and lb. of dry salted hides, daily. To each of those who had families, a certain allowance was given, according to the number of his family. Every individual in the garrison was required to give, upon oath, the quantity of provisions. then in his possession. Few had provisions for sale, and few had money to purchase. The following were the prices of such provisions as were. found: ... ... ... Do. of greaves A quarter of a dog, fattened by eating) the bodies of the slain, A dog's head ... 6 A quart of horse's blood ... 4 6 0 6 0 2 0 1 ... A rat, fed on human flesh, ... Little fresh water, and of the worst kind. 28th-The rations this day were, 14lbs. of horse flesh to each. The only alternative now was, to slaughter the nine lean horses yet alive. A Captain Charleton deserted the garrison, and went over to the enemy-the reason has not been assigned. 29th- About this time Counsellor Cairns arrived from London, express from his Majesty, King William, with peremptory orders to Major-General Kirk, to relieve Londonderry. Here, it has been observed, why General Kirk remained inactive, and apparently indifferent, since his arrival in Lough Foyle on the evening of the 13th of June, well knowing the perilous situation of the garrison and the citizens, without an attempt to relieve them; the enterprise would have been less hazardous had he attempted it on his arrival. Whether he was actuated by sinister motives (like those which influenced Colonel Cuningham and Lieutenant Colonel Richards, of the Swallow, at an early stage of the Siege,) might admit of some conjecture; but certain it is, that his conduct in thus trifling with a most important commission, as tending to aggravate the sufferings of the starving people of Derry, was truly reprehensible. 30th In the midst of dispair, hope may cast a gleam of comfort, and the hour which threatens extermination, may be the harbinger of the most exquisite joy. When all hopes of succour from man were at an end, a divine interposition administered to the drooping spirits, comfort, in the agonies of despondence. In the evening of this day, about 7 o'clock, a small squadron was descried in Lough Foyle, near Culmore. A signal was instantly hoisted from the top of the tower of the Cathedral, which was immediately answered by the report of six guns from the vessels in sight, announcing themselves to be a detached squadron from the fleet under Major-General Kirk, in Lough Swilly, laden with provisions for the garrison of Londonderry. These ships were:-The Mountjoy, of Londonderry, commanded by Captain Micah Browning,* a native of the City of Londonderry; she brought from England a cargo of beef, flour, biscuit, peas, &c.-the Phoenix, of Coleraine, under the command of Captain Andrew Douglas, direct from Scotland with 800 bolls of meal-and the Jerusalem cutter. The whole were under the convoy of the Dartmouth frigate, of 36 guns, commanded by Captain Leake. In approaching the strait at Culmore, the frigate led the van, sustaining a heavy fire from the fort and castle then in possession of the enemy; in defiance of which, Leake, with determined bravery, "hauled his wind and lay to," for the purpose of covering the other vessels until they got a-head. The river being narrow, and the channel running very near to the western bank, the ships moving slowly by a gentle breeze, encountered a continued and destructive fire from the batteries and small arms wh lined both sides, and which they as gallantly returned.— Having arrived at the boom, the Mountjoy struck it rapidly, and broke it; but the shock was such, as to cause her to rebound and run aground, The enemy, on seeing this, which *It has been stated, that Captain Browning had proposed before this to relieve the City, but would not be permitted. raised yells and shouts of triumph, and were preparing their boats to attempt to board her; but the Dartmouth coming forward, opened a tremendous fire against their batteries, which completely galled them, thereby enabling the Phoenix to pass through the opening which the Mountjoy had just effected. The Mountjoy, as yet lying aground, now fired a broadside from her leeward guns, by the shock of which, and the flowing of the tide, she cleared the bank and regained the channel, But, in the act of his vessel striking the boom, the intrepid Browning lost his life by a shot which struck him on the head. The passage being thus opened, all the vessels made their way majestically to the City, to the inexpressible joy of the inhabitants, and to the utter disappointment of the enemy. The vessels arrived at the quay about ten o'clock, not saluted by the turbulent acclamations of the garrison, but with heartfelt and devout gratitude to him who is the unerring disposer of all events. To protect the people employed in carrying the provisions from the ships to the stores, from the shots of the enemy, blinds or screens were erected along the quay; the blinds consisted of casks and hogsheads filled with earth, piled one upon another in succession, and rising like a wall. A brisk and continued cannonading was kept up against the town during the night. 31st-Continual cannonading during this day also till the evening, when the enemy began to burn all their huts &c. in every direction round the City. August 1st, (0. S.)-At the dawn of the morning, the main body of the besieging (now the retreating) army, was seen in full march in the direction of St. Johnstown, and thence towards Lifford and Strabane, with a strong guard in the rear to cover their retreat. At Strabane they encamped, at which place they remained until they received. information that the other grand division of their forces was routed by the Enniskilleners; in consequence of which news, they struck their tents, and heaving twelve wagon loads of arms, ammunition, stores, &c. into the river, (the Mourne,) they commenced a precipitate retreat, leaving many of their sick and wounded behind them.* *The scattered troops of the Earl of Antrim, who took their route through the county of Derry, drove the cattle of the colonists, and ravaged, and burned all within their reach, Thus, after a most determined and close, but ineffectual, investment of the City of Londonderry for 105 days, with an army of 20,000 men; and after having pent up the citizens and garrison, (colonists of Ulster,) from the seventh of December, 1688, to the 31st of July, 1689, (236 days,) during which time they experienced all the aggravated horrors of hunger, disease, and warfare; King James II. and his adherents were compelled to retreat, having lost before its walls, from eight to nine thousand men. And thus terminated the ever-memorable Siege of the City of Londonderry. To use the words of an officer of high rank, one of the besieging army. "Every effort which human courage or the military knowledge of that day could suggest, was adopted to force the gallant men under the command of Walker to surrender: every privation was borne by the besieged with a fortitude which challenges our credulity, and the most desperate expedients of the Irish commanders were defeated by a heroism which has not been surpassed in ancient or modern days." Troops regimented in the City, 19th April, 7361 Living at the close of the Siege, (1000 of of whom were unfit for service, 4000 Killed, with those who died of disease du 3361 ring the Siege,+ Of the unarmed multitude who perished by hunger, sickness, or the sword, (with- 7000 Total killed, with those who died of disease 10,361 on the part of the colonists,.... * Duke of Berwick's Memoirs. A list of the officers of the garrison who were killed, and who died of disease, has not been discovered. As a full and correct account of the officers killed on the part of the besiegers, could not be ascertained, the following were among the killed and prisoners during the siege : At the Pennyburn-General Mammou or Mammount; Major General Pusignan; Majors Taafe and Wogan; Captain Fitzgerald, and Quartermaster Cassore-killed. May 6th-At the old wind-mill-Brigadier- General Ramsay; CHAPTER XII. Memoranda of the Siege, with the Address of the citizens to his Majesty King William III.-Officers and others who distinguished themselves during the Siege-An Act for the attainder of Protestants, passed in the Irish Parliament during the administration of King James-Names of the persons so attainted-Proclamation of Luttrel, Governor of Dublin-Gleanings or historical reminiscences relative to the principal personages accessary in attempting to effect the Counter-Revolution, with the reduction of the City of Londonderry-Anniversary of shutting the gates, and the commemoration of the Siege. August 1st-A deputation from the City-Captains White, Dobbin, and J. Hamilton, with the Rev. Messrs. Jenny and Knox-was sent by Governor Walker to MajorGeneral Kirk, at Inch; that they might acquaint him of the raising of the Siege; and, at the same time, request him to come to the City, and take upon him the management of affairs. 2d-Colonels Stewart and Richards (the latter an engineer officer,) came by order of General Kirk, "to congratulate the garrison and the citizens on the happy termination of the glorious struggle." Sunday 4th-General Kirk, accompanied by several of his officers and a large guard, arrived. Having alighted at Bishop's-gate, he was received by the Governor and Deputy-Governor and principal officers; Aldermen Squire Captains Fleming, Fox, and Barnwell; Lieutenants Kelly, and Walsh; Ensigns Cadell, and Barnwell :-killed. Sir George Aylmer, Lieut. Colonels Talbot, Netterville, and Newcomen-prisoners. June 4th-At the oid wind-mill-Lieutenant Farrell; two French Captains, and Captain Graham; Lieutenant Bourke; Adjutant Fahey; Quartermaster Kelly; Ensigns Norris and Arthur-killed. Captains Butler, (son to Lord Mountgarret,) M'Donnell, M'Donagh, and Watson; Lieutenant Eustace: a French Lieutenant; and Sergeant Pigot-prisoners. June 28th-At the wall-A French Lieutenant-Colonel: Captains M'Carroll, and O'Bryan, one French Captain, and an English Capt. and one English Lieutenant-killed. About the town-Lieutenant-Colonel O'Neill, Lieutenant Fitzpatrick, in Strong's orchard; Ensign Conolly, in the boat near Donalong; two Friars in their canonicals, in Strong's orchard; Ensign Ambrose: killed. Lieutenant Talbot got an arm shot off by a volley from the ships, when bursting the boom. |