the Lord Gilmoy shewing what we may expect from the word and promise of a Papist as soon as he had Mac Guir in his hands called a Council of War on Captain Dixie and his Cornet Mr. Charleton where they were both found guilty and sentence of Death passed upon them for levying men by the Prince of Oranges Commission which was found in their Pockets and immediately they were desired to prepare to Die against the next day but in the mean time great endeavours were used and promises made them of life and preferment if they wou'd turn Papists and adhere to King James But they though both young men resolutely rejected the offer and preferr'd their Religion to the saving of their Lives And here I cannot but remember Mac Guires Carriage who as it was reported shewed an extraordinary concern for the Lord Gilmoyes breach of Faith he went to him and told him that his putting Mr. Dixie to death after his promise under his hand to return him wou'd be a perpetual stain to his honour and rather than he shou'd do so base a thing prayed that he might be return'd a prisoner back to Crom and that Mr. Dixies Life might
lay two or three Miles farther than Bellishany and they show'd no weariness at all when they came to Inniskilling but were willing that very night to to go towards the Enemy for to relieve their Friends at Crom. A little after our Men came from Bellishannon about an hour and an half after Sun-set we saw from Inniskilling a great Light in the Air above Newton-Butler where Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty with his Army lay which continued for some hours and was seen by most of all the People in and about Inniskilling but we concluded that either they had set the Town of Newton-Butler and all the Country about on Fire or had raised some Fire in that Country to give notice to Col. Sarsfield that he was on his March towards us but after the Fight was over upon enquiry into the matter we found there was no Fire that Night raised among them I am not very superstitious to lay great stress upon such sort of Signs in the Air but something remarkable there is in them The like was seen at Glaslogh before the Action they had there with the Irish of the Garison of Charlemont whom they defeated upon the 13th of March last killing their Leader and about 200 of his Men with the loss only of Capt. Ancketill on their side but were ordered the next day to desert the place upon the coming down of the Irish Army under the Command of L. Gen. Hamilton which they did and marched to Derry About a Week before this at Eleven at Night the Night being very dark there appeared in the Air several Pillars of Light pointed from towards Charlemont which were so bright that they might have read by them and this lasted above two hours to the Observation of all the People there This brought into my Mind a Passage in the Examination of Dr. Robert Maxwell late Lord Bishop of Kilmore then Rector of Tynon in the County of Armagh printed at the end of Burlacy's History of Ireland in the last Page but one I shall give you his own words having told a little before of 56 Men Women and Children who were taken out of his House and drowned by the Irish at Cur-Bridg About three or four Nights says he before the six and fifty Persons were taken out of the Deponents House and drowned in the dark of the Moon about one of the Clock at Night a Light was observ'd in manner of a long Pillar to shine for a long way through the Air and refracted upon the North Gabel of the House It gave so great a Light about an hour together that divers of the Watch read both Letters and Books of a very small Character thereby the Deponent presaging thereby that bloody Massacre which ensued I pretend to make no Explanation or enter into the Reason or Dependance we can have upon these things having resolved only to tell you matters of Fact and to leave every Man to his own Conjectures of them Information was brought us upon Monday at Night that L. Gen. Mac-Carty intended the next day to send a part of his Army towards Lisnaskea within ten Miles of us and to place a Garison in the Castle upon this L. Col. Berry the next Morning being Tuesday the 30th of July was sent with seven or eight Troops of Horse about three Foot Companies and two Troops of Dragoons with Orders to take up the Castle of Lisnaskea before the Enemy came to it and to place a Garison in it if he found it tenable but otherwise to burn it if he thought it might be useful to the Enemy And withal he had Directions given him to see if he could discover the Enemy what their Strength was and how posted with assurance that all the rest of our Men would soon follow to relieve him and to raise the Siege from Crom. L. Col. Berry according to his Orders marched to Lisnaskea and when he came there he found the Castle so much out of order that he judg'd it a place of no Consequence and so left it without doing it any prejudice keeping his Men all that Night in the Field The next day being Wednesday the last day of July early in the Morning he marched his Men from Lisnaskea towards the Enemy who lay about six Miles from him he sent his Scouts before ordering them not to engage any Enemy they met with but to retreat until they might discover their Strength and fight them on some advantagious Ground He had not march'd above two Miles when near a place called Donagh his Scouts did discover a considerable Body of Horse Dragoons and Foot marching towards them who immediately advertise L. Col. Berry of their approach he therefore retreats with his Men to Lisnaskea again the Enemy still advancing towards him and being a rising Ground the way that he retreated before he came to Lisnaskea he had a full view of the Enemy and found them to be above double his Number and therefore did not think fit to fight them in that open place but to retreat till he came to some more advantagious Ground But as soon as he began to retreat he sent off an Express to Col. Wolseley in Inniskilling acquainting him what Condition he was in and desiring him to make all the haste he could to his Relief which accordingly he did Now there are two ways leading from Lisnaskea to Inniskilling the one lately made through some Bogs and low fenny Grounds nearer Loghearn than the old way and this Road L. Col. Berry resolv'd to take as being more secure and several Passes on it much easier to defend than the other He had not stay'd long at Lisnaskea but the Enemy came near him and then with his Men he retreats by this new Road which turns off from the old at the end of the Town of Lisnaskea and marched in good order the Enemy still advancing upon him till he came about a Mile distant from Lisnaskea to a Bog with a narrow Causway through it that two Horsemen could scarce ride in abreast upon and at the end of this Causway which is an easy Musquet-shot over Berry halted resolving to make good that Pass against the Enemy until he had Relief from Col. Wolseley there was a Thicket of Under-Wood at the end of the Causway where Berry placed his Foot and Dragoons ordering them to make good their Ground the Horse he drew a little farther off promising that they should relieve the Foot and Dragoons and gave the Word Oxford They made but a very short stay there when Col. Anthony Hamilton who was Major-General to Mac-Carty came in view with a considerable Body of Men who alighting from his Horse ordered his Dragoons to do so too and very bravely advanced near the end of the Causway his Men firing briskly at ours but with no great Success for it pleased God that after a great many Vollies of Shot which they made at us not one of our Men was killed and but about a dozen or
fourteen of them wounded our Men were better Marks-Men they shot about a dozen of the Enemy dead at the end of the Causway and wounded Col. Anthony Hamilton their Leader in the Leg he being hurt retreated a little and mounted his Horse ordering another Officer to lead on the Men who very soon was likewise killed with some more of their Men The Enemy seeing their Men thus drop by our Shot and their General Col. Hamilton being gone a little ways back and no chief Officer there to lead them on began to retreat from the end of the Causway which our Men seeing gave a Huzza and called out that the Rogues are running and immediately our Foot and Dragoons took the Bog on each hand and our Horse advanced on the Causway towards them which the Enemy perceiving began at first to retreat a little faster from us but their Retreat soon turned to a most disorderly flight without offering to face about or fire any more at us our Horse soon overtook them and fell in among their Foot and such Dragoons as were on Foot and made a very great Slaughter of them having the Chase of them through the Town of Lisnaskea and near a Mile farther and the Execution had been greater but notice was brought to Berry that L. Gen. Mac-Carty with the Body of his Army was advancing towards him upon this he sounds a Retreat and brings back his Men to the place where the Fight first began having killed about 200 and taken about 30 Prisoners which he sent immediately to Inniskilling with several Horse-loads of Arms that he had taken from the Enemy and this Action happened about 9 a Clock in the Forenoon About 11 of the Clock there came an Express from Col. Wolseley to Lieut. Col. Berry acquainting him that he was come with his Men to his Relief and desiring him to march the Party under his Command to the Moat above Lisnaskea where both their Parties might join together and then consider what they had to do Now Col. Wolseley had marched his Men the old Road from Inniskilling to Lisnaskea leaving the new Road where Berry and his Men were about a mile on the right Hand As soon as this Express came Berry marched and both he and Col. Wolseley with their Men met at the same time near the Moat above the Town of Lisnaskea And after some kind words had passed between both Parties at their meeting Col. Wolseley acquainted the Officers that the Party under his Command had made so great haste to relieve the other Party that few or none of them had brought a Meal of Meat with them and therefore they must speedily consider what they had to do for either they must advance towards the Enemy and resolve to fight them that very day or return back again to Inniskilling for want of Provision But after the thing was debated among the Officers it was agreed on to consult the Souldiers themselves and to know their mind in the Matter The Men were called to their close Order and the Question was asked Whether they would advance and fight the Enemy that Day or turn back to Inniskilling They who had never before turned their Back to their Enemy thought it dishonourable then to begin especially after so remarkable a Victory obtained that Morning and upon so unequal Terms which they took for a Presage of what they might expect in the Afternoon All of them therefore with one Acclamation called out to Advance Upon this Col. Wolseley and the other Colonels drew up all the Men in Battalia and gave them the Word No Popery which was very acceptable to all our Party And then he drew out four Men out of every Troop with an Officer to command them for a Forlorn Our whole Number when all were joined together did consist of about 16 Troops of Horse 3 Troops of Dragoons and 21 Companies of Foot besides some that were not under Command So that in the whole Party we reckoned our selves some more than 2000. The Forlorn Col. Wolseley ordered to march on about half a Mile before the Army he ordered Col. Tiffan to lead on the first Battalion of Foot consisting of about 5 or 6 Companies seconded with some few Troops C. Lloyd led on the next Battalion of Foot consisting about the same Number and the same way seconded then followed the Dragoons and Col. Wolseley himself led on the main Body of Foot followed with the rest of our Horse under the Command of L. C. Berry and Maj. Stone And in this order we marched from Lisnaskea to Donagh and so towards the Enemy who we were informed had raised their Siege from Crum and were come to Newton-Butler a Village about two miles from Donagh We had not marched above half a mile from Donagh when our Forlorn came in view of the Forlorn of the Enemy who immediately retreated before our Men we advanced after them till we came within about half a mile from Newton-Butler where there is a steep Hill that the Road leads through and before you come to the Hill there is a Bog with a Causey through it where only two Men at most can ride in a-Breast the Enemy was drawn up in very good Order upon the Hill above the Bog and no other way had we to come at them but by the Bog and Causey through it When our Men came near the Place our Officers considered the Ground and how advantagiously the Enemy had posted themselves and then Col. Wolseley ordered Col. Tiffan with his Battalion of Foot to take the Bog on the right Hand of the Causway and Col. Lloyd with his Battalion to take the Bog on the left and Col. Win to divide his Dragoons and the one half to second Col. Tiffan on Foot and the other to second Col. Lloyd and he ordered Lieut. Col. Berry to advance with the Horse upon the Causway as the Foot on each hand advanced through the Bog and he himself brought up the main Body in the Rear to send Recruits to those that went before as he saw cause and thus whilst we advanced in good order towards the Enemy they ordered the Town of Newton-Butler and the Country-Houses about to be all set on Fire and before our Men came within Musket-shot of them they began to Fire at us but by that time that we came within Shot of them and had fired two or three Vollies at them our Men saw them begin to draw off and retreat towards Newton-Butler which our Men misapprehending believed them running away and our Officers had much ado to keep them from pursuing with all the speed they could But Col. Wolseley and the Officers with him from a Height opposite to the place where the Enemy was posted saw them go off in so good Order that they believed it was either to draw our Men into an Ambush or bring them to some place of better advantage for the Enemy and therefore sent orders to Col. Tiffan and Lloyd that
no Man should go out of his Rank but pursue them in good Order until they were certain that they were flying Our Men having received this Command advanced after the Enemy keeping their Ranks and the Enemy still faced about in their Rear firing at us till we went through the Town of Newton-Butler and near a mile past it and thus in very good Order they retreated and we advanced till they came to a Bog on the Road near half an Irish Mile over with a narrow Causey through the middle of it by which we must pass to them And as soon as ever the Front of our Men came to the Bog side they saw the Enemy all drawn up on the Hill opposite to them at the other side of the Bog having their Canon placed at the end of the Causey Col. Wolseley ordered our Men to advance towards them as they had done before the ground being much alike and so Col. Tiffan with his Foot took the Bog on the Right and Col. Lloyd with his Foot took it on the left Hand seconded by Col. Wynn and his Dragoons and Lieut. Col. Berry and Major Stone advanced with our Horse towards the Causey but as soon as our Horse came to the side of the Bog and were beginning to come upon the Causey the Enemy fired their Canon at them and plied them so hard that our Horse could not advance one step but our Foot and Dragoons on both sides advanced by Degrees upon them through the Bog the Enemy still keeping their Ground till at last they came up and seized their Canon killed all their Cannoneers and then advanced towards the Body of their Men that were drawn up a lit-little above them As soon as our Horse perceived that their Cannons were seized by our Foot they advanced on the Causey which the Enemies Horse perceiving they wheeled about with such Dragoons as were on Horse-back and fled towards Wattle-Bridg deserting their Foot their Foot stood their Ground till our Men came among them But then perceiving their own Horse and Dragoons fled and ours coming up to them they thought it no time to stay any longer but turned their Backs and instead of going to the left Hand where they had an open Country and might have made their escape they being Strangers in the Country fled all to the right Hand through a great Bog above a mile long which leads towards Loghearn most of them all throwing away their Arms into Turf-Pits Now the Country there is so full of Bogs and standing Pools and Loughs that there is no passing for Horse but upon the Road which for the most part is all paved Our Horse followed theirs in a String over the narrow Ways from the Place where the Enemy had planted their Cannon to Wattle-Bridg which is a Bridg over a Branch of Loghearn and left a good Guard of Horse on the Bridg to secure that Pass and about an hundred Foot under the Command of Captain George Cooper were ordered to guard the Cannon that we had taken Our Horse kept all the Road between the two Places that not one of their Foot could pass them Our Foot in the mean time followed theirs through the Bog into a Wood near Loghearn and gave Quarter that day to few or none that they met with unless Officers which the Enemy perceiving and having no Courage to fight for their Lives they desperately took the Lough in several places to the number as was computed of about five hundred and not one of them that took the Water escaped drowning but one Man who got through after a great many Shot made after him All that Night our Foot were beating the Bushes for them and all that their Officers could do could not bring them off from the Pursuit till next day about ten of the Clock by which time scarce a Man of them that took towards the Lough-side escaped but was either killed taken Prisoner or drowned In this Action there was a remarkable Stroke given by Captain William Smith who at one blow cut off the upper part of a Man's Head just under the Hat as much of the Skull as was within the Hat with all the Brains being struck quite away from the other part of the Skull that stuck with the Body and not so much as a bit of Skin to keep them together but what was cut quite thorow Lieutenant-General Mackarty when his Men were fled he with about five or six Officers went into a Wood near the Place where the Cannon were planted and some small time after came out of the Wood with those that were with him on Horse-back and fired his Pistol at the Party that were guarding the Cannon Our Men when they came first from the Wood thought them some of our own Party supposing all the Enemy fled and never questioned them till Mackarty fired his Pistol and then seven or eight of the Souldiers fired their Musqukets at him shot his Horse dead and wounded him very ill in several places and then to put him out of pain one of the Souldiers club'd his Musket to have knock'd out his Brains which one of those that came with him from the Wood espying called to the Souldier to hold his Hand for it was their General Mac-Carty at the hearing of which Captain Cooper came up and gave Lieutenant-General Mac-Carty and those that were with him Quarter and that Night carried him to Newton-Butler and he being ask'd how he came so rashly to hazard his Life when he might have gone off with his Horse when they made their escape profess'd that he found now the Kingdom like to be lost his Army being the best for their number that King James had unless those before Derry who were then much broken and that he came with a design to lose his Life and was sorry that he miss'd of his End being unwilling to outlive that Day And thus ended that Day 's Service Whence we may reckon the Safety of the Protestants in Ireland God having given us the greatest and most remarkable Victory over the Irish that was obtained in this or any former Age. They were reckoned six thousand and we not much above two we killed that day in the Morning and the Afternoon about two thousand brought to Inniskilling above four hundred Prisoners with their General and a great many other Officers There were drowned in several places of Loghearn as was computed about five hundred The Irish themselves confess there were three thousand of their Men wanting when those that fled came to Dublin but would not own that we killed so many but that for fear of Punishment and Shame for being beaten by so few many of their Men had deserted and not returned to their Colours We took seven Cannon fourteen Barrels of Powder a great quantity of Cannon and Musquet-Ball all their Drums and what Colours they had which were not many they having but about three pair of Colours to every Regiment Some few Days
after this Fight King James sent Mr. Huben one of his Surgeons to Inniskilling to attend Lieutenant General Mac-Carty and likevvise sent him some Money to subsist him and the other Officers vvho vvere taken Prisoners and sent him some Hogsheads of Wine and other Provisions that were fit for him which he could not get at Inniskilling We lost as was computed about 20 Men whereof not above a dozen vvere Men under Command and no Man of any Note but one Capt. Robert Corry and Cornet William Bell the rest vvere all private Men and vve had about 40 or 50 Men ill vvounded The Action of this Day made the Irish through the whole Kingdom take new Measures It put them in a very great Consternation and had we followed our Blow we might in all humane reckoning have march'd to Dublin which the Irish themselves did apprehend for they had but a few Men then in Arms there but that we did not know and it was too great an Attempt upon uncertain Grounds But the chief Reason of it was this That when Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty was taken there was a Letter found with him written by Col. Sarsfield to him from his Camp at Bondrows wherein he acquainted him That the Duke of Berwick was at such a Day to be near Inniskilling with a Party of Horse and Dragoons from Derry desiring Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty with the Army under his Command to join the Duke of Berwick to besiege Inniskilling on that side of the Town that lies next to London-Derry and that he with the Army under his Command at Bondrows would besiege Inniskilling on that side of the Town that lies next to Connaught And now the Fight that we had with Gen. Mac-Carty happening but some few days before this was to be done our Officers therefore immediately resolved to march our Men back to Inniskilling and to go and meet either Sarsfield or the Duke of Berwick whom they judged to be on their way thither And so with our Prisoners and considerable Plunder gotten in Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty's Camp we marched from Newtown-Butler towards Inniskilling on Thursday the first of August and there our Officers conclude next to go meet Sarsfield on his Road from Brondrows near Bellishannon Accordingly our Army marched towards Bellishannon on Friday the 2d of August but before we went half way there met us an Express from Capt. Folliot of Bellishannon acquainting us that Sarsfield having information of the Defeat that we had given Mac-Carty and that we were returned back had raised his Camp at Bondrows and was retreated to Sligo As also informing us That the Arms and Ammunition sent us by Major Gen. Kirk was landed at Bellishannon Upon which Col. Wolseley sent Col. Tiffan and his Lieut. Col. Gore to Bellishannon with three Troops of Horse and some Companies of Foot to secure the Arms and Ammunition and to send them to Inniskilling and withal to stay at Bellishannon to secure that Place in case Sarsfield should return with his Army to besiege it And having so done the rest of our Army returned the next day to Inniskilling resolving to go and meet the Duke of Berwick but on Sunday morning the 4th of August we had intelligence that the Siege of Derry was raised on Thursday the 1st of August in the Morning a little before day and that the Army which lay before it was marched past Omagh Upon this Lieut. William Charleton was sent with about a Troop of detached Horse to follow the Irish Army on their march towards Charlemont who returned on Monday and told us That he had seen the Rear of them pass by Castle-Cawsield within three short miles of Dunganon and so it was in vain to follow them And thus having defeated Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty's Party and taken him Prisoner Sarsfield fled and the Siege of Dery being raised our Fears were now at an end and for some time we enjoyed quiet from all our Enemies and the Name of Inniskilling-men became a Terror to the Irish We had nothing left to imploy us after this but to take care to regiment our Men according to the Commissions which Maj. Gen. Kirk gave us Wednesday the 7th of August being the same day seven-sevenight that Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty was beaten we kept as a Day of Thanksgiving for the great Victory God gave us over our Enemies and the Peace which we then enjoyed from them on all Hands And the same Day Mr. Andrew Hamilton was sent by the Officers at Iniskilling to Maj. Gen. Kirk to congratulate him for his happy Success in the Relief of Derry He received him very favourably and within two days sent him back to Inniskilling with Orders to Col. Wolseley to send him 500 Horse and 200 Dragoons that he might march the Foot he had towards Colrain and so towards D. Schonberg whom we had advice was at Sea or landed at Carrickfergus He likewise ordered the Dragoons to bring with them 200 of the common Prisoners that we had taken of Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty's Party to help to empty the Store-ships at Derry and to cleanse the Town for they wanted Horse at Derry and their Men were so sickly that they were not able to do any thing towards the emptying of the Ships According to these Orders our Horse and Dragoons with the 200 Prisoners came to Derry about the 15th of August and within a day or two the Major General ordered the Horse to march towards Colrain but to halt at Newtown a place half-way betwixt Derry and Colrain until he came up with the Foot and Dragoons But the News coming to Colrain that the Inneskilling Horse were joned with the Maj. General and that they were all on their march towards that place the Garison there deserted the place and fled towards Charlemont Notice whereof being sent to the Maj. General from Colrain the Messenger met the Inniskilling Horse at Newtown who immediately marched forward and came peaceably into Colrain being ready to receive the Maj. General into the Town the next day when he came to them and so the Inniskilling Horse marched before the Maj. General all the way until his Party joined Duke Schonberg at Carrickfergus And here I would have ended having been no longer an Eye-witness to any of their Actions at Inniskilling but I cannot omit the manner of our taking Sligo and driving Col. Sarsfield and his Party from thence and altho I was not present at the Action as I was at most of the rest yet I had the Account of it from a Person of good Credit and so may with confidence relate it here and thus it was Col. Tiffan having from Bellishanon sent us the Arms and Ammunition that Maj. Gen. Kirk ordered for us within some few days after seeing no sign of Col. Sarsfield's return to besiege Bellishanon he ordered Lieut. Col. Gore to take three Troops of Horse and an 150 Foot with him to go as near Sligo as he could with safety and to bring him
Meal the bag burst some of the Meal falling upon some Horse-dung and after the man had gather'd up as much of the Meal as he thought fit the poor Woman came and was throwing the Horse-dung out of the dirty-Meal that he had left which an Irish Souldier seeing called out that there was a Witch gathering their Horse-dung to bewitch their Horses that the men of Derry might get the better of them upon which the Souldiers gather'd about her and brought her to that Tragical end that I have here told April the 24th Lieutenant Collonel Loyd by our Governours order took a party of foot and horse and went from Inniskillen towards Omagh where the Irish had a Garrison which his party was not in a condition to besiege he drove all the Cattel near that place with him from thence he went to Aughor where the Irish had another Garrison in the Castle which fled before he came to it but least they might return thither again he set the Castle on fire burning it to the ground and defacing the fortifications about it From thence went into the Country of Moneghan and so returned to Inniskillen with a very great prey of Cows and Sheep which proved a seasonable relief to the poor people in and about Inniskillen for when the party came in one might have bought from the Souldiers a good milch Cow for two shillings or half a Crown and a dry Cow or an Ox cheaper and this was Lieutenant Collonel Loyds first expedition with our men About this time in the later end of April there came to us from Ballishany some troops and soot companies of excellent men that belong'd to my Lord Kingston and came with him to Belishany when at Collonel Lundies desire he left Sligo And then our Governour raised a Fort on the common hill next the stone bridge which he afterwards to his great charge did finish and is a very considerable strength and great security to the Town May the 2d The Irish Garrison in Omagh sent two men unto the Parish of Kilskirry within five miles of Inniskillen and in the night the two men stole away about twenty or thirty Cows In the morning the owners missing their Cows and seeing their track go towards the road that leads to Omagh did believe them stollen and therefore sent to some of their neighbours to come and assist them in going in Quest for their Cows Accordingly eight of them got together and went upon the trace of the Cattel and overtook them within a few miles of Omagh but the theives made their escape to that Garrison The men that followed the Cows having got them gave themselves no further trouble in following the thieves but were bringing the Cows back with them to their own dwelling but before they got above half way home they were overtaken by four and twenty Dragoons from Omagh well mounted the men having all but bad horses and few Arms three of them quit their horses and got into a great bog The other five thinking they had done no harm but followed their own Goods submitted and had Quarter given them The Dragoons leaving a guard with the five prisoners followed the other three men but to no purpose for the Bog that they got to lay near a mountain not passable by horse whether they escaped and so got home The Dragoons returned to the prisoners carried them a little way back with them and then most barbarously murder'd them all cutting them so in the face with swords and baggonets that their friends scarce knew one of them when they found them and this for the most part was the fair Quarter that the Irish gave our men when ever they took any of them which was the principal cause of our so obstinate defence both of Derry and Inniskillen against such unequal odds for these with what I told before of the Lord Gilmoy and other like barbarous Usages and breach of Faith with the same yet in memory practised in 41. and all agreeing with the Principles of their Religion That Faith is not to be kept with those whom they account Hereticks All this made so strong an impression upon the minds of the People that they were firmly perswaded the Irish wou'd not keep Articles with them and therefore that it was in vain to capitulate And they not only acted these Inhumanities without remorse but glory'd in them for the next day after that horrrid and base Murder I have told Bellew the Governour of Omagh sent an Express to Lieutenant General Hamilton before Derry acquainting him that a Party of his Garrison had gone towards Inniskilling and killed about a hundred of our Men calling every man twenty which good News soon went through the whole Irish Camp and caused a great deal of Joy among them May the 4th our Governour had an Express sent him from Captain Folliot Governour of Ballishany acquainting him That a considerable Party of Men were come from Conaught to besiege that place he sent him the Summons he had got and prayd him to send speedy relief May the 6th our Governour sent to all the Garrisons under his Command ordering them to send him speedily all the armed Men they cou'd spare and the next day sent Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd with about twelve Foot-Companies and some Troops of Horse towards Bellishany who meeting the Enemies Horse near Beleek a Village three miles nearer Inniskilling than Bellishany soon put them to the rout killed about sixscore of them and took about sixty Prisoners All their Foot fled away towards Sligo and got off safe except some few that were taken in the Fish-Island near Bellishany with their Captain one Mac Donagh a Counsellor at Law commonly known by the Name of Blind Mac Donagh ' We got two small Cannon several service-Horses and some good Arms and thus was Bellishany relieved by us on the eighth day of May 1689. and this was the first time that our men encounter'd the Enemy in the Field with Foot and Horse and having had so great Success in the beginning it encouraged our men very much and so we returned to Inniskilling having gained this Victory without the loss of one man Immediately after this we had an Express sent us from Colonel Sarsfield proposing an exchange of some Prisoners of War that the Irish had at Galway and Ballinrob for those that we had taken it Bellishany Our Governour was willing to listen to the Change but having been so treacherously served before by Gilmoy in the matter of Captain Dixie desired Col. Sarsfield to send him the Names of the Prisoners that he would change for those then at Inniskilling Col. Sarsfield delayed sending their Names for near a Month after and in the mean time he order'd all the Protestants in the Province of Conaught that had a little before taken Protection from him and others to be put into the Goal of Sligo and then sent their Names to our Governour pretending that Sir Thomas Southwel and some other
Prisoners in Galway that before he promised us were to be sent into England to relieve some Irish Prisoners who were kept there but our Governour suspecting some deceit refus'd the Change upon which Col. Sarsfield dealt very hardly with these he had in Prison scarce allowing them Food to keep them from starving and made them send some of their Wives to our Governour with Petitions and Letters begging of him to relieve them out of their Misery Upon which at length our Governour consented to the Change but this was not without Treachery as the Governour had suspected for he found all those who were sent him in exchange to have been persons protected by the Irish whom afterwards they made Prisoners and used them ill not regarding the Protections they had given on purpose to cheat the Governour with the exchange It was the experience of such faithless Dealing and cruel Butcheries of our men after Quarter given that made some of our Souldiers less merciful to them in Battel than they would have been to any other Enemy And we suppose it was for this reason that for some time we enjoy'd our quiet being a terrour to the Irish on all hands near us But in the latter end of May information being brought to the Governour that there was a Garrison of the Irish in Redhill and another at Bellinacareg two Houses in the County of Cavan who straitned those of our bounds that lay next them Lieutenant Col. Lloyd was sent from Inniskilling against them but he no sooner set out with about 1500 Horse and Foot but the news of his march was brought to the County of Cavan before him and their fear added to his number he being reported to be about fifteen or sixteen thousand upon which all the Irish fled and we no sooner came to Redhill but the Garrison held out a sign for a Treaty and having Conditions offer'd them immediately surrender'd the Place with all that was therein getting Quarter to all the men that were in it and so without destroying that House we marched from thence with the Prisoners we had taken to Bellinacareg which was reputed one of the strongest Castles in that part of Ireland and that which gave it the greater name tho' it was indeed a strong place was because Oliver Cromwel lay several days before it and could not take it but left it until afterwards the Irish deserted the place when he had overcome the rest of the Kingdom But when we came before it there was no great Garrison and but little Ammunition in it and the news of our taking Redhill struck so great a terrour in those of the Castle that not many hours after our men came there they held out a Flag for a Treaty and did capitulate That both they and the other Prisoners taken at Redhill should have free liberty to go without being stripp'd leaving the Castle with the Arms Ammunition and what Goods were in it to the Plunder of our Souldiers which was accordingly performed by both Parties We got in the Castle some Pikes about thirty Musquets some Cases of Pistols and but very little Powder As soon as our Souldiers had plunder'd the Castle we set some Masons who were in our Party to undermine the Walls of it which they soon did and then set it on fire and in a very few hours it fell to the ground and sunk in a heap of Rubbish which we did because it was a place of great strength and lying in the heart of the Irish Country The News of our taking Redhill and Bellinacareg was soon brought to Dublin with a report that our Army was on their March thither being ever after this reputed among the Irish to be above fifteen thousand well armed Men and it is incredible to think what a Consternation the Irish about Dublin were in but our number was too small and not half well armed for such an Undertaking however our Men marched near Kells and Finna in the County of Meath and brought from thence above three thousand Cows and Oxen two thousand Sheep and some Horses and then returned safe to Inniskilling without the loss of one Man June the 3d. Information was brought to Inniskilling That the Irish Army before Derry had sent a great many of their service-Horses to graze in some waste Lands near Omagh eighteen miles distant from Inniskilling and the next day our Governour sent two Troops under the Command of Captain Francis Gore and Captain Arnold Cosbie into the Parish of Kilskirry ordering them to keep Garrison at Trellik a House belonging to Captain Mervyn and about half way betwixt Inniskilling and Omagh They had not staid there above two days when taking with them another Troop and two Foot-Companies that quarter'd in the Parish of Kilskirry they went in the Evening about Sun-set from Trellick towards Omagh and before eight of the Clock the next day they returned to Trellick with about eight score of good service Horses taken from the Enemy at Omagh and near as many more smaller Horses fit for labour and about three hundred Cows This was a lucky hit for by it we did disable about three Troops of the Enemy and better'd several of our own Troops when the Horses were divided among the Men they sold the Horses they got to others of our party at very easie rates and our Men had certainly surpriz'd the For at Omagh and taken it if notice had not been sent to the Enemy of their coming and so they had time to secure the Fort but not to save their Horses who were grazing within a short way of the Town Soon after this we had information from all hands of the miserable condition that the Garrison in Derry was reduc'd to and several Messages were sent us to endeavour their Relief but alas our Condition was very unfit to attack so powerful an Enemy and so well appointed as the Army that lay before Derry was for we were not then at most above two thousand Men and those very ill armed and we had not above two Barrels left of the five Barrels of Powder that Col. Lundy gave us But hearing that Derry must surrender very soon unless reliev'd and believing that much of our Safety did depend upon it our Governour resolv'd in person with all the strength we could make to endeavour its relief or perish in the Attempt Our Governour therefore drew all his Men to the Field and notwithstanding that he was much press'd by those of Inniskilling not to go in Person but rather to stay in the Town for the securing of the Place yet since Derry was in so great hazard he could not be perswaded to stay but on the 10th day of June he marched his Men being near two thousand and came that night to Trellik the next day we march'd toward Omagh and on the Road we were inform'd That the Garrison at Omagh hearing of our coming had fled from that place which tho' it was a false information
yet incourag'd some of our Party who were free Booters and not under any Command to go on before in hopes to get the Plunder of the Town before the Souldiers came to it They went near a mile before our Forelorn but by that time that they came within less than three miles of Omagh and fearing no Enemy they were surpriz'd by a party of the Garrison at Omagh that lay in Ambush in a hollow and came upon them unawares yet all of them made their escape and retreated safe to our Forelorn except one Rowland Betty a man in good esteem among us who after he had discharg'd his Pistol just as he was wheeling his Horse fell to the ground and before he cou'd recover his Saddle again they came upon him and took him Prisoner carried him with them a great way nearer Omagh and then murder'd him And thus as I said for the most part they dealt with many of our Men after they had been their Prisoners and gotten fair Quarter Our Governor with his Men march'd that night within a mile and a half of Omagh and next day early he possest himself of the whole Town being an open place except the Fort which he laid close Siege to Our Men placed themselves in all the Houses near the Fort and being good Marksmen ply'd them so warmly with their small Shot that not a man of them durst come in view for they killed one of them and wounded several others But we had not been there many hours when several Expresses came fron Inniskilling one after another to our Governor and the Officers that were with him acquainting him and them that Col. Sarsfield with five or six Thousand Men was come to besiege Bellishanny within twenty miles of Inniskilling and that Col. Sowtherland was come with another Army to Belturbet about twenty miles distant from Inniskilling on the other hand and that the one Army if not both would be very soon at Inniskilling Our Governor therefore having received this Account called his Officers together to consult what was fittest to be done whether to go on to relieve Derry or to return for the defence of Inniskilling But the most of them having their Families or Friends in Inniskillng it was soon resolv'd on to return Some of the Officers were for burning the Town it being a great shelter for the Irish Army on their March to and from Derry but the Town belonging to Capt. Mervyn who is a good Protestant and in great esteem in that Country it was resolved to spare the Town for his sake and so we left it as we found it and the next day our Men return'd to Inniskilling June the 15th we had Intelligence that Col. Sowtherland's Party at Belturbet was daily increasing the Irish flocking to him from all Parts and that he intended soon to draw towards Inniskilling But we were ever resolved not to suffer the Enemy to come so near as to lay siege to the Town but rather to sight them before they came to 't neither did we think it safe to give them any long time to stay near our Quarters and therefore our Governor ordered Lieut. Col. Lloyd to take the Field with the greatest strength we could make in Foot and Horse and to march against Sowtherland June the 17. Lieut. Col. Lloyd came with his Men to Mac-Guires Bridge a Place not full half way betwixt Inniskilling and Belturbet where Col. Southerland and his Party lay from which Place an Irish Spy went in the night and acquainted Col. Southerland that all the Forces of Inniskilling were coming against him Col. Southerland had then with him but about two Regiments of Foot a Regiment of Dragoons and some few Troops of Horse he had brought with him from Dublin spare Arms for two Regiments of new levy'd Men that were every day expected to come to him he had some Pieces of Cannon and great store of Bisket Wheat Flower Malt and other Provisions for his Army in order to besiege Inniskilling When this News was brought him that the Inniskilling Army was coming against him and believing it true that they were so numerous above fifteen thousand as was reported he thought it not safe to stay at Belturbet having no Place of any Strength there but the Church and Church-yard which was a little fortified but not large enough to contain the number of men he had with him He therefore thought it best to provide for his own Safety and to secure the Cannon and what he could on a sudden carry with him but withal drew out a Detachment of Eighty Dragoons and about two hundred Foot and left them in the Church of Belturbet under the Command of Lieut. Col. Edward Scot and some other Officers to see if they could make good that Place against the Inniskilling Men until he came back to their Relief and so march'd with the rest of his Men towards Monaghan that if he were pursued he might come to Charlemont under the shelter of the Castle The next day hapned to be a most terrible day of Rain insomuch that our Men cou'd march no further that day and this gave Col. Southerland time enough to go off with those Men that he brought with him but the next day again proving fair Lieu-Col Lloyd with his Men advanc'd towards Belturbet and order'd Capt. Robert Vaughan and Capt. Hugh Galbraith with their two Troops of Dragoons to be the Forlorn but by that time they came within two miles of Belturbet there met them about a Troop of Dragoons that fired at them but our Dragoons alighting from their Horses and lining the Ditches on both sides of the Road and the main Body of our Men coming in view the Irish Dragoons retreated to Belturbet and went all into the Church and Church-yard to the rest of their Men intending to make good that Place firing very fast at us but with the same success that is usual with them for they touch'd not a man of ours but one who recovered afterwards Our men came very close upon them and soon got into all the Houses near the Church and some of them getting into the Archbishop of Dublin's House in Belturbet which by its height does overtop the Church-yard from the upper windows they did so gall them with their Shot that not a man of them could keep the Church yard and within less than two hours after we came there some of their men being killed they held out a Flag for a Treaty which being granted they made Conditions and it was Agreed That all the Officers and Souldiers should be our Prisoners The Officers to have all their Cloaths and Money given them if it did not exceed tâ—â—â—ounds the piece the common Souldiers were to have their Lives sav'd but to be stripp'd of all their red Coats which was accordingly performed And thus we got about three hundred Prisoners whereof thirteen were Commission Officers together with Lieut. Col. Scot their Commander in chief but next day we
days sent safe to Inniskilling he gave us also a few Fire-locks which we left in the Garrison of Ballishany and at last it was concluded on by Capt. Hobson and our Officers that two of our number shou'd be sent to Major Gen. Kirk for Commissions some more Ammunition and Arms for we had and still have a great many Men in our Country that never bore Arms and 〈…〉 aid of Men especially experienc'd Officers of which we had great want And this being agreed on Mr. John Rider and Mr. Andrew Hamilton were chosen to go to the Bonadventure to Major Gen. Kirk who accordingly went on Board the 8th day of July and the 12th came into the Lough of Derry where Maj. Gen. Kirk lay with the Fleet. Mr. Rider and Mr. Hamilton being brought before the Major-General he for about two days did inform himself by them of the condition Inniskilling was in what store of men belong'd to that Garison and how arm'd We had then about seventeen Troops thirty Foot-Companies and some few Troops of Dragoons our Foot were indifferently well arm'd but our Horse and Dragoons not so well The Major General had few or no Arms fit for Horsemen but he gave us six hundred Fire-locks for Dragoons a thousand Muskets to raise more Foot with twenty Barrels of Powder besides the thirty we receiv'd out of the Bonadventure with Bullets and Match proportionable eight small Cannon and some few Hand-Granadoes He gave us Commissions for a Regiment of Horse consisting of sixteen Troops and fifty private men in each Troop besides Officers for a Regiment of Dragoons consisting of twelve Troops and the like number of private men in each Troop and for three Regiments of Foot and an independent Troop of Horse to every Regiment each Regiment of Foot to consist of eighteen Companies whereof two Companies to be Granadees and sixty private men in every Company The Major-General told us he could spare none of his private men but gave us some very good Officers viz. Col. Will. Wolsely to be our Commander in chief and Col. of Horse Capt. Will. Berry to be Lieutenant-Colonel to our Horse Capt. Charles Stone to be Major to our Horse Capt. James Winn a Gentleman from Ireland but then a Captain in Col. Stewarts Regiment to be Col. of our Dragoons and for our three Regiments of Foot Gustavus Hamilton Governour of Inniskilling was made eldest Colonel and Lieutenant-Col Lloyd and Major Tiffan were the other two Colonels he gave us Capt. Thomas Price who has a Troop of Horse with us to be our Aid major-General and one Capt. Johnston who has a Foot-Company to be our Engineer In a word when Major-Gen Kirk knew what Condition we were in which he was a Stranger to before until he saw one of our selves he then granted us whatsoever Mr. Rider and Mr. Hamilton desired of him as far as he saw it for our Advantage and no man cou'd have shown more Zeal than he did for their Majesties Service and the Preservation of the Protestants And thus being by the Major-General furnish'd according to our own desire with some choice Officers with Commissions Arms and Ammunition we took leave of him on Sunday the 20th of July we were a little before that come from Lough foyle which is the Lough that comes from Derry to Lough-swilly where the Isle of Inch is and the same day the Major-General went from Swilly to Lough-foyle in the Swallow-Frigat accompanied with the Mountjoy of Derry and another lesser Vessel loaden with Provisions but the Wind being fair for them and cross to us we were the same night driven back to the Isle of Inch where we staid two days but the Major-General went on his Course with the Store ships towards Derry Wednesday the 24th of July we went to Sea again towards Bellishany but the Wind falling scant upon us the Ketch that the Officers were in did ply round and we landed safe within three miles of Bellishany on Friday the 26th of July but the other Vessels wherein the Arms and Ammunition were did not come to Bellishany for three or four days after When we landed we were met with several Troops of Inniskilling-men who with much impatience expected our coming welcoming us with firing several Vollies at our landing and giving us all the expressions of Joy and Satisfaction that they were able and so conveyed us the same day to Bellishany We were no sooner come to Bellishany but notice was given us that Lieutenant-General Macarty with a considerable Army was come to Belturbet in order to besiege Inniskilling upon this our Officers went the next day to Beleek and on Sunday the 28th day of July they went by water from Beleek and landed safe at Inniskilling and so they did not stay for the Arms and Ammunition that Major-General Kirk sent us When the Officers landed at Inniskilling all the Foot-Souldiers in the Town were drawn up from the Castle to the farr point of the Island next to Bellishany where they came ashore and receiv'd them with a Guard and when they were come to the Gate gave them three full Vollies All the Men and Women and younger sort of People that were in the Town came in great Crowds towards the place where they were insomuch that they cou'd scarce get coming to the Castle and nothing was heard but loud Acclamations welcoming those Centlemen and praising God that their English Friends had not quite forgot them but that there was some sign of Relief come at last That Night that they landed at Inniskilling there came an Express from Crom to the Governour acquainting him That Lieutenant-General Macarty had march'd his men from Belturbet and was come before Crom and was raising a Battery to play upon the Castle our Governour was then ill of a Feaver and Colonel Wolseley by his Commission being Commander in Chief the Express was brought to him and the next day on Munday-morning the 29th of July by another Express from Crom we were inform'd That Lieutenant-General Macarty had begun to batter the Castle with his Cannon and made his Approaches very near it The Besieg'd with their small Shot from the Castle kill'd a great many of the Enemy but yet being unacquainted with Cannon they made earnest request to our Governour Hamilton for as yet all Expresses were sent to him for speedy Relief Colonel Wolseley returns an Answer That he wou'd make all the haste he cou'd to get our Souldiers together and upon the Wednesday following he wou'd endeavour to relieve them And the same Monday Colonel Wolseley sent Orders to Bellishany That all the Men there that belong'd to our Army should march the next day to Inniskilling leaving a convenient Garrison at Bellishany for Sarsfield with his Army lay at Boudrows within four miles of it Accordingly some Troops of Horse and about four or five hundred Foot marched from Bellishany to Inniskilling in their Arms which is twenty long English Miles by Land and some of them