Tun of Stones The Town being thus reduc'd the Enemy decamp'd in the Night-time between the 30th of June and 1st of July and retreated ten Miles off to a Place call'd Bally-Nash where they lay with the River Soke before 'em giving out that they design'd to stand a Battel In pursuance of which Resolution they at the same time quitted Slego James-Town and Lanesborough in so much haste that they left their Powder and great Guns behind ' em On the 10th of July General Ginkle pass'd the Shannon at Athlone the Foot over a Bridge of Boats below the Town the Horse and Artillery over the Stone-Bridge and that Night they encamp'd about five Miles from Athlone The 11th they march'd and encampt on the left side of Ballinaslow upon the River Suc with in three Miles of the Enemy who lay very advantagiously encampt at Aghriam their left Wing stretching out toward Kilkonâ—el Abby and their right upon Rilcommodon-Hills Before them lay two Bogs between which the Road leads to Galloway On their left lay the Ruins of an old Castle which was entrench'd and lin'd with Foot and on their right they had made several Entrenchments for the security of their Camp On the 14th in the Morning the Army march'd from Ballinaslow and by eleven a Clock had pass'd the River Suc the Horse at two Fords and the Foot over the Stone-Bridge Where after some skirmishing the English drove in the Enemies out-Guards and the left Wing of their Majesties Army drew beyond the Bog which cover'd the Enemies right Wing and made room for the Foot to advance between that and them In the mean time the English Cannon had dislodg'd the Rebels Horse from the end of the narrow Lane that leads to Aghriam and the Kings Horse and Foot took up their Post there still pouring over Men into a small spot of firm Land that lay between the two Bogs and the old Castle In the mean time the Enemy drew down great Bodies of Horse and Foot upon the left Wing of the English and were so strongly posted behind the high Banks that lay one behind another that the Foot had a very warm dispute with the Rebels for two hours but at last forc'd 'em to give ground notwithstanding new Supplies both of Horse and Foot were still sent by the Rebels to relieve and second those that gave way At the same time also three Battalions of English Foot advanc'd on the right hand over the skirt of the Bog and a little River that supplies the Suc into a Corn-Field where they were warmly entertain'd by several of the Enemies Battalions and Squadrons However the English maintain'd their ground till more Regiments came to their assistance and forcing the-Enemy to retreat gave time for the right Wing of Horse to come on who immediately charg'd up the Hills upon the Squadrons of the Enemy at what time the left Wing of the English having beaten the Irish from their ground and the Right pressing hard upon 'em at the same time put 'em into an absolute Rout. The Victors pursu'd the flying Rebels about four Miles for Night would not permit 'em to do it any farther in regard it was six a Clock in the Afternoon before both Armies engag'd and eight in the Evening before the Enemy was absolutely routed The Irish were never known to fight with more Resolution especially the Foot besides that the Rebels were much superior to the English in number being no less than 20000 Foot and 8000 Horse and Dragoons with all the Advantage moreover imaginable that the Situation of the Ground could afford 'em However the superiour Valour and Conduct of the English was such as surmounted all those Disadvantages and wrested a compleat Victory out of the hands of an Enemy more stubborn than had been known for some Ages in that Kingdom But it was the last Effort pro Aris Focis wherein the gasping Honour of the Choice of all the Catholick Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom strugled to do its utmost Of the Enemy 5000 or if you will believe Major-General Dorington who was one of the Prisoners 8000 were slain upon the Place among whom was the French General St. Ruth who was slain by a Cannon Bullet the Lord Galloway Coll. Barker Coll. Moore and Coll. Baggot with several others The Prisoners of note were Maj. Gen. Hamilton Brigadier Tate Lord Bellew Brigadier Gourdon O Neale Lieut. Coll. Roberts wounded Maj. Gen. Dorrington Lord Slane Lord Kilmore Lord Ruffin Coll. Butler Coll. Grace Maj. Lawless Coll. Walter Bourk Lieut. Coll. John Baggot Lieut. Coll. James Braudier Maj. William Bourk Maj. Edmund Butler 9 Captains 11 Lieutenants 7 Ensigns 2 Corporals 8 Quarter-Masters 2 Serjeants 190 private Souldiers in the hands of the English Provost Prisoners in the Dutch Provost's Custody Major Ter. Kelly 18 Captains 20 Lieutenants 4 Cornets 4 Quarter Masters 13 Ensigns 1 Adjutant and 217 private Souldiers In all 407 which were afterwards made up full 500. Trophies of Honour were also taken 12 Standards 30 Colours and one Kettle-Drum with which the Lord O Bryan was sent into England to present 'em to the Queen Add to this That never better Conduct nor Gallantry was ever shewn than among the General Officers never more Bravery and Resolution seen among private Souldiers who with a surprizing Courage and undaunted Fury prest on beat down all before 'em and forc'd the Enemy from their advantagious Posts and Entrenchments to make way for Victory and a glorious Triumph with the loss of no more than 500 slain and 700 wounded Of the number of the slain were Maj. Gen. Holtstaple Coll. Charles Herbert first taken Prisoner at the beginning of the Fight and afterwards inhumanly murther'd by the Rebels when they saw the Battel lost Coll. Mongatz of the Danes Maj. Petit of Bel-Castle's Regiment Maj. Devenish of Earle's Maj. Colt of Brewer's Maj. Cornwal and Maj. Fox of Fouke's with divers inseriour Officers Among the wounded were the Prince of Hesse-Dermstadt the Lord George Hamilton the Lord Cutts Coll. Earle Lieut. Coll. Brudenell with some others After the Battel was over the General encampt where the wish lay and the next day being the 13th of June sent away Brigadier Eppinger with a Detachment of 1200 Horse Horse and Dragoons to seize Portumney where the Rebels had a great Magazine of Provisions who soon possess'd himself of it and the next day being the 14th the Fort and Castie of Banaker surrendred to Major Wood whereby the English became Masters of all the Passes upon the Shannon except Limerick and those within eight Miles of it Upon the 17th of July the Army advanc'd to Loghreah and from thence upon the 19th to Athenree where the General left about 3000 Horse under the Command of Lieutenant-General Scravenmore and Major-General Rovigny to observe the Enemies motion but more especially to secure the free Passage of the Convoys and great Guns and from thence advanc'd to Galloway So soon as the General came before the
are most frequently fram'd to curry favour Thus in a few days after other Deserters reported That there were not Provisions in the Town for many days and that d'Vssone the French Governour had promised to dismiss the Militia that were forced into the Town after the Battel of Aghrim if succour did not come from France in twelve days Of the Truth of all which an easie Conjecture may be made by what has hapned since However after all these fair Stories the General hearing that several Regiments of the Enemies Horse with a Party of Rapparees were drawn together in Kerry about sixteen Miles from Limerick sent away Brigadier Leveson with five hundred Horse and Dragoons in pursuit of the whole Party who being inform'd of his March divided themselves into two Bodies to make their retreat the more easie Which Brigadier Leveson understanding did the like and with one part of his Detachment himself pursued one of the Enemies Bodies while Collonel Newenhuys pursuâ—d the other Nor was it long before the Brigadier overtook the Party which he pursu'd and so entirely put them to the rout that very few escap'd among the rest the Lord Castle Connel was taken and sent to the Camp with the rest of the Prisoners Upon the 3d of September the Enemies Horse quitted their Camp under the Cannon of the Town and betook themselves to another that lies in the Road between Limerick and Killalow and thus their Horse being near to second 'em they posted four Regiments of Dragoons to guard the Fords of the Shannon in case the Enemy should attempt to pass the River On the other side the Besiegers had by this time finish'd their Line of Circumvallation with four Redoubts to defend it September 4. Three hundred Horse and Dragoons were sent to re-inforce Brigadier Leveson who after the Defeat of the two Regiments and the Body of Rapparees in Kerry was advanc'd farther in order to the reducing of those few small Garrisons which the Irish had left in that County to which purpose is Pieces of Cannon were also order'd him for the more speedy effecting his Design About the same time the Irish having put between 2 and 300 of the Protestant Inhabitants of Limerick into a little Island in the Shannon under a sufficient Guard their sad and starving Condition mov'd the Compassion of the Officers to whose care they were committed who being no less desirous themselves to go over to the English sent to Maj. Stroud who then lay posted with some of the Melitia not far from the Island to let him understand their intentions upon which the Major went over with a Party in small Boats and brought away not only the Guard but the Prisoners that were almost starv'd for want of Food in a place where they had only two pitiful Hutts to shelter them from the Inconveniences of the Weather Septemb. 8. The great Battery of 22 Pieces of Cannon began to play very early in the Morning and in a short time made a Breach of about 30 yards in the English Town on the North-East side of it Upon the left of this Battery were also planted 8 Mortars two of which were 18 Inches in diameter The next day being the 9th two more Batteries were finish'd which play'd upon St. John's Gate in the Irish Town These Batteries and Mortars playing without intermission made a world of Havock dismounted the Enemies Cannon made several Breaches set the English Town several times on fire and laid the greatest part of it in Rubbish and all this by the 12th at night at what time some of the Besiegers Bombs falling among the Enemies Stores burnt three of their Magazines one of Brandy and the other two of Bisker and shortly after fired and blew up another Magazine of Powder which forc'd the Enemy to remove what Provisions and Ammunition they had left into the Irish Town Septemb. 15. The Lord Lisburn was kill'd by a Cannon Ball as he was lying upon his Quilt in the Trenches On the 17. One Capt. Taffe came over to the English and inform'd the General that the English Town was utterly ruin'd that the great Guns and Bombs had kill'd a great number of the Garrison which at that time was reduc'd to 6000 Foot and those but very ill clad Upon the 18th an Express was sent to Dublin by the Earl of Granard giving this Accompt that upon his coming before Slego with a Body of the Army and Militia of the Country consisting of about 3000 Men to whom Baldaric neale who was absolutely come over to the English had joyned his own Thousand followers the Irish quitted the Town and retreated into the Fort upon which his Lordship caus'd a Battery to be Rais'd against it But then the Irish chusing rather to submit in time then suffer the fatal Effects of a successful Storm surrender'd the Fort upon the 15th of September and Marched out accordingly to the Number of between 5 or 600 Men. They left in the Place 16 Pieces of Cannon 30 Barrels of Powder more Shot in proportion and a great Quantity of Provision The Articles they obtain'd were almost the same with those that were granted to Galloway wherein divers other petty Garisons were included upon this Condition that they furrendr'd twenty four Hours after being Summon'd Much about the same time General Ginckle having determined that part of the Army should pass the Shannon with a resolution to dissipate or remove the Irish Horse that lay Encamped in the County of Clare and shut up the Town on that side also the better to conceal his design made a shew by giving Orders to draw off and ship the heavy Cannon and quit several Castles near the Camp as if he intended to raise the Siege which the Enemy believing to be real expressed their joy by loud and frequently repeated Shouts But the same Night the Pontons were laid over the Shannon about a Mile above the Town which was perform'd with that Order and Silence that upon the 16th by break of day the Royal Regiment of Dragoons with a Detachment both of Horse and Foot had pass'd the River before they were discover'd by the Enemy All this while Brigadier Clifford lay with four Regiments of Dragoons on the other side of the Water to have hinder'd the English from getting over and so soon as he perceiv'd himself frustrated in his design brought down all his Men on foot their horses being at grass to make the best opposition he could But they were presently routed and forc'd to betake themselves to their Heels flinging away their Arms and leaving behind them all their Tents Baggage Saddles Bridles and other Accoutrements together with two Pieces of Cannon and the Standard of Maxwell Many were kill'd and several taken Prisoners among whom was a French Lieutenant Collonel Upon this the rest of the Irish Horse that lay higher up towards Kiâ—lalow took the Alarum and drew out as if they had intended some stout resistance but as it prov'd 't
AN EXACT JOURNAL OF THE Victorious PROGRESS OF THEIR Majesties Forces Under the COMMAND of Gen. Ginckle This SUMMER in IRELAND GIVING A Particular ACCOUNT of the Several Skirmishes Battles Sieges and Surrenders of ATHLONE GALLOWAY SLEGO c. TOGETHER With the Total DEFEAT of the IRISH at Agrim and Thomond-Bridge And Lastly of the Capitulation and Surrender of LIMERICK LONDON Printed for Randolph Taylor near Stationers-Hall MDCXCI TO THE READER 'T IS well known that Ireland was conquer'd at first by the English and bad been all along under the easie Yoke of the Kings of England till James II. ascended the Throne But he by a Policy contrary to all the World designing to subdue England to Popery and French Government endeavour'd all he could to have made Ireland in her Turn the Instrument of that preposterous Conquest To which purpose he made use of the general Inclination of that People to the Romish Religion sent for whole Regiments of that Nation into England bred 'em up both for Officers and Souldiers with no less Care than the Turks do their Janizaries and when he had fill'd all iIreland with expert Warriors deliver'd up the whole Power of the Government into the hands of the Roman Catholicks so that all that part of the English Monarchy was only tackt to England by the single Thread of Papistical Obedience during a Catholick Reign After which King James himself having abdicated England headed a general Revolt of the Irish from the Imperial Crown of Great Britain which had only left subordinate to it the City of London-Derry and one Corner of Ulster So that so fair a Portion of the British Dominion so Convenient for spacious Harbors so fertile for the Soil so abounding in all Things for the support of humane Life and so particularly famous for admitting no venomous Creatures to live in it but only Priests and Jesuits was either to be quite lost or quite to be reâ—conquer'd Therefore while the late King James assisted with French Succours commanded all things and had set the forfeited Crown of Irleand upon his Head Duke Schomberg was by King William sent to stop the Career of the abdicated Prince and his abominated Crew of Gallick Foreigners And first of all the Duke like the Roman Fabius Cunctando restituit rem Next King William in Person like the far-fam'd Scipio forc'd the defeated Invader to abandon the Kingdom And now lastly this Campaign and second Summer from the Contest begun you see the threatning War concluded while the renowned Ginckle like a Torrent sweeps all before him and after his having broken the Enemy in Battle stript 'em of all their strong Holds by storm or constrain'd 'em to surrender and scatter'd the Fugitives to starve among the Mountains leaves no part of the whole Kingdom unreduced under the Obedience of her lawful Sovereigns Atchievments not attain'd by Number but by Courage and Conduct and meriting large Encomiums beyond the narrow Limits of a Preface And now I would fain know what are become of those brisk Jacobites who thought a languishing French Cause could be supported by laying malicious and extravagant Wagers Where-e'er they are they have nothing now to do but to pay their lost Money and with Hudibrass conclude That Wagers are Fools Arguments And indeed 't is pity they do not live at this time in France where the King is setting so many Projects on foot to raise Money For their Names would certainly be taken to inform the King where the Men of Money liv'd And then he presently sends his Officers for such a Sum to be re-paid ad Graecas Kalendas I only tell'ent the Story let them pick out the Inference themselves AN EXACT JOURNAL OF THE Victorious Progress of Their Majesties Forces this Summer in Ireland c. HIS Majesty King WILLIAM III. by the prosperous Success of his Arms at the Boyn the last Year was in a very short time become Master of the greatest patt of Ireland and had driven the late King James quite out of the Kingdom but the Season of the Year and the excessive Rains so frequent in that Country would not permit him any farther Action For which reason after he had given order for his Forces to take up their Winter-Quarters in such a Manner as to shut up the Rebels within the most narrow limits that might be and prevent their Incursions into the regain'd Countries His Majesty returned for England leaving to Command the Army and compleat his Conquests General Ginkle a Person of great Experience Fidelity Conduct and Expedition as will appear by the ensuing Journal So that if Story receive its lustre from the Grandeur of the Actions which it relates perhaps this Journal may be thought as considerable as has for many years come forth as well for the Courage of the Souldiers the Difficulty and Success of their Euterprizes and the Importance of their Conquests During the Winter Both sides lay quiet but the very Approach of Spring warm'd the English to Action which tho' not so considerable yet was preparatory to facilitate the Opening of the grand Campaign which did not begin till sometime after For upon the 14th of March where this Journal begins Colonel Lillington between eight and nine at Night march'd from Roscreagh with a Party of his own which being joyn'd by another from Bix made up together Three Hundred Horse Foot and Dragoons and advanc'd toward Nagah but finding the way to be longer then he expected and day coming on he detach'd Eighteen Horse and as many Foot which he mounted upon Garrans and made all the haste he could to secure the Bridge about half a Mile from Nenagh Upon which the whole Garrison sallied out to oppose him However with that small party he maintain'd the Pass till his Foot came up and then leaving them at the Bridge he advanc'd with his Horse toward the Enemy who at a distance were very free of their Shot but so soon as the English came nere them began to run upon which the English pursu'd them and kill'd about Twenty of which number was a Lieutenant and took one Cornet This done the Colonel sent a Detachment to secure the Pass on the other side of Nenagh towards Limerick while the rest of his Men entered the Town the Rebels flying into the Castle and burnt all the Houses together with a great Quantity of Malt and Mcal and brought away three hundred Head of black Cattel with the Loss but of two Men slain out-right and another wounded but of the Rebels were kill'd between forty and fifty At the same time News came from Cork that upon advice that a Party of the Rebels were come before Ballimagoolis a frontier Garrison possess'd by the English in that County a Party was sent from Cork to relieve it of which the Enemy being inform'd they drew off in great disorder whereupon the Garrison sallied out kill ' d several of the Enemy and took sever Prisoners Upon the 15th of March a
detach'd Party or 150 Dragoons 100 Militia-Horse and 130 Foot marched from Cork under the Command of Major Culliford toward Ballyclongh where the Rebels were about to have entrench'd themselves but upon the appearing of the English they quitted their Works and fled with that haste that all the English could do in the pursuit was to take seven Prisoners of which four were Officers With better success a Party of Sir David Collier's Regiment quartered about Bandon together with some of the Militia of that Place 300 in all Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton marched at the same time into the Enemies Quarters about Bantry where they killed above seventy of the Rebels took fifteen Prisoners six hundred Head of Black Cattel and a good number of Horses without the loss of one Man Of this Action soon after there came a more full account That upon notice that Brigadier Caroll had a design to send five Companies of Foot with some Ammunition to joyn Collonel O Donavan in order to maintain Bantry and put the Country under Contribution Lieut. Coll. Hamilton marched on the 15th of March with 200 Foot of Sir David Colliers Regiment 60 Horse commanded by Lieut. Coll. Ogilby and 80 of the Militia and the next day about two in the Afternoon came in sight of Bantry but finding that the Enemy had quitted the Place the same Morning followed them with all the expedition he could Whereupon the Enemy perceiving themselves so closely pursued left all their Cattel behind and betook themselves into the Bogs however the English followed 'em four Miles kill'd about 40 took 14 Prisoners Coll. Courcy narrowly escaping and brought off 1500 Head of Black Cattel leaving several thousands behind for want of People to drive 'em That night the English stay'd at Bantry and the next day after they had burnt the Town returned back In their way the Enemy had laid 600 Men in Ambush about six Miles from Bantry but being discovered by the Vantcurriers of the Party after one Volly they ran away to their Hills and Bogs whither the English could not pursuc them March 25. Thirty of the Militia-Dragoons commanded by Lieutenant Powel were ordered to fetch up several Persons out of the County of Meath who were suspected to have been concerned in the Murther of Coll. Foulks's Souldiers but in his return he had notice that a Party of Rapparees way-laid him not far from Hackets-Town with a Resolution to rescue the Prisoners Upon which he sent away seventeen of his Dragoons with the Prisoners and with the other thirteen marched to Hackets-Town where sending for the Constable after some hard threatning Words the Constable inform'd him where the Rapparees lay and then he immediately march'd to find 'em out So soon as he approached the Place he advanced with four of his Men into a Field adjoyning where he fell in with a Party of twenty eight Irish commanded by Captain O Neale The Enemy seeing so small a number came up and fired at 'em but without doing any hurt to the English who answer'd them in the same Element to better purpose killing two of the Rebels and wounding O Neale himself By which time the rest of the English being come in charged the Irish and kill'd four of them put the rest to flight and pursued them from place to place till they had killed about twenty of them and among the rest their Captain O Neale who being wounded before was now perfectly cured his Enemies becoming his Surgeons Of the English only three were wounded and two Horses kill'd March 27. Captain Mark Baggot who came as a Spy from Limerick and was taken in Womens Apparel was try'd and sentenc'd by a Court-Martial but his Execution was respited upon his offering to make some discovery However it appearing afterwards that he did but dally with Justice and that all his pretended Discoveries were of no moment he was hang'd outright upon the Twentieth of May following At the conclusion of this Month a Proclamation was published in Dublin bearing Date March 26. purporting That notwithstanding the great Clemency extended by their Majesties to the Popish Irish whereby upon their submission they have had equal protection with their Protestant Subjects yet such was the inveterate Malice of many that upon all occasions they not only relieved their Majesties Enemies but joyned with them in committing and concealing many horrid Murthers one of which of eight Souldiers inhumanly strangled at one time and in one place was lately discovered to have been perpetrated by the Inhabitants of the Place where the Souldiers were quartered for which some of the Criminals had receiv'd just Punishment And the Lords Justices-being fully satisfied that such Offences could not be committed without the help or connivance of the Protected Inhabitants and having received Information that there was a Confederacy among them to relieve their Majesties Enemies and to take all Opportunities to destroy their Officers and Souldiers their Lordships therefore declar'd That if any such Murthers be hereafter committed and the Inhabitants do not use their utmost endeavours to apprehend the Malefactors that they shall be put out of their Majesties protection and be proceeded against as Spies and Enemies according to the course of War April 2. Coll. Tiffin sent out from Ballyshannon a Party of two hundred Foot and two Troops of Coll. Winns Dragoons who marched within three Miles of Slego where they kill'd thirty two of Captain Macksherry's Men and took nine and brought away with them a Booty of 180 Cows 50 Sheep and 30 Horses but the Captain with the rest made their Escapes to the Mountains April 4. A Party of Longford Garison meeting with some of the Enemies Dragoons neear the River Enye slew six upon which the rest taking the River where it was not fordable ten more of them were drown'd Such a strange thing is Fear that it makes many Men run from one Death to another April 5. A small Party of Dragoons commanded by Quarter-Master Topham met with a detach'd Party of the Rebels under the Command of Captain Bourke of which they slew five and an Ensign the rest betaking themselves to their heels The same day Brigadier Stewart sent from Belturbat a Detachment of fifty Foot and twenty Dragoons under the Command of Captain Stewart with Orders to march toward Mohil to free the Country from the Rapparees The next morning by break of day being come within a Mile of the Place they discover'd two Troops of the Enemies Dragoons and about fifty Foot that were guarding some Kereights upon which the English see to work with them without any Preambles but the Rebels after the first firing quitted their Horses and betook themselves to the Woods and Bogs whither the English Foot pursuing them made a shift to kill thirty and take five Prisoners Which done the Victors return'd to their Quarters without any manner of Loss bringing along with them about an hundred Head of Black Cattel and between sixty and
seventy Horses April 6. Quarter-Master Topham with eighteen Dragoons and twelve Foot-Souldiers mounted upon Garrans surpriz'd the Enemies Guards near Newsastle killed seventeen and brought away nine Prisoners seven of which being found to be Rapparees were immediately hang'd April 7. Fifteen hundred of the Irish Army came before Inishkeam and attackt the Garrison of that Place consisting of no more than forty four Men commanded by Ensign Lindsay and Ensign Dalyel but notwithstanding so great a multitude of the Rebels a part of that small Garrison defended the two Avenues to the Town above two Hours till some of the Popish Inhabitants treacherously gave the Enemy entrance into the Town through a by-way and then the English retreated to the main Guard which they maintain'd six Hours longer at what time the Rebels summoned the Defendants to surrender and upon their refusal had brought together several Hundreds of Faggots to fire the Guard-House when in the very nick of Opportnnity Collonel Ogilby with a Party of Horse and Foot came to their Relief upon whose approach the Enemy drew off in confusion which the Garrison perceiving sallied out upon the Rebels and kill'd about fifty with no more than the loss of one Man April 9. Some of Captain Green's Militia-Dragoons marching into the Enemies Quarters kill'd several of the Rapparees and laid in Ashes a Village that gave them harbor The same day also a Court-Martial was held where Brigadier Stewart presided and where several Persons who upon their Tryals appear'd to be Spies and such as had assisted and sheltered the Rapparees were sentenced to be hanged April 13. Quarter-Master Callaghan went out with a Party and in a short time after return'd with eleven Prisoners twelve Horses and seventy Head of Black Cattel April 18. General Ginkle arrived at Dublin whither most of the General Officers repaired at the same time to consult with the Lords Justices about the Affairs of the Campaign and hastning their Majesties Forces to take the Field which he was the more encourag'd to do in regard that the Monmouth Yacht had already brought Money for the Army and that several other Ships were arrived at Cork Waterford and Kingsale with Recruits both of Horse and Foot of which two thousand were by that time come to Dublin where through the great Care and Diligence of the General the Train of Artillery with the Waggons and Carriages lay all ready fitted Much about the same time was published a Proclamation for the apprehending and securing Christopher Brown a Romish Priest who by the Examinations of several Persons appeared to be if no the first Contriver and principal Directer yet a main Abetter and Incourager of the Murther of many of their Majesties Souldiers in Mallahudder's Church and proposing a Reward of Fifty Pounds for any Person that should seize him April 19. No less than seven hundred of the Irish standing-Army attackt a Stone-House called Croghan near Philipstown and valiantly took a Corporal and six common Souldiers after they had with much more Bravery defended themselves till all their Powder was spent and that they had killed twelve of the Enemy But this Loss was reveng'd the same day with advantage for the English being inform'd that a considerable number of the Rebels were come near to Macromp one of their Majesties Frontier Garrisons a Party of eighty Horse and an nundred and fifty Dragoons of the Army and as many of the Militia was drawn out under the Command of Major Kirk This Party marched the 19th in the Evening and by break of day the next Morning came up with the Rebels who presently took to their Sanctuaries in the Woods and Bogs whither the English pursu'd them and after a chace of some hours kill'd twenty took five Prisoners and brought off some Horses and Cattel Much about the same time the Rapparees coming with a strong Party to Curraglass near Tallough had stollen some Horses belonging to Collonel Denopp's Regiment and surpriz'd four Troops Upon which the Collonel gave present Orders for the taking up several of the Irish Inhabitants about that place declaring withal That if they did not procure the Horses and Men to be brought back by such a certain day they should every one be hang'd Which wrought so effectually upon the Prisoners that both Men and Horses were brought back by the time appointed to the place where they were taken and for a further Attonement of the Injury done some of the Fellows also that had been Actors in the Robbery At the same time three hundred Rapparees lying in Ambuâ—â— cade not far from Kennegad had seiz'd upon forty eight Sack of Meal that were going thither with a very small Guard that made their escapes of which notice being given to the Town a Party of the Garrison fally'd out recover'd a good part of the Meal and kill'd several of the Rapparees with their Captain April 24. Captain Pallaser upon some intelligence that was given him of the Rapparees march'd out with forty Fire-locks of the Army and twenty of the Militia but by the Treachery of one Terence Magragh was drawn into an Ambush of no less than two of the Enemies Regiments of Foot and some Horse Nevertheless the English got into the Ruins of an old Castle where theless the English got into the Ruins of an old Castle where they vigoriously defended themselves till all their Ammunition was spent but then were forc'd to accept of Quarter and were carried Prisoners to Nanagh April 27. The Earl of Meath's and the Lord Lisburn's Regiments arrived at Mullingar and encamp'd without the Town The same day one Walter Brown formerly High Constable of the Barony of Delwyn was hang'd for a Spy in the same Town And upon the same 27th of April also it was that five hundred of the Militia of the County of Dublin marched out of that City to the Town of Kildare where they joyn'd the Regiment of Horse commanded by Collonel Piper and which were design'd to clear those parts from the Robberies and Violences of the Rapparees And the same day arriv'd in Dublin Road the Ships from England laden with the Stores for the Artillery and Ordnance April 28. Collonel Brewer and Lieutenant-Collonel Hamilton with six hundred Foot and twenty Horse marched into the Enemies Quarters beyond the Castle of Donere between which place and Kilbegan about two thousand of the Rapparces had for some time shelter'd themselves in Hutts and Cabins But though at the first sight of the English they drew up in a kind of Bravado upon the Hills in several Bodies of Horse and Foot yet upon the Collonels nearer approach they flew to their Bogs and Woods whither the English pursu'd them kill'd about fifty and after they had burnt a great number of their Hutts and Hovels returned to their Quarters April 30. Capt. Clayton was sent with a Party of Men to relieve the Garrison of Ballimagooly where Capt. Hornycrose then commanded and was the same day to have march'd his Men
to Cork so soon as Captain Clayton had relieved him But understanding that the Garrison of Ballyclough had a design to intercept him he thought it not convenient to march by day and therefore set forward about 12 a Clock at Night However this was not so privately carried but that the Irish had notice of it and thereupon drew out a hundred and twenty of their best Horse and as many Dragoons with two hundred and fifty Voluntiers and Rapparees commanded by Brigadier Caroll Sir James Cotter the Lord of Kinsale Collonel Lasly Major Slingsby Captain Coppinger and Captain Combdon who fell upon the English just on the other side of Six-milewater about three of the Clock in the Morning Upon their approach the English faced and about twenty fired upon the Enemy so well to the purpose that they brake the Rebels Front and put them into some disorder which gave the English a good opportunity to retreat to an old Pound that had a Mud-wall about it breast-high and to clap up a Truckle at the place where they entred Whereupon the advanced Party of the Enemy believing the day their own boldly made up to the Pound and offered the Captain and his Man Quarter which he refusing they began a brisk Charge and pressed hard upon the English by whom the Rebels were so warmly received that several of their Number were slain and carried off during the heat of the Action However they made a second and a third Attack though with the same ill success And thus the Conflict lasted for several hours till notice of it being carried to Cork a Party was forthwith sent from thence to the Captain 's relief but the Enemy were all fled before they arrived leaving dead upon the place Captain Coppinger and Caprain Combdon Collonel Lasly and the Lord of Kinsale were likewise dangerously wounded and carried off and about fifty more wounded Major Slingsby was brought dangerously wounded to Cork where in little hopes of Life he was so ingenious as to confess That he believed the Hand of God was against their Party for that altlio ' they offered and promised Quarter to the English yet had they yielded they had resolved to put them all to the Sword Of the English were lost no more than eight Men out of fourscore but of the Enemy 't is believed that more were kill'd and wounded than those they fought against At the beginning of May the Lords Justices put forth a Proclamation strictly charging and commanding all Officers Civil and Military and all Souldiers of their Majesties Army not to molest any Sutlers that should have a Warrant from the Lord Justices the General of the Army or Collonel of any Regiment to follow the Camp nor to take any thing from the said Sutlers nor to use any violence towards them upon pain of being severely proceeded against And that the Collonels should take care that the Souldiers paid for every thing they had of the Sutlers according to the setled Rates And to prevent the Robberies and Spoils committed upon the Country by several unnecessary Persons that followed the Camp they further ordered all their Majesties Subjects both Protestants and Papists to stay at or repair to their several Habitations for the Preservation and Improvement of the same and that no Persons should presume to follow the Camp but such as brought Provisions to the Army or upon some lawful occasion approved by the General or Commander in Chief By another Proclamation all the Inhabitants of the Counties of Waterford and Tipperary were commanded to repair to their Places of Habitation or the next Garrison and the Inhabitants of the Counties of Cork Limerick and Kerry were ordered to do the same in order to their being employed in the Militia for the Defence of the Country when their Army should be drawn into the Field And by an Order of General Ginkle all Officers and Souldiers and all other Persons whatsoever were strictly commanded not to press any Horses or Carts without license from himself in writing nor to press any Horse that was actually listed in the Militia upon any pretence whatever May 1. Captain Thomas White of the old Lord George Hamilton's Regiment drew out an hundred Men under the Command of Captain Johnston who marched with his Party to Belnamona in Kings County where he had such good success that by break of day he surprized two Troops of Dragoons of Brigadier Clifford's Regiment and three Troops of Horse of the Lord Merrion's Regiment kill'd Lieutenant Archibald Quarter-Master Barnell and fifteen Dragoons took two Ensigns and other Prisoners burnt the Town and returned with a good Booty of Horses Arms and Cattel My 3. The Governour of Clonmel with a Detachment of Horse and two Troops of the Militia-Dragoons marched by Night into the Enemies Quarters toward Michels-Town but not meeting with any of the Rebels was returning back to his Quarters when a Corporal of Horse making a halt a little behind was shot at by four Rapparees Upon which the English surrounded the Wood and after some hours Man-Hunting killed above thirty of the Rapparees and one Cashan their Captain May 4. Major Wood marched from Mountmilock to Castle-Cuff with a Party of three hundred Foot drawn out of Collonel Lloyd's and the Lord George Hamilton's Regiment and fifty Horse of Collonel Byerly's In his march he divided the Foot into several small Parties in order to surprize the Rapparees in the woods and Bogs keeping with the Horse along the skirts of the Bog to hinder their escape By which means they made a shift to kill about seventy Rapparees and to take a good number of their Cattel Which done Major Wood advanc'd with thirty Foot and thirty four Horse beyond the Togher of Mallybone and from thence sent the Cattel homeward under a Guard of thirty Men and was returning to his Party with those few that were with him about ten of the Clock in the Morning when he discover'd two Bodies of Men of the late Kings Army computed to consist of four hundred each Body marching silently between the Wood and the Mountains but who so soon as they perceiv'd themselves to be espy'd beat their Drums upon which the Major drew up the chiefest part of his whole Party in a Plough'd field and fac'd 'em Presently the Enemies Granadiers came over the Hedge and made towards the Major till seeing the English stand firm they also made a halt Whereupon the Major apprehending that the thirty Men that guarded the Booty were not got clear of the Wood and consequently might be exposed to the Enemies Numbers wheel'd off by the skirt of the Wood to their succor and by that time he had got his Horse and Foot over the Bog he heard the Enemy firing very thick upon the thirty Men who bravely however oppos'd 'em under the Command of Lieutenant Ellis The noise of this firing brought in fourscore more of the English who had been laid to watch the Rapparees Thereupon Major Wood
order'd the Foot to march in two Parties on each side the River while he with the Horse march'd between 'em both Being in this manner come within sight of the Enemy and judging that the Horse might do most service by fetching a compass about and getting behind the Rebels he gallop'd round with an intention to fall upon their Reer which the Enemy perceiving and being at the same time hard put to it by the Foot began to make an orderly Retreat But then it was that the Major unwilling to lose his Advantage fell immediately upon-their Flank with his Horse and that with so much Courage and undaunted Bravery that he put the Enemy first into great disorder and soon after to an absolute flight Both Horse and Foot pursu'd the Fugitives quite through the Wood down to the Bog and kill'd about 150 among whom was Capt. Chales with 2 Lieutenants and took Prisoners Maj. John Fitz-Patrick who commanded the whole Force 5 Captains 9 Lieutenants 2 Ensigns belonging to the several Regiments of Coll. Butler of Ballyraggats Collonel Robert Grace Collonel Charles Moore Sir Morice Eustace and Collonel Simon Lutterel's Dragoons and a hundred and five private Souldiers six Serjeants seventeen Corporals a Surgcon and three Drums together with a hundred and fifty Muskets All which was done by a hundred and ten of the English Foot and thirty four Horse With the Foot were Major Rider Captain Nenny Captain Dixy Lieutenant Barton and Ensign Russel With the Horse were Cornet Joshua Cornet Haslington Adjutant Robinson and Quarter-Master Cadford who with their Men both Horse and Foot behaved themselves with an extraordinary Bravery gaining so considerable a Victory over above six times their number with the loss only of Adjutant Robinson one Corporal and two Foot-Souldiers kill'd outright and one Trooper wounded The same day this memorable Action was performed a Party of Collonel Brewer's Men were going from Mullingar towards Kinnagan at what time a Serjeant and four Souldiers lagging a good way behind were surpriz'd and murther'd by the Rapparees only one escap'd whom they left for dead and whose Eyes they had most barbarously pick'd out with a Skean But the next Day being the 6th of May three Rapparees were taken who being brought to Mullingar one of them whose Name was Ellis gave Evidence against the other two who were thereupon immediately hanged The same day Captain Richard Poynts went out of Mullingar with a hundred Men of that Garrison and falling upon a Party of Rapparees near Managhan kill'd above forty and Lieut. Coll. Hodson sallying out at the same time from Mountmelock posted his Men over night at a Place call'd Isikapog the morning by break of day the Foot antred the Woods and Bogs while the Horse scoured the shirts of both to the destruction of 18 of the Rapparee Vermin kill'd out-right and several taken Prisoners among whom was one O Rourk their Captain who because he was notoricusly known to have committed several Robberies was hang'd upon the Place A fair satisfaction in so short a time for the Murther of the four Mullingar English and digging out the Eyes of the fifth May 8. The French Convoy arriv'd at Linner-Lake with Provision Cloaths and Ammunition but neither Men nor Mony The Sieur de St. Ruth who is to command the Rebels and two French Lieutenant-Generals came over in the same Ships And this was lookt upon like the pouring of Brandy down the Throat of a dying Man May 11. A hundred and fifty of the Irish Army came to Castle-Lyons and took away some Cattel from thence But Coll. Donep being there with about 20 Danes and 20 of the Militia-Dragoons pursu'd the Enemy at what time a Lieutenant of the Danes with 8 Horse and 6 Dragoons getting before the rest and overtaking the Rebels at Ballyderrawne beat off 60 from the Hedges which they had lin'd in that part though with the loss of the Licutenant who was there slain But then the Collonel coming up with the rest of his Party constrain'd the Rebels to run and being reinforc'd with 50 Men out of the Regiments of Collonel Boyle Collonel St. Leger and Captain Barry's Militia-Troops that lay posted at Formoy they continu'd the pursuit a Mile an half beyond Kilworth kill'd about 50 of which two were Commission-Officers took 40 Horses and several Silver-hilted Swords Cloaths Arms and other Accoutrements recover'd the Booty and got about 30 Cows besides May 14. The Lords Justices and Council set forth a Proclamation declaring That all Popish Irish Inhabirants where any Rapparees should commit any Robberies Burnings or Murthers or make any Insurrections if they did not immediately give notice of such Rapparees and Insurrections to the Justice of Peace or Military Officer next to their Habitations and assist them in their taking of such Rapparees and suppressing such Insurrections should be deem'd Confederates with the Rebels and Enemies to their Majesties Government and be proceeded against with the utmost severity of Military execution They farther order'd That no protected Irish Papists should be out of their Houses after nine at Night nor stir out of their Houses before four in the Morning upon pain of being put out of their Majesties Protection And that after the 30th of May if any Arms or Ammunition should be found in the possession of such Irish Papists they should be lookt upon as Rebels and punish'd accordingly May 26. The Train of Artillery consisting of 36 Pieces of Cannon and 8 Mortars set forward from Dublin and upon the 30th arriv'd at the general Rendezvouz near Mullingar The same day General Ginkle went from Dublin to the Army expecting General Douglass to joyn him with 12000 Men from the North. They who beheld the vast Preparations for this Campaign had a fair prospect of their Majesties extream Care and Providence for the total Recovery of Ireland and were easily convinc'd that the Publick Treasure was not now as formerly given for the Welfare but expended for the Destruction of the Monarchy parted with for the Honour of the Nation but wasted upon Pleasure while they beheld all the proper Ports of the Kingdom continually fill'd with Ships and Vessels some transporting Money others Recruits to the Army while they beheld such amazing Quantities of Provision Arms and Ammunition 500 Draught-Horses at a time for the Carriages and such other vast stores for the Artillery with all other Necessaries for so great an Enterprize Which shews the difference of a Nation 's being under the Care of good Stewards and from being under the negligent Misgovernment of Profuseness and unthrifty Prodigality As for the Irish they were as busie at the same time as their Assistance would permit 'em And certain information was given That their new French General St. Ruth issu'd out all his Orders in the French King's Name and requir'd several of the Rebel's Officers to take new Commissions under the French King in prosecution of a Design of subjecting Ireland to France that had been long
carried on in that Kingdom by Abbot Gravelle and of which his own Letters to a great Person in France that have been since intercepted are a sufficient Evidence But before we launch into the grand Campaign there is this Observation to be made That though these lesser Encounters which have been hitherto related may seem to be of little value yet considering the continu'd success of the English though for the most part their Parties were much inferior to the Enemy and the continu'd bad Fortune of the Rebels such a Prosperity must needs be a great Encouragement to the one side and no small Disheartning to the other not to have one smile of Fortune in their Favor Add to this the picking up of so many of the Enemy for Hawks-meat not suddenly taken notice of by a cursory Reading was like a kind of Hectick Feaver wasting their Body by degrees which if the condition of the Kingdom would have endur'd it must have consum'd the whole Bulk of the Irish Opposition at the long run For most certainly it may be found by an easie computation that in less than two Months before the Campaign open'd the Rebels lost by these petty Gleanings 1079 Men kill'd out right and above 230 Prisoners in all 1309 Men of which some were considerable Officers and perhaps in the Number of the most experienc'd and daring Commanders whereas about 40 was the utmost of the English loss besides that the ill Omen of being always beaten makes a deep impression in the Minds of Men more couragious than the Irish But now all things being in a readiness for the English to take the Field General Ginkle Commander in Chief of their Ma jesties Forces in the Kingdom in Ireland upon the 6th of May decamp'd from Mullingar and being joyn'd the same day by General Douglass with the Northern Forces which made up the whole Army 15 Battalions of Foot and 3000 Horse upon the 7th of May came before Ballymore seated upon a tongue of firm Land jetting out into a Lake being in circumference about a Mile ending on the two sides with Bogs that are unaccessible which leave but a very streight Avenue from the main Land The Enemy had fortified this place with two Retrenchments in the Winter of which the first was a Horn-work the second two whole Bastions whose outward Curtains on each side extended down to the Lake and within the last Retrenchment was an old Danish Mount so fortified as that it made a third Retreat Upon the General 's approach to the Town the Marquiss de Rovigny was sent before with a strong Detachment of Horse and Dragoons to possess himself of a Pass between the Town and Athlone and as soon as the advanc'd part of the Army appear'd upon the Hills that look into the Fort the Enemy began to play upon the English with two â—ield-Pieces but without doing any harm In the mean time a Detachment of Foot was sent to possess themselves of the Rebels out Posts which they quitted upon the approach of the English and ran as fast as they could into Ballymore only a Serjeant and twelve Men continu'd firing out of a round Tower and kill'd two of the English But the Tower soon after being taken by Assault the Serjeant was hang'd upon a high Hill in sight of the Enemy for firing upon the Besiegers after the Communication was cut off from him and the Town That Night the Besiegers raised five different Batteries the first of 12 Pounders the second of six 18 Pounders to ruin the second Retrenchment the third of 8 Field-Pieces to break the Pallisadoes the fourth of four 18 Pounders and two 12 Pounders which batter'd the Horn-work as also a Lodgment on the same side for three Mortar pieces All which were brought to play the same Night About eight of the Clock the next Morning the General sent a Message to the Governour That if he and the Garrison would surrender within two Hours he would save their Lives and receive 'em as Prisoners of War If not that they should expect no quarter To which the Governor returning a shuffling fort of an Answer in hopes to get better Terms the Batteries play'd on and about Noon the Breaches of the first and second Retrenchments were so far advanc'd and the Pallisado's so effectually cut down that the General resolv'd to storm the Town in five several Places on the Hornwork and the two sides of the Bog by help of Faggots and by that means to divide the Garrison which consisted of 1000 Men. The Besiegers also had four large Wherries a float upon the Lake which were brought from Dublin with a great deal of trouble into which were put an hundred and fifty Granadiers that at the time of the general Aslault were to attack the Besieg'd on that side that lay open to the Lake All which Preparations and their own Condition put them into so great a Consternation that they hung out several white Flags and about seven a Clock in the Evening when they left off firing on both sides the Governour Collonel Mich. Bourk and several Officers came out and submitted to the General 's Mercy Upon the 9th of May the Garrison came forth consisting of 780 Men drawn out of the Enemies standing-Army besides 4 Field-Officers 16 Captains 14 Lieutenants 12 Ensigns and Cornets c. and 259 Rapparees all well arm'd who all laying down their Arms were made Prisoners in the innermost part of the Fort. Besides the Garrison there were above 600 Women and Children among whom a Load of Ammunition-Bread was order'd to be distributed There was found in the Place several Sacks of French Oat-meal about ten Barrels of Powder with Shot proportionable in their Magazine two Field pieces and about three hundred Head of Cattel and five hundred Sheep which were given to the Souldiers The same Night that the Town surrendred there was a hot Alarum that the Enemy was at hand with a Body of 25000 Men which occasion'd the Besiegers to double their Guards and send out a strong Party of Horse and Foot toward Athlone who within two Miles of that place surpriz'd an advanc'd Guard of the Enemies asleep the main Body consisting of 1000 Men who retreated in safety in regard the english had no Orders to advance any farther So soon as the Town was taken the English fell to work in repairing the Breaches making some additions of new Works and levelling the Batteries and a Garrison was put into it of 500 Men The Prisoners being 51 Officers and 900 Souldiers were sent away to Mullingar and from thence to Dublin After this the General lay a while encamp'd near Ballymore in expectation of the Prince of Wirtemberg who upon the 4th of June decamp'd from Thurles with the Forces under his Command consisting of 12000 Horse and Foot June 5. They came to Roscreagh where they rested all the next day June 7. They marched on to Bi r and upon June the 10th continu'd their march
met with a Body of the Enemy consisting of 400 Men near Skibberteine which they presently defeated killing above 60 and taking several Prisoners Which done they joyn'd the rest of the Party and making up 500 in all march'd toward a place where they were inform'd that Mac-Carry Moore and O Danavan lay with their Regiments and with great difficulty got over a Pass which the Rebels might have defended with 20 Men against 2000. Which put the Enemy into such a Consternation that they betook themselves to their Heels in so great a confusion that they left behind for a Prey to the English a thousand Head of Black Cattle five hundred Garrans as many Goats two thousand Sheep and store of other Booty Much about the same time a Vessel on board of which wâ—â— St. Ruth's Goods and Plunder attempting to get out of the Shannon was taken by one of their Majesties Frigats that was cruizing about the Mouth of the River at what time two other Ships in which were Sarsfield's Lady and some other Persons of Quality observing as good luck for them would have it the Misfortune of the first Vessel return'd back to Limerick Upon the 11th of August the General march'd from Nenagh â—o Shadey about two Miles from the Silver Mines The next day he advanc'd to Tullen and upon the 14th to Caricken-Lysh which is about four Miles from Limerick Upon the 15th the General went with 1500 Horse and Dragoons within sight of the Town and having beaten in the Enemies out Guards took a view of the Rebels Works from the Hills where their Majesties Artillery was lodg'd the last Year On the 16th being Sunday the Earl of Tyrconnel who departed this Life the Friday before as it was certainly said out of meer Anguish of Mind to see the ruinous Condition of his Master's Affairs was buried at Limerick who being thus laid in his Grave a Commission was produc'd from the late King which Mr. Plowden formerly one of the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland had brought but a little before from France appoine ting Sir Alexander Fitton Sir Richard Neagle and the said Mr. Plowden Justices of Ireland who immediately by virtue of the same Commission took upon 'em to act within the narrow Confines of Limerick as Lords Justices of that Kingdom At the same time Collonel Henry Lutterell had been seiz'd by order of the French Lieut. gen d'Vssone for having made some Proposals for a Surrender and was sentenc'd by a Court-Martial to be shot to Death Of which General Ginckle being inform'd sent word to the French Monsieur by a Trumpet That if any Man were put to death for having a Mind to come over to the English he would revenge it double upon the Irish Prisoners August 25. The English Army drew near Limerick and drove the Enemy from all their several Forts and Places of defence without the Town of which they quitted some upon the approach of the English Nevertheless in another Fort which they had newly built and wherein they had six hundred Men they made a shew of greater Resistance but upon the advance of fourscore Granadiers to attack it they only gave one general discharge upon 'em and then made a running Retreat by a Covert-way within their Flank Lines which they had newly raised round about the Town The next Morning a considerable Detachment of Horse and Foot was sent away with some Cannon under the Command of the Prince of Hesse-Dermstadt to take in Castle-Connel where the Enemy had a strong Garrison And another Party was sent to reduce three other Castles in the Enemies possession that lay upon the River below the Town Upon the 25th of August the whole Army decamping from Carrick-â—â—glish about three in the Afternoon came before Limerick the left Wing reaching to the River but in regard the Enemy had planted two Pieces of Cannon on the other side of the River to the Disadvantage of the English a Regiment of Dragoons and another of Horse that were posted nearest to the Banks of the Stream were constrain'd to remove to a little farther distance out of Harm's way Being thus come before theâ— Town the English advanc'd to Cromwel Fort without any opposition the Enemy quitting both that and the Line of Communication which they had made to the Church and retreating to their Intrenchments that were nearer the Town And at the same time a Derachment of fourscore Granadiers were immediately order'd to attack one of their Out-works which was a new Fort and guarded by six hundred Men which upon the advancing of the English they abandon'd after one single discharge and fled by the Covert-way into the Town Upon which the Granadiers entred the Fort and pursuing the Fugitives kill'd several and took about twenty Prisoners with the loss of no more than one Man Only one unhappy Accident sell out that night that Collonel Donep of the Danish Horse was unfortunately slain by a Random-shot The 26th the heavy Cannon and Mortars arriv'd and the Souldiers began to work upon the Lines of Communication The 27th a Battery was raised by the Besiegers against Thomond Bridge and the same day Lieutenant-General Scravenmore was sent with a Detachment to reduce Castle O Gunnel which presently surrendred at discretion so that the whole Garrison consisting of a hundred and fifty Men were all made Prisoners of War At the same time some lighter English Frigats made up and cast Anchor within sight of the Town while Captain Cole with the rest of the Squadron lay about six Miles off 'T is said that the Besieged upon the first appearance of the small Frigats expressed an extraordinary Joy believing them to have been French but were as much appall'd when they found their unlucky Mistake The 28th Castle-Connel surrendred to the Prince of Hesse-Dermstadt which was attended with the surrender of several other petty Castles thereabout and made the English Masters of above nine hundred Prisoners Upon the 30th the Besiegers began to play upon the Town with nine Mortars which set it on fire in several places though it burnt not very long the Buildings being all of Stone and very strong However the second Bomb that was thrown kill'd the Lady Dillon and wounded several others The next day nine Cannon began to play upon the Castle to ruin it and to hinder the Enemies Communication with their Camp and the same night was erected a Battery of two Mortars more of eighteen Inches diameter and soon after two more Batteries were finish'd one of fourteen Pieces the other of ten all carrying twenty four and eighteen pound Ball. The Report of all the Deserters who daily came over to the Leaguer at that time was that the Garrison in the Town was very numerous but that they were not half arm'd and that they were in great want of Previsions But though it is not amiss for a General to hear what such People say yet there is but little Credit to be given to their Reports which
was only to secure their Baggage and get time to take down their Tents For so soon as the English drew near 'em and had pass'd the first Lane that was between the Irish and Them they March'd off in great disorder toward the Mountains Which done the Horse return'd to the Camp and the Foot were posted at the head of the Bridge At what time the English also took a Castle that stands in the Middle of the Shannon the Garison of which consisting of about three-score Men surrender'd at discretion besides another Post not far from it which were of great Use to the Besiegers The English also remov'd their Bridge of Boats nearer to the Town and secur'd two more Passes to it of which one was call'd the Pass of Annabegg where the English went over the last year On the 22d of September the General of the English passed the Shannon very early in the Morning with a strong Party of Horse and Dragoons and Ten Regiments of Infantry and fourteen Pieces of Cannon leaving the rest of the Army under the Command of the Duke of Wittenbergh to secure the Besiegers Works on the other side of the River About Noon the same day both Horse and Foot were drawn up before the Irish Town notwithstanding that the Enemy play'd upon 'em all the while from the Castle and several Towers both with their great Guns and small Shot About four of the Clock in the Afternoon the General Order'd all the Granadeers together with the Regiments of Collonel Kirk Collonel Yiffin and the Lord George Hamilton to Advance and Attack the Fort that secures Thomend Bridge at what time the Besieged sent two great Detachments out of the Town to reinforce and second their own Party that defended it But notwithstanding all this the English went on with that Courage and Bravery that they beat the Enemy from their Works who thereupon fled to the Town in hopes to have been let in But the Governour fearing least the Victorious English should have Enter'd with the fugitives durst not let down the draw Bridge to receive them which occasion'd a great slaughter of the vanquish'd Irish so that nothing was to be seen from the foot or Thomond Bridge to the draw Bridge but heaps of dead Bodies Six hundred of the Enemy were slain and about one handred and thirty raken Prisoners among which Number was Collonel â—kelton since dead of his wounds two Lieutenant Collonels two Majors three Captains seven Lieutenants and six Ensigns The loss which the English sustain'd was occasion'd more by their own Contempt of Danger and too eager pursuit of Victory than the Resistance of the Enemy For all the while the conflict endur'd the Enemy play'd with their Great and Small Shot from the Walls of the Town at a more than ordinary Rate which was the reason that the Mettle of the English precipitating them too far they were much more than they needed to have been expos'd to the Enemies Fire so that between two and three hundred were slain and wounded tho not any one of Remark The next day in the Afternoon the Garison beat a Parley on both sides of the River and desir'd a Truce which was agreed upon by the General which time being expir'd Sarsfield and Wahop came forth and desir'd the Truce might be continu'd for three days to the End they might send to their Horse which lay toward Clare to know upon what Conditions they expected to be comprehended in the Capitulation Upon the 25th Collonel Sheldon and some other of the Enemies Officers came into the English Camp and thence went into Limerick The next Day Sâ—rsfield and Wâ—hop din'd with the General and the Lord Cutts Sir David Collier Collonel Tiffany and Collonel Fiper were sent as Hostages into the Town and the Lords Westmeath lveagh Trimblestown and Lowth remain'd in the Camp as Hostages for the Garison Upon the 27th the Irish sent out their Proposals which the General not approving instead of an Answer sent back twelve other Articles which was all he would allow them and at the same time gave Orders for the great Guns and Mortars to be in a reaâ—â—ness in case they resas'd the Proposals he had sent which brought down the Stomacâ—â— of the Irish who seeing the Resolution of the General and finding to other Remedy at length upon the third of this Month came to a final Conclusion so that the Articles of Capitulation were signed the same Day consisting of two Parts the one relating to Civil Affairs which were signed by the Lords Justices the General and the Persons deputed by the Garriâ—on and the other in reference to the Military Affairs which were subscribed by the Generals on both Sides Such of the French and Irish as have a Mind to pass the Seas are to have the Liberty for their present Convenience to stay in the English Town and the Island till they can be ship'd away And the Castles of Roâ—s and Clare together with all other Places and Castles that as yet are in the Possession of the Irish are by Vertue of the same Capitulation to be forth with deliver'd up to the English So that the â—urrender of this Town complents the Conquest of the whole Kingdom of Ireland In pursuance of the Agreement one Gate of the Town was delivered up that â—vening it being 〈…〉 late tâ— march into the Town but the next Day the Irish being quite 〈◊〉 out the Lord 〈…〉 in and took Possession 〈◊〉 it with seven Reginments of Font. 〈…〉 some others 〈…〉 design to repair their 〈◊〉 in the French 〈…〉 themselves the more acceptable 〈…〉 up some of their 〈…〉 the French 〈…〉 to go along with 〈…〉 may our next Journal attend 〈…〉 FINIS
and came to Streanes Town the 14th and upon the 18th joyn'd the General six Miles farther in the way to Athlone On the 18 of June early in the Morning the Army march'd from Ballymore and the Prince of Wirtemberg having joyn'd the General they encampt at Ballymore's Pass from whence a strong Detachment of Horse and Dragoons was fent to Athlone On the 19th the Army came before the Place passing through many narrow Lanes which might have cost a great many Men had the Enemy as floutly defended 'em as they might have done and it seem'd a new sight to behold none but French Colours in four parts of an Irish Garrison Upon the 20th of June a Battery of ten 18 Pounders was finish'd and began to play upon the Bastion near the Water side looking toward Lanesborough and the Guns were so well directed that by three of the Clock in the Afternoon the whole Face Flank and part of the Curtain was laid in Ruins and thereupon the General gave Orders for an Assault to be made which was perform'd in this manner First march'd 300 detach'd Granadiers then 50 Pioneers with Bavins next 200 Fuziliers and then 2 Regiments of Foot commanded by Brigadier Stewart after which follow'd 200 Pioneers with more Bavins and 20 Men with Felling-Axes to cut away any Barricado of the Enemies they might meet in their way All things being thus in a readiness about six in the Evening the Sign was given by a discharge of all the Cannon in Battery Upon which the English advanc'd in very good Order to the Assault The Enemy seem'd resolv'd at first to have maintain'd the Breach but upon the first sight of the Hand-Granadiers they fled retiring in great consusion to Connaught-side divers also leaping over the Shannon for haste So that the English had nothing to do but to enter which the whole Party did and advanc'd to the Bridge where lying open to the Enemies shot from the other side several of the English were kill'd and wounded till the Enginiers had compleated some Blinds to cover them from the Town In this Action however not above 20 of the English were wounded and some few slain out-right In the number of the first was Brigadier Stewart who was shot in the right Arm and in the Neck but not dangerously but Lieut. Coll. Gore that led on the Granadiers was shot at the Breach and Lieutenant Kirk of Villiars's Regiment was unfortunately kill'd by a Cannon-Ball as he was viewing the Place from the top of a Hill that was just by On the 24th a private Souldier seeing one of the Enemies Colours floating upon the River near the Bridge threw himself into the Water and though many shot were made at him brought it off and presented it to the General who gave him a good Reward And thus one part of the Town being taken upon the 25th of June the Batteries against the other part of it were all finish'd and thirty two Pieces of Cannon and six Mortars planted upon 'em which play'd upon the Castle and the Enemies Works on the other side of the River with great success The 27th at Night the Souldiers wrought hard to repair the Stone-Bridge of which two Arches were broken down by the Enemy One of them was quite made up and the other almost finished when early next Morning the Enemy pull'd away some of the Planks and threw them into the River which made the English resolve to carry on a close Gallery upon the Bridge which being done accordingly Orders were given for storming the Place on the 29th at seven in the Morning but before all things were in a readiness for it a small Party of the Enemy came out and set fire to the Gallery though with the loss of most of their Lives This Accident occasion'd the deferring the Assault till the next day In the mean time the Cannon and Bombs continually play'd upon the Town and Castle doing most terrible execution However the success the Enemy had in burning the Gallery gave them so great assurance that they did not expect to be so soon attackt Nevertheless all things being in a readiness in pursuance of the Orders given by General Ginkle upon Tuesday the 30th of June about four a Clock in the Afternoon the Attack was made by 1500 Granadiers and 6 Battalions of Foot standing ready to support 'em if occasion should be The Signal was the ringing of the Church bell upon which the Granadiers with whom M.G. Talmash tho' he did not Command that day went along as a Voluntier entred the Ford which was the only Passage the Assailants had in regard the Bridge was so broken that they could not get over it The Enemy at first fired very smartly but the Assailants who waded up to their Breasts in Water with continual Huzzaing advanc'd under the shelter of their own Cannon and throwing their Granadoes forc'd the Enemy from their Posts and Trenches and in less than half an hours time made themselves entirely Masters of the Town with all their Enemies Works and the Ruins of the Castle Major-General Maxwel with several other Officers and 200 common Souldiers were taken Prisoners and between 1000 and 1200 were kill'd upon the Place besides Officers of note such as were Brigadier Mackelicuddy Collonels Mac-Mahoon O Neale O Gara Lieut Collonels Macgenis and Barnwel and Maj. Murray Coll. Grace being slain the day before The rest escap'd over the Ramparts and fled to the Enemies Camp from whence some Battalions were coming to their Relief but meeting with the Fugitives and receiving a warm Salute from those very Works that were so very lately their own they retreated back to their Camp Of the English were about 20 slain and 30 wounded while all both Officers and Souldiers behav'd themselves beyond an ordinary Imagination and perhaps beyond the Parallel of many Histories where so much Bravery of Enterprize is rarely to be found for only 3000 Men to assail a fortified Town cross a River and make themselves Masters of it in so short a time in the very face and view of the Enemy an Action with which only the Taking of Buda can stand in competition Particularly the Major-Generals Teteau and Mackay Brigadier de la Meloniere and the Prince of Hesse-Dermstadt who conducted the Attack the Prince of Wirtemberg Major-General Talmash Count Nassau and Brigadier Bellasis merited lasting Honour in contributing so greatly as they did by their Conduct and Courage to the good success of so signal an Atchievment There were in the Town six Pieces of Brass Cannon and two Mortars but the stores of Powder Bullet and Provisions were but small The Town and Castle were reduc'd to a heap of Ruins and the Prisoners said That before the Attack there were kill'd in the Town about 1200 Men by the Besiegers Cannon and Bombs of which nor of their Bullets or Stones the Assailants were no Niggards as having bestow'd upon the Place before it was taken 10000 Bullets 600 Bombs and several